How do I stop width & left indents changing in tables?

[q1607]

When working in tables I find that rows become misaligned, the left indent
changes by itself and the preferred width setting turns itself on.

 

[Jezebel]

You write as if Word has a mind of its own. This is not the case. Your
problem has a real-world cause, which, in the absence of further
information, no-one without access to your monitor is in a position even to
guess at.

 

[q1607]

You write as if Word has a mind of its own. This is not the case. Your
problem has a real-world cause, which, in the absence of further
information, no-one without access to your monitor is in a position even to
guess at.

 

[q1607]

Thanks Jezebel,

It certainly does appear that Word has a mind of its own and I do appreciate
that there must be a reason for whatever is happening, so wondered if anyone
else had encountered this and, hopefully, found a cure.

 

[Jezebel]

You'll need to provide some information if you want an answer. As it is,
it's like going to the doctor and saying "I'm sick. What's wrong with me?"

 

[q1607]

Thanks again Jezebel,

The prob is I'm using tables to generate forms and have different columns in
some rows. Whilst entering details in some of the cells the table properties
seem to change to increase the left indent by small amounts on some rows and
this means that some rows end up offset to the others in the table. Also, the
check box "Preferred Width" switches on by itself and the preferred width
value varies from the sum of the columns that I have previously set. The
problem is particularly bad when I have to split the table to adjust columns
in one row and then join it back together again either by deleting the
paragraph marker separating the two parts or by drag & dropping the row onto
the bottom of the rest of the table. It can take hours of repeatedly
resetting before, if I'm lucky, the table properties will stay where they
are put.