Table Column Width lost when pasting

Q

Quin

In Microsoft Word 2000 I want to be able to select several table columns of
different widths, copy them and paste them to the right side. When I do
this, the width of each column is changed and it looks bad and is a pain to
fix it all. If I paste it below the original… no problem the columns stay
exactly the right width.

In Microsoft Excel I can select the entire columns by selecting column A, B,
C etc. and paste to the right and it will keep the column width exactly and
perfectly intact. Is this possible in a table using Microsoft Word 2000?

Thanks,

Quin
 
G

Graham Mayor

Is there sufficient space to the right of the table for the extra pasted
columns to fit? It's been a while since I used Word 2000, but I seem to
recall that you could only fit tables between the margins. Excel does not
have this restriction. Word 2003 will not change the columns either, but
what won't fit disappears off the edge of the screen.

Try formatting the columns table > autofit > fixed column width before you
copy and paste.

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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Q

Quin

Yes, there is sufficient space to the right of the table. Try this... Make
a table with two columns and one row. Make the first column one inch wide,
the second only one half inch wide. Now select both columns, copy both
columns, position the insertion point to the right side of the existing two
columns, then paste.

Now you have one row with four columns but the second two that you just
pasted are not the same width as the two you just copied!

If you place the insertion point below the origional two columns and paste
they will retain their size. What can I do to keep the column width
information intact when I paste additional columns to the right? Can this be
accomplished with ANY version of word? I will get an upgrade if I have to!
I really need this to work

Quin
 
G

Graham Mayor

OK, I see your point - and no the later Word versions will not help with
this. Frankly I can't see a way of doing this in Word, but you could do it
in Excel then link the table into Word using a Link field

{ LINK Excel.Sheet.8 Book1 Sheet1!R1C1:R9C4 \a \f 4 \h }

The above example inserts 9 rows of cols 1 to 4. To widen the table by two
columns change C4 to C6
To add rows change R9. Then update the field (F9)

As long as the target sheet has the columns formatted as you want them, the
table will reflect that in Word. This also has the advantage that
calculations are easier to achieve in an Excel table.

I concede it's a little more work, than cut & paste but it will get round
your problem.

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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