Exact spacing from one row to the next

[erniewyles]

I have a problem that I'm hoping someone here will be able to fix. Without
using macros, is there a way to ensure that the type on one row is exact from
the type of the previous row. The reason being is that I require the use of
tables in a pleaded document. In order for spacing to line up to the pleaded
numbers along the left edge of the document, the spacing from one line to the
next needs to be exactly 22.75 points when using Times New Roman 12point
font. Outside of the table I can keep this spacing exact, even within the
cells I can keep this spacing exact. The problem comes with using table and
creating new rows as needed. To keep the spacing consistent, I need exact
22.75 spacing from one row to the next. Although the new rows appear to keep
this spacing at first, they are actually just slightly more than the required
22.75 pts., so over the course of, say, five rows, you begin to see the
misalignment with the pleading.

 

[Lene Fredborg]

If your tables have borders, I think the problem is the line thickness of the
horizontal borders. The line thickness is added to the row height. In the
tables, try this:
Set the paragraph line spacing to 22.75 pt minus the border thickness. Do
not specify a specific row height. In the test I just made, this worked.

--
Regards
Lene Fredborg
DocTools - Denmark
www.thedoctools.com
Document automation - add-ins, macros and templates for Microsoft Word

 

[erniewyles]

Holy schnikies, that worked!!!! All this time I couldn't figure it out and
never considered that the horizontal borders were the culprit. Many thanks
to you for this. That worked perfectly. I've been using these documents for
at least five years and this problem has always bothered me from day one.
Mystery solved. Thank you very much!!!!

 

[Lene Fredborg]

Thank you for the feedback. I am glad your problem is solved. Actually, I
don’t think I have ever been in a situation where I needed to line up text as
you describe. But my assumption was that either borders or cell margins
(top/bottom) could cause the problem. And it proved to be true.

--
Regards
Lene Fredborg
DocTools - Denmark
www.thedoctools.com
Document automation - add-ins, macros and templates for Microsoft Word

 

[erniewyles]

Actually it would seem that I spoke too soon. The solution you posed works
if it is assumed that only one line of text is used per cell. The reduced
spacing accounts for the spacing from one cell with one line to another cell
with one line. However, the individual lines of information in each cell
would not not space out appropriately and would still offset the entire
thing. But we may be on to something with your proposed solution.

 

[Lene Fredborg]

Yes, I know. I should have asked whether you had more lines in some cells.
Maybe a possible solution could be to make the first (or last) line in a
multi-line cell a separate paragraph and apply the reduced line spacing to
that paragraph only.

If you define 2 paragraph styles, one with the 22.75 pt line spacing and
another with the reduced line spacing, it would be fast enough to apply the
styles. Let's say you apply the "reduced space" style to the first paragraph.
If you define the style so that "Style for following paragraph" is set to the
"normal line spacing" style, the change to that style will happen
automatically when you press Return after the first line.

I don't know whether the "fake" paragraph would result in other problems –
depends on alignment etc.

--
Regards
Lene Fredborg
DocTools - Denmark
www.thedoctools.com
Document automation - add-ins, macros and templates for Microsoft Word

 

[erniewyles]

You know, i've never really tinkered with styles, so I don't know what type
of results I could get. I will definitly look into it. In the meantime, I
find that by reducing the borders to the smallest width (1/4 point) the
discrepency is not as noticable. Given the right situation, it would be
bugger again, but I'll leave it with the 1/4 point setting compensated with
enough spacing to still equal out 22.75 total spacing in the meantime while I
look into style solutions.

 

[Lene Fredborg]

I recommend you invest a little time very soon learning about styles – one of
the most powerful concepts in Word. Start with the articles on Shauna Kelly's
Website (a couple of links below). One hour spent now may save you much more
than one hour a day the rest of your time with Word.

http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/styles/TipsOnStyles.html
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/styles/ModifyAStyle.html

--
Regards
Lene Fredborg
DocTools - Denmark
www.thedoctools.com
Document automation - add-ins, macros and templates for Microsoft Word