Formatting tables with merged and split cells

[Cheryl]

I have a large table in a document (Word 2003 SP2). It has 4 columns and
several rows. The first column is a measurement name. For the first
measurement name, i.e. "row 1" (a "major" row), columns 2, 3, and 4 are
sub-divided into up to 11 more rows ("minor" rows) with data (epoch, value,
and notes) for that measurement. Major rows 2 through n are handled the same
way. I want to unset the flag "Allow row to break across pages" so that the
measurement will always appear on the same page with the rest of the data,
but this flag appears to only work with the minor rows. When I used page
breaks to manually force a break at a major row, the header rows quit
repeating. Is there a solution to this problem?

Thank you.

 

[Lene Fredborg]

Did you insert the page break via Insert > Break or by pressing Ctrl+Enter?
In that case, you actually split the table into two separate tables with an
empty paragraph between.

If you make the page break by turning on "Page break before" in Format >
Paragraph > Line and Page Breaks tab, your heading row should remain (first
position the insertion marker in the "major" row that is to start on the next
page). A disadvantage of forced page breaks is that you may end with more
empty space on the previous page than neccessary in case you later edit the
content before the break.

Another solution that may work for you (may depend on whether there will
always be room for a least two "major" rows on the same page or on whether
other "competing" settings are used):
Select the "major" row and the belonging "minor" rows that you want to keep
together on one page. Then select Format > Paragraph > Line and Page Breaks
tab and turn on "Keep with next".

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

 

[Cheryl]

Thank you! I had tried using the Insert > Break and it did split the table.

I tried your second solution first, using "keep with next" and unsetting the
"allow row to break across pages", but that still didn't work, so I went with
your first suggestion and put "Page break before" marks before some of the
"major" rows. Just before I release the document, I'll have to scan it and
make sure those are still in the right places.

Thanks for your help!

Cheryl