Word: Getting a table to fill and stay on a single page 1

[utoyo]

How can I get a table to fill the page completely? (or up to margins) And make it stay on one page?

Thanks in Advance.

 

[macropod]

Hi utoyo,

Unless you set the margins to 0 or put the table into the header or footer, you won't be able to get it to fill the page - the best you'll be able to do is to get it to fit the print area.

To fit the print area, set the table width to the same as (or slightly less than) the space between the side margins, and the height to the same as (or slightly less than) the the space between the top & bottom margins. The "slightly less than" can be necessary when the table has a border applied, since the border takes up additional space that has to be fitted into the print area also. If your table has multiple rows and there is the possibility that preceding text may force the table to wrap to the next page, but you want the whole table to move to the next page instead, you may need to format the paragraphs within to "keep lines together" and all except the last para on the last row to "keep with next", plus uncheck the "allow row to break across pages" option on the Table menu.

If a bordered table is put into the header or footer, the border may not print.

Cheers

 

[fumei]

It may help if you tell us what you are trying to achieve.

macropod explained it well. However, I have to point out that if you structure the table to fill the page:

If your table has multiple rows and there is the possibility that preceding text may force the table to wrap to the next page, but you want the whole table to move to the next page instead

will not do much good, as the next page will have the same problem. The internal text within the table is bigger than a page. You could move to the next page, but if the text inside the table is longer than a page - then it is longer than a page.

In addition, if you size a table to fill a page, then it would be better to have any text going into the table write on OverType. That is, unless you have careful use of styles.

What are you trying to do?

Gerry

 

[rosepetal]

In Table>Properties, the first row on the window, change the "Measure in" from inches to percent. the change the first box "Preferred width to 100%. The table will self-adjust a column if you change the page margins.

I am in the habit of fixing the width of all columns except one, so that I get to choose which column takes up the adjustment.

 

[Madawc]

Thanks for a useful tip, rosepetal. I've found 'Table' a useful function, but also irritating, because it keeps making odd assumptions about what it thinks you want. Your method seems to tie it down to something sensible.

I'm surprised it's not the default, since I'd have thought a page-width table is what most people want.

Madawc Williams (East Anglia, UK)