Old Cell Height and Width not working

[jen_writer]

Hello,
I have been using the old cell height and width function to assign my column
widths. However, whenever I have a table with merged cells, I run into a
problem with the column widths. E.g., the first 4 rows have 2 columns and the
rest of the table has 7 columns. the 7th column is supposed to be 0.8" but
this is what keeps happening: (1)I split the table so that it is only the
section containing 7 columns. (2) I type 0.8" into the cell height/width box
for column 7. (3) the column changes to 0.8" (4) I combine the table again.
(5) Five seconds later, the table automatically updates and the column
changes to 0.89" (6) repeat steps 1-3. This happens even when instead of
splitting the table, I highlight only the cells I want to change. The cells
change and 5 seconds later, they change back to the wrong dim.

I have tried setting the preferred table width in table properties and I've
also tried turning it off. I've gone to tables, autofit, fixed column width,
and that hasn't worked either. I am going crazy! please help!
thanks
Jen

 

[Shauna Kelly]

Hi Jen

My observation of Word tables is that you can have merged cells, or you
can control column widths, but you can't do both.

Use the Table > Properties dialog and look everywhere in that dialog box
to make sure you haven't anything that is otherwise odd (eg too large a
width for cell margins).

Failing all else (and take a stiff swig of Scotch first), use Table >
Split to split the table after the merged 'heading' rows, adjust the
column widths of both tables separately, and then remove the intervening
paragraph mark to glue the tables back together again.

Hope this helps.

Shauna Kelly. Microsoft MVP.
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word