Word 2003: Table borders refusing to move to specified location

[ValerieSyn]

I have a problem that appears to be new to Word 2003. If I try to drag a
table border to a specific location vertically, Word will decide that I don't
really want to move it there and will move it somewhere else instead (this is
*not* when I have gigantic amounts of text in the cell that I'm trying to
squeeze into a tiny space). Sometimes using the ruler at the top of the page
to move the border will help. But Word will sometimes still move the outer
vertical border of the table to the left or to the right if I try to move an
interior vertical border, rather than keeping the outer vertical border where
I put earlier.

I can't find any help topics associated with manually moving table borders.

What options can I turn off or on to stop this from happening?

Thank you.

 

[Bob I]

R-click, in the table to give it the focus. Now look at the top ruler.
Move the cursor over one of the "dotted squares", and the "tooltip"
should show and say "Move table column". That should take care of the
moving part. Now IF you have set "width" to Auto size, AND there is text
in the boxes (spaces and non-printing characters count as text) Word
will attempt to make things fit.(R-click table, Table Properties, Options)

 

[ValerieSyn]

Hi, Bob--

Thanks for your response. I have been able to use the ruler to move the
columns previously, but the columns still autocorrect without my wanting it.
Can you be more specific about the options I need to change? I don't see
Table Properties --> Options --> Width --> Auto size. I tried to get rid of
all "preferred widths" and all "automatically resize to fit contents/window,"
and I'm still having the problem.

Valerie

 

[Bob I]

R-click on the table. Then select Table Properties.

 

[ValerieSyn]

I mean after that.

R-click on the table. Then select Table Properties.

 

[Bob I]

Then "Options", that pops open, and there is a Check box for autosizing.
UNcheck that.