Can Word Tables be Kept on One Page? 1

[SilentAiche]

Stuff: MS Word 2002 on XP

I am converting a 14-page document that was formerly filled out by hand to an electronic Word doc. It contains a dozen or so tables ranging from two to 13 rows.

Throughout the electronic version of this form the user can enter text of various lengths in form fields, meaning some tables could be pushed across a page break. Most of these tables I would like to keep together on one page.

I cannot find anything in the table (or even paragraph) properties that allows me to keep tables together on one page. Anyone have a solution?

In the alternative, would it be easier to keep together an embedded Excel spreadsheet?

As usual, your help is much appreciated.

 

[fumei]

Well if the text length is large enough to make the table bigger than one page, what would you like to happen? Change the font size so that it DOES fit on one page?

Gerry

 

[tf1]

Obviously, if the table is longer than a page, you cannot 'keep it together on a page'. That said, if you select all the text in one of the columns and then use Format, Paragraph and assign the Keep Lines Together and Keep with Next attributes, the table will stay on one page. If you type more text in front of the table so that it stretches beyond the end of page, the whole table will move to the next whole page leaving a blank area on the previous page.

I hope the above is clear.

Regards: tf1

 

[SilentAiche]

My post obviously was not very clear on the "text of various lengths in form fields." These entries are OUTSIDE (above and between) the tables. In a text field above a table a user might enter one line or 10 lines, which could push one of the little 2-13 row tables across a page break. Any given table is fixed in size and will fit on one page. Obviously if a table is larger than one page I don't expect it to stay on one page..

That said, tf1's solution works perfectly. I had tried those setting after selecting rows, not columns.

I thank you both for your input.

 

[fumei]

Hi tf1. True, but if the the table is longer than one page, yes keeping the paragraphs together will indeed move to the next whole page....but if it is STILL longer than one page.....it will still be longer than one page.

Gerry

 

[tf1]

Hi Gerry

I tried the make that clear with the first sentence. I think SilentAitche has got that OK.

The problem with answering some of these questions is not trying to make the answer too stupid: sometimes it's not too easy!

Regards: tf1

 

[fumei]

Understood. Duh...sorry. Hopefully, that is clear enough.

Gerry

 

[SilentAiche]

Guys, if the question sounds stupid the answer almost has to address that. I thought I was being clever when I included the detail that the tables only had between two and 13 rows (which obviously would fit on one page).

Unless, of course, the rows were really tall... My turn to say Duh!

I'm new at this posting stuff (joined Tek-Tips 12/21/04) so I hope my questions will get clearer. It's a heck of a site- I've already learned a great deal.

Take care,
Tim

 

[BenRowe]

If you click on Table - Table Properties - Table - Text Wrapping - and change it to around, it turns your table into a graphic, which keeps the table on one page.

 

[fumei]

True, but as a graphic, the table is no longer text editable. You could not change the contents, as text.

Gerry

 

[tf1]

Gerry

Not quite what was meant. Since Word XP (or definitely in W2k3), you can make a table float as though it is in a Text Box. The table is still fully editable. However, I fail to see how that is going to stop it wrapping across the page when you enter data preceeding the table.

You can use the advanced properties to lock the table in a position on the page and it will remain in that position until sufficient text is entered prior to the table so that the Anchor drops to the next page - the table will then jump to the next page adopting the same anchored position as the previous page.

What the user needs (if this is going to be done regularly) is to create a Word Form.

Regards: tf1

 

[fumei]

Totally agree. Once it is set as a graphic (and yes somewhat editable) it becomes an Shapes object, and therefore anchored. However, you can change it an InlineShape, and therefore have character, uh, characteristics, and unanchored - with its own problems.

But the size problem remains, as you noted. Yup, it sounds like a design for forms.

Gerry

 

[SilentAiche]

All:

Actually, the entire document is protected as a Form. Users tab from one Text Form Field to the next to complete the form. Even within the Tables the data is entered in Text Form Fields. Is this best practice? I have not experimented with protecting only Sections of the document as a Form. Are there advantages to this?

As always, Thanks.
Tim

 

[fumei]

Text form fields in tables are fine. BTW: to make things look exactly like normal txt, you may want to turn off the field shading that is the default for form fields. I personally do not care for it. With it off the text looks like any other text.

If there is NO user edits required (beyond of course what they enter into the form fields), there is no real need to break a document into protected and unprotected sections. However, if there is ANY reason to allow user edits of non form field text, then those sections must be unprotected.

This is strictly a design issue and therefore totally dependent on what your requirements are.

Gerry

 

[SilentAiche]

Gerry,

Since my last post I have experimented with having protected and unprotected sections. This was necessary because I had tables with formulas (=sum(above)) that could not be refreshed with F9 if the table was protected. I have put those tables in unprotected sections and it seems to work well.

BTW: Personal preferences being what they are, I actually prefer the shading of form fields. I think it lets the user know where the next Tab "target" is. Besides, the shading does not print out on the hard copy, so no harm is done.

Thanks,
Tim