If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Possible to disable Auto-sizing of columns, Word 2003??
Hi,
I have been using tables for years, but in the 2003 version of Word, I am having problems with widths of columns. I have a table created, and would now like to se individual columns to certain fixed widths (column 1 = 1/2 inch, column 2 = 2 inches, etc.). So, I select a column, go into Table Properties | Column and set the Preferred Width to the value I want. However, this doesn't seem to lock the value (as "preferred" might indiicate) so when I later size columns further to the right, some of my earlier values change. Another behavior that I believe is related is when, for example, I set the width of column 1 to 1" and the width of column 2 to 2". In older versions of Word, if I selected the first column, the draged the edge of the column to the right by 1", I would now have a 2" column 1, and a 2" column 2, because column 2 would maintain its size and scoot over. (This is the behavior I want). In Word 2003, doing the above would leave me with column 1 of 2" and column 2 of 1" (the overall width of the table stays the same, so when column 1 gets bigger, the column next to it gets smaller by the same amount (Not the behavior I want). I have also tried the Table | Autofit | Fixed Column Width option, but it seems to not have the desired affect. And, I have tried un-selecting the checkbox named Preferred Width for the entire table, under Table | Table Properties | Table, also to no apparent effect. Is there someway I can disable all of this "automatic" help I am getting? Anybody have any suggestions? thanks in advance bruce |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Possible to disable Auto-sizing of columns, Word 2003??
Hold down the Shift key while dragging a column border, and you will get
the behavior you want. Brucer wrote: Hi, I have been using tables for years, but in the 2003 version of Word, I am having problems with widths of columns. I have a table created, and would now like to se individual columns to certain fixed widths (column 1 = 1/2 inch, column 2 = 2 inches, etc.). So, I select a column, go into Table Properties | Column and set the Preferred Width to the value I want. However, this doesn't seem to lock the value (as "preferred" might indiicate) so when I later size columns further to the right, some of my earlier values change. Another behavior that I believe is related is when, for example, I set the width of column 1 to 1" and the width of column 2 to 2". In older versions of Word, if I selected the first column, the draged the edge of the column to the right by 1", I would now have a 2" column 1, and a 2" column 2, because column 2 would maintain its size and scoot over. (This is the behavior I want). In Word 2003, doing the above would leave me with column 1 of 2" and column 2 of 1" (the overall width of the table stays the same, so when column 1 gets bigger, the column next to it gets smaller by the same amount (Not the behavior I want). I have also tried the Table | Autofit | Fixed Column Width option, but it seems to not have the desired affect. And, I have tried un-selecting the checkbox named Preferred Width for the entire table, under Table | Table Properties | Table, also to no apparent effect. Is there someway I can disable all of this "automatic" help I am getting? Anybody have any suggestions? thanks in advance bruce |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Possible to disable Auto-sizing of columns, Word 2003??
I assume you've already turned off auto resizing (Table Properties | Table |
Options). You can get more control over column widths by reverting to the old Cell Height and Width dialog; see http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/TblsFldsFm...ePropProbs.htm. Also, as g-n-o pointed out, you get various results depending on how you drag the column borders. These are spelled out in http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/TblsFldsFms/TableBasics.htm -- Suzanne S. Barnhill Microsoft MVP (Word) Words into Type Fairhope, Alabama USA Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so all may benefit. "Brucer" wrote in message ... Hi, I have been using tables for years, but in the 2003 version of Word, I am having problems with widths of columns. I have a table created, and would now like to se individual columns to certain fixed widths (column 1 = 1/2 inch, column 2 = 2 inches, etc.). So, I select a column, go into Table Properties | Column and set the Preferred Width to the value I want. However, this doesn't seem to lock the value (as "preferred" might indiicate) so when I later size columns further to the right, some of my earlier values change. Another behavior that I believe is related is when, for example, I set the width of column 1 to 1" and the width of column 2 to 2". In older versions of Word, if I selected the first column, the draged the edge of the column to the right by 1", I would now have a 2" column 1, and a 2" column 2, because column 2 would maintain its size and scoot over. (This is the behavior I want). In Word 2003, doing the above would leave me with column 1 of 2" and column 2 of 1" (the overall width of the table stays the same, so when column 1 gets bigger, the column next to it gets smaller by the same amount (Not the behavior I want). I have also tried the Table | Autofit | Fixed Column Width option, but it seems to not have the desired affect. And, I have tried un-selecting the checkbox named Preferred Width for the entire table, under Table | Table Properties | Table, also to no apparent effect. Is there someway I can disable all of this "automatic" help I am getting? Anybody have any suggestions? thanks in advance bruce |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Possible to disable Auto-sizing of columns, Word 2003??
Suzanne -- thanks for all of the great references -- EXACTLY what I was looking for
bruce "Suzanne S. Barnhill" wrote: I assume you've already turned off auto resizing (Table Properties | Table | Options). You can get more control over column widths by reverting to the old Cell Height and Width dialog; see http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/TblsFldsFm...ePropProbs.htm. Also, as g-n-o pointed out, you get various results depending on how you drag the column borders. These are spelled out in http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/TblsFldsFms/TableBasics.htm -- Suzanne S. Barnhill Microsoft MVP (Word) Words into Type Fairhope, Alabama USA Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so all may benefit. "Brucer" wrote in message ... Hi, I have been using tables for years, but in the 2003 version of Word, I am having problems with widths of columns. I have a table created, and would now like to se individual columns to certain fixed widths (column 1 = 1/2 inch, column 2 = 2 inches, etc.). So, I select a column, go into Table Properties | Column and set the Preferred Width to the value I want. However, this doesn't seem to lock the value (as "preferred" might indiicate) so when I later size columns further to the right, some of my earlier values change. Another behavior that I believe is related is when, for example, I set the width of column 1 to 1" and the width of column 2 to 2". In older versions of Word, if I selected the first column, the draged the edge of the column to the right by 1", I would now have a 2" column 1, and a 2" column 2, because column 2 would maintain its size and scoot over. (This is the behavior I want). In Word 2003, doing the above would leave me with column 1 of 2" and column 2 of 1" (the overall width of the table stays the same, so when column 1 gets bigger, the column next to it gets smaller by the same amount (Not the behavior I want). I have also tried the Table | Autofit | Fixed Column Width option, but it seems to not have the desired affect. And, I have tried un-selecting the checkbox named Preferred Width for the entire table, under Table | Table Properties | Table, also to no apparent effect. Is there someway I can disable all of this "automatic" help I am getting? Anybody have any suggestions? thanks in advance bruce |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Possible to disable Auto-sizing of columns, Word 2003??
Glad I could help.
-- Suzanne S. Barnhill Microsoft MVP (Word) Words into Type Fairhope, Alabama USA Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so all may benefit. "Brucer" wrote in message ... Suzanne -- thanks for all of the great references -- EXACTLY what I was looking for bruce "Suzanne S. Barnhill" wrote: I assume you've already turned off auto resizing (Table Properties | Table | Options). You can get more control over column widths by reverting to the old Cell Height and Width dialog; see http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/TblsFldsFm...ePropProbs.htm. Also, as g-n-o pointed out, you get various results depending on how you drag the column borders. These are spelled out in http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/TblsFldsFms/TableBasics.htm -- Suzanne S. Barnhill Microsoft MVP (Word) Words into Type Fairhope, Alabama USA Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so all may benefit. "Brucer" wrote in message ... Hi, I have been using tables for years, but in the 2003 version of Word, I am having problems with widths of columns. I have a table created, and would now like to se individual columns to certain fixed widths (column 1 = 1/2 inch, column 2 = 2 inches, etc.). So, I select a column, go into Table Properties | Column and set the Preferred Width to the value I want. However, this doesn't seem to lock the value (as "preferred" might indiicate) so when I later size columns further to the right, some of my earlier values change. Another behavior that I believe is related is when, for example, I set the width of column 1 to 1" and the width of column 2 to 2". In older versions of Word, if I selected the first column, the draged the edge of the column to the right by 1", I would now have a 2" column 1, and a 2" column 2, because column 2 would maintain its size and scoot over. (This is the behavior I want). In Word 2003, doing the above would leave me with column 1 of 2" and column 2 of 1" (the overall width of the table stays the same, so when column 1 gets bigger, the column next to it gets smaller by the same amount (Not the behavior I want). I have also tried the Table | Autofit | Fixed Column Width option, but it seems to not have the desired affect. And, I have tried un-selecting the checkbox named Preferred Width for the entire table, under Table | Table Properties | Table, also to no apparent effect. Is there someway I can disable all of this "automatic" help I am getting? Anybody have any suggestions? thanks in advance bruce |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|