Converting back to simple tables

T

Top Spin

I use a lot of tables in Word (2000). Mostly these are simple tables,
but some of them get a fair amount of editing, including some moving
and merging of columns.

From time to time, some of the tables seem to get messed up or
confused. For example, when I click on the top of a column, the
highlighted section will include some portions of adjacant columns.

I am guessing that this is a table that had cells merged or split.

Is there some way that I can select the entire table and tell Word to
make it a simple table again?

Thanks
 
T

Top Spin

Try converting the table to text and back again.
Click to expand...

The problem with that is that the last column has a lot of formatting
in each cell including multiple lines and some bullets. Iif I convert
it to text, how will I get it back into a table with the right stuff
in the right cells?

I was hoping for some "uncomplicate" function that would leave it
"looking" like it does and get rid of any underlying (and invisible)
complexity.

Thanks
 
K

Klaus Linke

Hi,

I could swear that "Distribute columns evenly" worked nicely in previous
versions to fix messed-up cell widths (... same for rows).

It doesn't in Word2003 :-(

Perhaps you can set all cells to the same width using a macro:

Dim myCell As Cell
For Each myCell In Selection.Tables(1).Range.Cells
myCell.Width = CentimetersToPoints(2)
Next myCell

The cell width you use in the macro doesn't matter much since you can then
use "Table > Autofit" to make the table fit the page width again (or
"AutoFit to Contents").
You can include that in the macro:
Selection.Tables(1).AutoFitBehavior (wdAutoFitContent)
Selection.Tables(1).AutoFitBehavior (wdAutoFitWindow)

Regards,
Klaus
 
T

Top Spin

Hi,

I could swear that "Distribute columns evenly" worked nicely in previous
versions to fix messed-up cell widths (... same for rows).
Click to expand...

Will this work? I wish I had thought of that.

I already redid the table manually, so I can't test this. Maybe I'll
try retrieving an old copy from a backup tape.
It doesn't in Word2003 :-(

Perhaps you can set all cells to the same width using a macro:

Dim myCell As Cell
For Each myCell In Selection.Tables(1).Range.Cells
myCell.Width = CentimetersToPoints(2)
Next myCell

The cell width you use in the macro doesn't matter much since you can then
use "Table > Autofit" to make the table fit the page width again (or
"AutoFit to Contents").
You can include that in the macro:
Selection.Tables(1).AutoFitBehavior (wdAutoFitContent)
Selection.Tables(1).AutoFitBehavior (wdAutoFitWindow)
Click to expand...

If setting the cell width will fix it, can I just select the entire
table and set the cell width from properties?
Regards,
Klaus
Click to expand...
 
K

Klaus Linke

If setting the cell width will fix it, can I just select the entire
table and set the cell width from properties?
Click to expand...

I wish that would work, too. But Word has its own mind, and keeps ignoring
your settings.
After all, it's only a "Preferred width" you can enter :-(

Maybe you get lucky and manage to do it from the user interface. But after
getting constantly frustrated, I find it easier to use a macro.

Regards,
Klaus
 
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