Text wrapping in Word 2003 Tables

[clairej]

I have just realised that in Word 2003 tables, as you type text in a cell the
cell automatically resizes to fit the text rather than word wraps as you
would expect. This was not the default behaviour in any previous version of
Word, and is very annoying as I most often use tables for forms! I know you
can go into Table Properties to turn it off but can it be turned off
premanently?

Thanks

 

[Stefan Blom]

As far as I know, the resize option must be turned off for each
individual table. :-(

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

By default, Word 2003 uses the Table Grid style for formatting tables. I was
able to make the default version of that style (stored in Normal.dot) behave
in the way you say you want.

Try this:

1. Insert a table.

2. Select the table.

3. Right-click and choose AutoFit - Fixed Column Width.

4. Choose Format - Styles and Formatting.

5. At the right, the Table Grid style is shown at the top of the task pane.
It's also shown below, under Pick formatting to apply. In the Pick
formatting to applyl list, move the mouse over Table Grid so that a dropdown
arrow appears at the right end of the box. Click the dropdown arrow, and
choose Set as Default Table Style.

6. Choose All Documents Based on the Normal.dot template (or other template
if a different one is in use).

7. Click OK.

Later, if you're prompted to save changes to Normal.dot, say Yes.

If you ever want to revert, repeat the process, but in step 3, choose
Autofit to Contents, instead of Fixed Column Width.

Hope this helps...

 

[Stefan Blom]

This is good news.

 

[clairej]

I've just tried the techniques suggested by Herb but can't get it to stick to
the Normal template. I followed all the steps but don't get prompted to save
Normal.dot; when I open Normal.dot and try to edit the stlye directly it
doesn't work in subsequent new docs... Any suggestions?

 

[Bob Buckland ?:-\)]

Hi Claire,

In Tools=>Options=>Save do you have the setting to
prompt for changes to Normal template turned on?
If not then the changes may have been saved without
the prompt.

========
I've just tried the techniques suggested by Herb but can't get it to stick to
the Normal template. I followed all the steps but don't get prompted to save
Normal.dot; when I open Normal.dot and try to edit the stlye directly it
doesn't work in subsequent new docs... Any suggestions? >>

 

[clairej]

Thanks Bob

I've tried that...the problem is that it is not saving the changes to the
table style, i.e. when I then open a new document the column is moving again.

V. frustrating that Microsoft have made this change I must say!

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

If you have Acrobat 7 installed, see the last section of
http://www.gmayor.com/lose_that_adobe_acrobat_toolbar.htm