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Using Gridlines in Word

Anonymous
2025-04-25T18:11:09+00:00

Hello Again,

   Another conundrum for someone to solve. I am trying to draw straight lines on a map in my images library I want to add to a document. I can write text on the map ok using the text box method, but lines pose a different problem. I can draw lines by dragging a shape that I add to a map, but I don't always get the line straight. I have tried using the gridline function in Word 2019 but here's where the problem comes in. If I add the gridline to the document and then try to add the image of the blank map, it appears on top of the gridlines. I tried adding the image first and then overlaying the gridline, but the result defaults to the map being on top. I then tried using the text wrap button which lets you choose in front of or behind the image, but when I click the button nothing happens. This is strange to me as I recently used the gridlines to make a flow chart where I used the lines to align the text boxes and then connect them by drawing the lines between the boxes, and was able to keep the lines straight with the gridlines. Has anyone got some input that mighht help me? Thank you.

Wayne

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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  1. Suzanne S Barnhill 277.2K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2025-04-26T01:32:29+00:00

    Gridlines do not print, so they are not what you want to use except for helping you place your other graphics. To constrain a drawn line to the horizontal or vertical, press Shift while drawing it.

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-04-28T07:11:31+00:00

    It worked for me.

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-04-28T00:57:39+00:00

    Hi tride your advice about holding down the Shift key while drawing lines and it didn't work. While holding the key down I tried drawing a straight line by dragging the shape icon with the mouse and while the cursor moved there was no line drawn in behind it.

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-04-26T15:01:13+00:00

    Dear Suzanne,

       Thank you for your reply. I didn't want the gridlines to print. I only wanted them as a guide for drawing the lines. Once I had done this I was going to unclick the gridline box on the ribbon to hide them before printing. I have since gotten my map drawn by dragging the lines with the mouse and aligning them with the edges of the document by eye and that seemed to work okay. But I will try your suggestion next time for a more exact draw.
    

    Wayne

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