Table is Corrupt Error Message

[Aimee]

I'm working on a long document that contains multiple tables. Whenever I
open the document, I recieve an error message that states: "A table in this
document has become corrupt. To recover the contents of the table, select
the table and choose convert table to text from the table menu."

I've tried to convert the tables to text, but it immediately messes up all
of the information. I also downloaded all of the priority updates, including
the service pack update that was recommended by the site. Then, I cut every
table out of the document, pasted it into an excel spreadsheet, reformatted
everything, and pasted it back into the document. The error message is still
appearing. I saw that there is a hotfix available from microsoft office for
the problem, but it contained so many warnings about how it hasn't been fully
tested yet, that I'm afraid to put it onto my computer. There is too much
important information on my computer that I'm afraid to lose. Please let me
know what I can do to fix this problem, including how I can repair the
current document (a dissertation) and how to prevent the problem from
occuring in the future. Thanks!

 

[Doug Robbins - Word MVP]

To locate the corrupt table, starting with a copy of your document, select
and delete half of the document then save what remains with a new name, then
click on Undo to reinstate the bit that you deleted and then delete the
other half and save what then remains with a new name. Then close the
document and open the document that contains each half in turn. The one
that contains the corrupt table will result in the message being displayed.
Repeat the above deletehalf/save/undo/deleteotherhalf/save process on the
document with the corrupt table until you get down to a document that just
contains one table and gives you the message. Then you know what table is
causing the problem, so go to your original document, and try the convert
table to text on just that table, then convert the text back to a table and
you should be able to overcome the problem.

--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

 

[Aimee]

Thanks! Your process let me figure out where the problem was, which I was
surprised to find out was a page that didn't have any tables on it. So, I
just deleted the page and retyped it and am no longer getting the error
message. Thanks again!

 

[Doug Robbins - Word MVP]

Odd, but glad you got it sorted out.

--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP