Dragging table column resets

[Lugubrious]

In a table of, say, 5 columns, I might elect to kill the
fifth column, resulting in 4. I allow Word (2003) to move
columns left. My title row and footer row (1 column, 1
row each) now stick out where the 5th column used to
end. If I grab the end of the 4th column (now the far
right edge of the table) and drag it to meet with the
heading and footer are, the 4th column snaps back and
resizes like silly putty on a bad day. The only way I
can get the column over to where I want it is to
highlight the column and drag its border from the ruler
bar.

What settings do I need to change to allow any dragging
of column edges to move independently of the table itself?

Why is my coffee always cold?

Thanks.

 

[Richard O. Neville]

Insert a line (non-table) before and after the row you want to alter; make
the change by dragging, then delete the space(s). This approach allows you
to work on only one row.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

You can insert the text using Table | Split Table. I had one document that
had so many little tables that I added Split Table to the table cell
shortcut menu.

 

[Lugubrious]

I knew I shouldn't have been drinking when I wrote that
question. I'm sorry, but I didn't make myself clear.

Picture this: an empty table with 10 rows and 3
columns. The first row has all three cells merged,
forming one long row, as does the last row of the table.

I want to delete column 3, but only rows 2 through 9.
That's easy enough to do--cells shift left. Now I have a
2-column table with top and bottom rows sticking out to
where the 3rd column used to be. I want to click and
drag the edge of the 2nd column out to where the top and
bottom rows are sticking out. (I want the table to be as
big as it was with 3 columns.)

The trouble is once I release the drag, the edge of the
2nd column snaps back, and not always to the original
spot from where it was dragged. Clearly, there's an "auto-
something" going on--I just can't locate it.

Thanks you guys.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Have you tried pressing Alt to overide the grid? Also, check Table
Properties to make sure you don't have a preferred width set for the column
you're trying to change (although I usually find that dragging the edge just
changes the preferred width.

 

[Kylie B]

If you can't find a solution I would suggest to:

Split your table from the top and bottom rows (Ctrl+Shift+Enter), delete
your column and then delete the return inbetween the split tables which will
rejoin them.

Probably not the best answer for you but a bandaid approach.

Kylie

 

[Sedonakids]

I just loaded Word 2003 and it is doing exactly what you describe. Word 97
did not do that. I believe it must be a bug but do not know how to get a fix
for it. I

I use tables in my documents extensivley, which has been Words strength, but
this is very frustrating.

I hope someone knows where to find a fix for this.