Word 2007 Table - Section Break Error

[ICEngineer]

I have isolated a strange error in table behavior under certain
circumstances. I've searched through the discussion group, and have not found
a matching description. I've seen this problem twice, and finally decided it
was time to track down the cause. Several hours later...

On page n of a document, a table begins. The table has several rows, and
automatically breaks to page n+1 across an automatic page break (some rows of
the table are on page n, some are on page n+1). Some time after the table,
but still on page n+1, a continuous section break is inserted (not a
next-page section break). The continuous section break doesn't have to occur
immediately after the table, just somewhere on page n+1.

When these conditions occur, the portion of the table on page n appears to
be uneditable. No cursor is visible in the table, and no selection appears to
occur. Experimentation reveals that selection is occurring, but it isn't
visible. The table can't be effectively edited in this mode.

If the continuous section break is pushed onto page n+2, the portion of the
table on page n acts normal again. If the continuous section break is
replaced with a next-page section break, the table also acts normal.

The problem only occurs when a table breaks across two pages, and is
followed by a continuous section break on the second page.

This is occurring with Word 2007, (12.0.6331.5000), SP1, MSO
(12.0.6320.5000). Both machines I've tested this on have been running XP Pro
5.1.2600 (SP3). Not tested on Vista yet.

I can supply a test document demonstrating the problem (26kB, docx format)
upon request.

 

[Terry Farrell]

This sounds very similar to a bug with tables when used in (page layout)
columns and running headers. In that instance, all the table on the first
page 'appear' to be uneditable. Removing either columns or the running
headers stops the error. This has been bugged with MS. Your problem sounds
similar and I'd guess it's the same bug in a different manifestation.

 

[ICEngineer]

Hi Terry,

Thanks for the reply. I am in page layout mode when the error occurs. I just
checked other modes, and the problem remains in full-screen reading mode, but
goes away in draft mode (and returns when I return to print layout mode).

However, this is a pretty conventional document. There's only one column, no
header, and the footer is simply "Page {PAGE} of {NUMPAGES}". As you might
expect, removing the footer doesn't affect the problem. It may be the same
problem you noted - if so then I may have found a somewhat more general way
to make it happen.

Mike