Why is Word's handling of tables so bad?

[agbiggs]

Ok, I know this is a general point, but prompted by two specifics:

1. Word often splits tables into two parts on separate pages, even if
the table easily could fit onto one page. E.g., I could have a table
with 10 or 15 rows but it still will split up. I've tried some of the
paragraph formatting things I've read about, but no dice. My real
point is, how hard is it to get this right?

2. When I paste a table onto the middle of a page, it often goes right
to the top (this happens with pasted pictures as well). What that
means is that it's really hard even to select the table to move it
down, since you can't access the little plus sign to grab it. When I
try to do a cut/paste to move it down, it pastes back to the top of
the page.

I waste so much time on this nonsense that I'm thinking of using an
alternate word processor. How can it be that umpteen versions into the
program with all sorts of fancy new visuals I've still got to deal
with this stuff? Sorry for the rant, and it anyone has any suggestions
please let me know. I'm just frustrated here. Thanks!

 

[trip_to_tokyo]

Ok, I know this is a general point, but prompted by two specifics:

1. Word often splits tables into two parts on separate pages, even if
the table easily could fit onto one page. E.g., I could have a table
with 10 or 15 rows but it still will split up. I've tried some of the
paragraph formatting things I've read about, but no dice. My real
point is, how hard is it to get this right?

2. When I paste a table onto the middle of a page, it often goes right
to the top (this happens with pasted pictures as well). What that
means is that it's really hard even to select the table to move it
down, since you can't access the little plus sign to grab it. When I
try to do a cut/paste to move it down, it pastes back to the top of
the page.

I waste so much time on this nonsense that I'm thinking of using an
alternate word processor. How can it be that umpteen versions into the
program with all sorts of fancy new visuals I've still got to deal
with this stuff? Sorry for the rant, and it anyone has any suggestions
please let me know. I'm just frustrated here. Thanks!

Use EXCEL instead.

 

[agbiggs]

My issue is actually pasting tables from Excel into Word docs. I
select the cells in Excel, then paste/special into Word, then format
it as needed. That seems pretty straightforward, but the stuff I go
through seems nutty. Thanks.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

I don't know whether you've read the articles at
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/TblsFldsFms/KeepTableOn1Page.htm and
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/TblsFldsFms/ControlPgBrksInTables.htm, but perhaps
they would be helpful.

Your #2 problem arises from the fact that, when you drag a table by its
handle (the "little plus sign," which is actually the standard four-headed
arrow Move symbol), it becomes wrapped. Unless you really need to wrap text
around it, controlling its placement will be much easier if you change the
wrapping to None (Table tab of Table Properties).

If you need to wrap text around the table, then open Table Properties and
click Positioning... on the Table tab. Set a precise position for the table
relative to the page, margins, or the paragraph to which it is anchored
(though that latter may be a bit mysterious since Word doesn't display
anchors for wrapped tables).

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org