Grouping and Outlines

An outline is applied to a worksheet and stored in the worksheet table within the body of an HTML file. Information about the outline is stored using style attributes in the Col and TR elements. For example, rows and columns that are hidden by the outline use the display:none style.

The information stored about an outline includes which columns and rows are grouped together, and which are hidden or visible. The mso-outline-level style attribute specifies the grouping of column and row elements in an outline. An index number specifies the grouping level. Lower numbers specify more general groups, higher numbers specify more precise groupings, and the highest number specifies all data. These numbers are also specified in the top and left margins in Microsoft Excel.

The mso-outline-parent style attribute specifies whether the column or row is hidden or visible but also the location of the parent column or row. This style attribute can be used with the mso-outline-level style attribute in the same column and row element.

The mso-outline-parent style attribute can also be used in the Table element along with other style attributes. The mso-outline-parent-col and mso-outline-parent-row style attributes specify where the parent columns and rows are located. The mso-outline-parent-visibility style attribute specifies whether the parent columns or rows are hidden or visible. The mso-outline-style style attribute specifies whether an automatic style is used. If the style attribute is not used, the default constant is userset (manual styles).

For more information about style attributes, see the Style Attributes topic.