Problem with column widths after merging two tables

[Pam F]

My long table of 710 rows with 14 columns (text) in Word 2004 now has
varying column widths. This is making it impossible to do sorts. I've tried
to set equal column widths globally, but I must be doing something wrong.
Hope someone can help - it's for a book project and I'm running out of
patience and time.

 

[StevenM]

Perhaps there is a better way, but the way I handle the problem is:
(1) convert the table to text; then
(2) convert the text back into a table.

I'm assuming that by "varying column widths" you mean some rows have
different column widths than other rows, and not merely that some columns
have widths different from other columns. Also, you need to pick a character
which is not used in your table to be used to separate the columns when you
covert the table to text, and then use the same character when converting the
text back into a table. This will fix your problem.

Steven Craig Miller

 

[Pam F]

Not sure if I know how to do # 2 and especially using a character as a
separator. Can you give me more detail?

Pam

 

[StevenM]

To: Pam,

Select the whole table with Table -> Select -> Table
Convert table to text with Table -> Convert -> Table to Text
Select a character to "Separate text with."
For example, you can use commas only if a comma does not (otherwise) appear
in your table. You can use a "/" mark only if a "/" does not appear in your
table.
You can use a "@" mark only if a "@" does not appear in your table.

Once that table is text, select the text (it might already be selected).
Convert the text to table with Table -> Convert -> Text to Table.
Select the same character as before at "Separate Text at:"

The point is that you want to use a character (such as a comma, slash, or
something) as a marker between columns when the table is converted into text
and then use the same marker to separate text into columns when you convert
the text into a table. A comma is a good choice, unless you have text with
commas in your table. Then when you try to convert the text back to a table
it would view every comma as marker for a column.

I hope this helps.

Steven Craig Miller

 

[macropod]

Hi Pam,

An easier way, if you've got Excel, might be to:
.. copy the table in Word
.. paste it into Excel
.. delete the table in Word
.. copy the table in Excel
.. paste it into Word

While you've got the table in Excel, you can also do the sorting there. Excel's sorting functions are more powerful than Word's.

Cheers