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#1
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column width versus cell width
What is the difference between cell width and column width in the table
properties. I find they do the same thing. If I adjust the cell width it adjusts the entire column. Sometimes it wont do anything at all. -- 2dogs in Oregon USA |
#2
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column width versus cell width
If you completely select one or more cells before adjusting the width, then
only the width of the selected cells will be changed. If no cells are selected, then Word assumes that you want to adjust the width of the entire column. To select a cell, move the mouse pointer to the left side of a cell so that an arrow pointing northeast appears, then click. -- Herb Tyson MS MVP Please respond in the newsgroups so everyone can follow along. "2dogs" wrote in message ... What is the difference between cell width and column width in the table properties. I find they do the same thing. If I adjust the cell width it adjusts the entire column. Sometimes it wont do anything at all. -- 2dogs in Oregon USA |
#3
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column width versus cell width
I tested this suggstion several times but it did not work. Here are my exact
steps and results. TEST ONE 1. Start Word 2. Open new blank document 3. In "Page Setup" set left and right margins to 1". 4. Click "Insert Table" icon on Standard toolbar. 5. Insert a 3 x 3 table 6. Select the center cell in the top row (when the cursor becomes a litle selection arrow). 7. Go to Cell tab in properties dialog, the default width of the cell is shown as 2.22 and preferred width is checked. 8. Change width setting to 1.0 and click OK. 9. Result, nothing happens. TEST TWO 1. perform the exact same steps as in TEST ONE except on step 8 change the width setting to 3." 2. Result, the entire column width changes to 3". TEST THREE 1. Same as TEST ONE steps 1 through 7 2. Change width setting to 1". 3. Go to Column tab and uncheck "preferred width" 4. Click OK 5. Result, entire column is resized to 1". TEST FOUR 1. Same as TEST ONE steps 1 through 6 (default cell width is left unchanged) 2. Go to Column tab and uncheck "Preferred width" 3. Click OK 4. Result, the entire center column collapses even though the "Cell width" was still set at 2.2". Please try these same EXACT steps and see how it works for you. -- 2dogs in Oregon USA "Herb Tyson [MVP]" wrote: If you completely select one or more cells before adjusting the width, then only the width of the selected cells will be changed. If no cells are selected, then Word assumes that you want to adjust the width of the entire column. To select a cell, move the mouse pointer to the left side of a cell so that an arrow pointing northeast appears, then click. -- Herb Tyson MS MVP |
#4
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column width versus cell width
There is a difference between (actual) width and preferred width. Preferred width was introduced in Word 2000 and it allows you to express preferences which may or may not be the deciding factor in determining actual table properties. When you specify a preferred width for a single cell in a column of a different width, Word has to decide how to interpret the conflicting values it has. In Word 97, the top row (and only the top row) would have been resized to accommodate the explicit request for a certain width; there wasn't really any other choice it could make. In Word 2000 (and later) Word has a choice and it chooses as you have seen. You may not like its choice but it has a set of guiding principles; if you want something different you must provide a different set of (possibly still conflicting) values and you may have to use a bit of trial and error because I am not aware of any documentation on how Word makes its decisions. You can, if you wish, still use the old (Word 97) dialog and get the old behaviour. There are three commands: TableFormatCell, TableCellWidth, and TableRowHeight and they are available via the Word Commands list under Tools Macro Macros (Alt+F8). Alternatively you can add them to your toolbars via Tools Customize Commands (tab), Category "All Commands" - scroll down the list on the right to find them. Enjoy, Tony "2dogs" wrote: I tested this suggstion several times but it did not work. Here are my exact steps and results. TEST ONE 1. Start Word 2. Open new blank document 3. In "Page Setup" set left and right margins to 1". 4. Click "Insert Table" icon on Standard toolbar. 5. Insert a 3 x 3 table 6. Select the center cell in the top row (when the cursor becomes a litle selection arrow). 7. Go to Cell tab in properties dialog, the default width of the cell is shown as 2.22 and preferred width is checked. 8. Change width setting to 1.0 and click OK. 9. Result, nothing happens. TEST TWO 1. perform the exact same steps as in TEST ONE except on step 8 change the width setting to 3." 2. Result, the entire column width changes to 3". TEST THREE 1. Same as TEST ONE steps 1 through 7 2. Change width setting to 1". 3. Go to Column tab and uncheck "preferred width" 4. Click OK 5. Result, entire column is resized to 1". TEST FOUR 1. Same as TEST ONE steps 1 through 6 (default cell width is left unchanged) 2. Go to Column tab and uncheck "Preferred width" 3. Click OK 4. Result, the entire center column collapses even though the "Cell width" was still set at 2.2". Please try these same EXACT steps and see how it works for you. -- 2dogs in Oregon USA "Herb Tyson [MVP]" wrote: If you completely select one or more cells before adjusting the width, then only the width of the selected cells will be changed. If no cells are selected, then Word assumes that you want to adjust the width of the entire column. To select a cell, move the mouse pointer to the left side of a cell so that an arrow pointing northeast appears, then click. -- Herb Tyson MS MVP |
#5
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column width versus cell width
upper row, bottom row, center row, it makes no difference. This behavior is
totally unpredictable. For example, why will changing the value to a larger value have an affect but changing to a lower value doesn't. The whole operation seems ambiguous to me. (and everybody else I have talked to) -- 2dogs in Oregon USA "Tony Jollans" wrote: There is a difference between (actual) width and preferred width. Preferred width was introduced in Word 2000 and it allows you to express preferences which may or may not be the deciding factor in determining actual table properties. When you specify a preferred width for a single cell in a column of a different width, Word has to decide how to interpret the conflicting values it has. In Word 97, the top row (and only the top row) would have been resized to accommodate the explicit request for a certain width; there wasn't really any other choice it could make. In Word 2000 (and later) Word has a choice and it chooses as you have seen. You may not like its choice but it has a set of guiding principles; if you want something different you must provide a different set of (possibly still conflicting) values and you may have to use a bit of trial and error because I am not aware of any documentation on how Word makes its decisions. You can, if you wish, still use the old (Word 97) dialog and get the old behaviour. There are three commands: TableFormatCell, TableCellWidth, and TableRowHeight and they are available via the Word Commands list under Tools Macro Macros (Alt+F8). Alternatively you can add them to your toolbars via Tools Customize Commands (tab), Category "All Commands" - scroll down the list on the right to find them. Enjoy, Tony "2dogs" wrote: I tested this suggstion several times but it did not work. Here are my exact steps and results. TEST ONE 1. Start Word 2. Open new blank document 3. In "Page Setup" set left and right margins to 1". 4. Click "Insert Table" icon on Standard toolbar. 5. Insert a 3 x 3 table 6. Select the center cell in the top row (when the cursor becomes a litle selection arrow). 7. Go to Cell tab in properties dialog, the default width of the cell is shown as 2.22 and preferred width is checked. 8. Change width setting to 1.0 and click OK. 9. Result, nothing happens. TEST TWO 1. perform the exact same steps as in TEST ONE except on step 8 change the width setting to 3." 2. Result, the entire column width changes to 3". TEST THREE 1. Same as TEST ONE steps 1 through 7 2. Change width setting to 1". 3. Go to Column tab and uncheck "preferred width" 4. Click OK 5. Result, entire column is resized to 1". TEST FOUR 1. Same as TEST ONE steps 1 through 6 (default cell width is left unchanged) 2. Go to Column tab and uncheck "Preferred width" 3. Click OK 4. Result, the entire center column collapses even though the "Cell width" was still set at 2.2". Please try these same EXACT steps and see how it works for you. -- 2dogs in Oregon USA "Herb Tyson [MVP]" wrote: If you completely select one or more cells before adjusting the width, then only the width of the selected cells will be changed. If no cells are selected, then Word assumes that you want to adjust the width of the entire column. To select a cell, move the mouse pointer to the left side of a cell so that an arrow pointing northeast appears, then click. -- Herb Tyson MS MVP |
#6
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column width versus cell width
In general, the largest of the all the individual cell preferred widths and
the column preferred width will take precedence (although other settings may come into play). As I said, you may not like it, but that doesn't make it unpredictable. If you don't like the way the feature works you don't have to use it; I do recognise that the old dialog is not exactly at your fingertips but it is there. It seems to me like all bases are covered. Enjoy, Tony "2dogs" wrote: upper row, bottom row, center row, it makes no difference. This behavior is totally unpredictable. For example, why will changing the value to a larger value have an affect but changing to a lower value doesn't. The whole operation seems ambiguous to me. (and everybody else I have talked to) -- 2dogs in Oregon USA |
#7
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column width versus cell width
I have found your general explination to be totally without merit. When put
to the test it does not wash. I appreciate your participation. And I thank you for your permission to use or not use the feature if I don't like it. (Frankly, I think this is the kind of answer a person gives when they don't know the answer.) I am not criticizing the operation or the application. I am a fan and ardent user of Word. I am trying to understand how these 2 items interact and in that regard you have not been very enlightening. Did you try the simple tests I described. If you did please try to explain the results with something better than "that's just the way it works". I could really use some viable input. -- 2dogs in Oregon USA "Tony Jollans" wrote: In general, the largest of the all the individual cell preferred widths and the column preferred width will take precedence (although other settings may come into play). As I said, you may not like it, but that doesn't make it unpredictable. If you don't like the way the feature works you don't have to use it; I do recognise that the old dialog is not exactly at your fingertips but it is there. It seems to me like all bases are covered. Enjoy, Tony "2dogs" wrote: upper row, bottom row, center row, it makes no difference. This behavior is totally unpredictable. For example, why will changing the value to a larger value have an affect but changing to a lower value doesn't. The whole operation seems ambiguous to me. (and everybody else I have talked to) -- 2dogs in Oregon USA |
#8
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column width versus cell width
Ah, now I see what you're doing. I get the exact same results you get. Note
that there *is* a way to get what you want. But, that doesn't mean that what you're doing shouldn't work as well (IMO). When I first saw your question, I assumed that you were *dragging* cell borders to change the width of cells, since that seems the natural way to do it (from my vantage). Select a cell, then *drag* its left or right border to the left or right. Just that cell changes! And, if you need exact settings, then hold down the Alt key as you drag, and Word will show you the dimensions as you drag. You can also drag using the controls on the ruler. In my view, the fact that what you're trying doesn't work is a bug. Since adjusting cells and columns yield the identical results, it makes having a separate cell tab essentially redundant (not to mention frustrating). -- Herb Tyson MS MVP Please respond in the newsgroups so everyone can follow along. "2dogs" wrote in message ... I tested this suggstion several times but it did not work. Here are my exact steps and results. TEST ONE 1. Start Word 2. Open new blank document 3. In "Page Setup" set left and right margins to 1". 4. Click "Insert Table" icon on Standard toolbar. 5. Insert a 3 x 3 table 6. Select the center cell in the top row (when the cursor becomes a litle selection arrow). 7. Go to Cell tab in properties dialog, the default width of the cell is shown as 2.22 and preferred width is checked. 8. Change width setting to 1.0 and click OK. 9. Result, nothing happens. TEST TWO 1. perform the exact same steps as in TEST ONE except on step 8 change the width setting to 3." 2. Result, the entire column width changes to 3". TEST THREE 1. Same as TEST ONE steps 1 through 7 2. Change width setting to 1". 3. Go to Column tab and uncheck "preferred width" 4. Click OK 5. Result, entire column is resized to 1". TEST FOUR 1. Same as TEST ONE steps 1 through 6 (default cell width is left unchanged) 2. Go to Column tab and uncheck "Preferred width" 3. Click OK 4. Result, the entire center column collapses even though the "Cell width" was still set at 2.2". Please try these same EXACT steps and see how it works for you. -- 2dogs in Oregon USA "Herb Tyson [MVP]" wrote: If you completely select one or more cells before adjusting the width, then only the width of the selected cells will be changed. If no cells are selected, then Word assumes that you want to adjust the width of the entire column. To select a cell, move the mouse pointer to the left side of a cell so that an arrow pointing northeast appears, then click. -- Herb Tyson MS MVP |
#9
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column width versus cell width
I tried to be very specific about the little test so there would be clear
understanding that is hard to convey in words. I think I have come to the same conclusion. I have been trying this command every way I could think of for the last 2 days with no consistant or repeatable resuslt. There are many ways to get cells of different sizes (splitting and adjusting, drawing, dragging, etc.) but this method seems to be bunk. It's very embarassing when a client calls and asks how to set the cell width and when you tell him to use this method he says your an idiot. Know, what I mean? -- 2dogs in Oregon USA "Herb Tyson [MVP]" wrote: Ah, now I see what you're doing. I get the exact same results you get. Note that there *is* a way to get what you want. But, that doesn't mean that what you're doing shouldn't work as well (IMO). When I first saw your question, I assumed that you were *dragging* cell borders to change the width of cells, since that seems the natural way to do it (from my vantage). Select a cell, then *drag* its left or right border to the left or right. Just that cell changes! And, if you need exact settings, then hold down the Alt key as you drag, and Word will show you the dimensions as you drag. You can also drag using the controls on the ruler. In my view, the fact that what you're trying doesn't work is a bug. Since adjusting cells and columns yield the identical results, it makes having a separate cell tab essentially redundant (not to mention frustrating). -- Herb Tyson MS MVP Please respond in the newsgroups so everyone can follow along. "2dogs" wrote in message ... I tested this suggstion several times but it did not work. Here are my exact steps and results. TEST ONE 1. Start Word 2. Open new blank document 3. In "Page Setup" set left and right margins to 1". 4. Click "Insert Table" icon on Standard toolbar. 5. Insert a 3 x 3 table 6. Select the center cell in the top row (when the cursor becomes a litle selection arrow). 7. Go to Cell tab in properties dialog, the default width of the cell is shown as 2.22 and preferred width is checked. 8. Change width setting to 1.0 and click OK. 9. Result, nothing happens. TEST TWO 1. perform the exact same steps as in TEST ONE except on step 8 change the width setting to 3." 2. Result, the entire column width changes to 3". TEST THREE 1. Same as TEST ONE steps 1 through 7 2. Change width setting to 1". 3. Go to Column tab and uncheck "preferred width" 4. Click OK 5. Result, entire column is resized to 1". TEST FOUR 1. Same as TEST ONE steps 1 through 6 (default cell width is left unchanged) 2. Go to Column tab and uncheck "Preferred width" 3. Click OK 4. Result, the entire center column collapses even though the "Cell width" was still set at 2.2". Please try these same EXACT steps and see how it works for you. -- 2dogs in Oregon USA "Herb Tyson [MVP]" wrote: If you completely select one or more cells before adjusting the width, then only the width of the selected cells will be changed. If no cells are selected, then Word assumes that you want to adjust the width of the entire column. To select a cell, move the mouse pointer to the left side of a cell so that an arrow pointing northeast appears, then click. -- Herb Tyson MS MVP |
#10
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column width versus cell width
Yep. Exactly. Tell the client to select the cell and drag its borders.
But, at least you now know where the wall and your head meet. ;-) -- Herb Tyson MS MVP Please respond in the newsgroups so everyone can follow along. "2dogs" wrote in message ... I tried to be very specific about the little test so there would be clear understanding that is hard to convey in words. I think I have come to the same conclusion. I have been trying this command every way I could think of for the last 2 days with no consistant or repeatable resuslt. There are many ways to get cells of different sizes (splitting and adjusting, drawing, dragging, etc.) but this method seems to be bunk. It's very embarassing when a client calls and asks how to set the cell width and when you tell him to use this method he says your an idiot. Know, what I mean? -- 2dogs in Oregon USA "Herb Tyson [MVP]" wrote: Ah, now I see what you're doing. I get the exact same results you get. Note that there *is* a way to get what you want. But, that doesn't mean that what you're doing shouldn't work as well (IMO). When I first saw your question, I assumed that you were *dragging* cell borders to change the width of cells, since that seems the natural way to do it (from my vantage). Select a cell, then *drag* its left or right border to the left or right. Just that cell changes! And, if you need exact settings, then hold down the Alt key as you drag, and Word will show you the dimensions as you drag. You can also drag using the controls on the ruler. In my view, the fact that what you're trying doesn't work is a bug. Since adjusting cells and columns yield the identical results, it makes having a separate cell tab essentially redundant (not to mention frustrating). -- Herb Tyson MS MVP Please respond in the newsgroups so everyone can follow along. "2dogs" wrote in message ... I tested this suggstion several times but it did not work. Here are my exact steps and results. TEST ONE 1. Start Word 2. Open new blank document 3. In "Page Setup" set left and right margins to 1". 4. Click "Insert Table" icon on Standard toolbar. 5. Insert a 3 x 3 table 6. Select the center cell in the top row (when the cursor becomes a litle selection arrow). 7. Go to Cell tab in properties dialog, the default width of the cell is shown as 2.22 and preferred width is checked. 8. Change width setting to 1.0 and click OK. 9. Result, nothing happens. TEST TWO 1. perform the exact same steps as in TEST ONE except on step 8 change the width setting to 3." 2. Result, the entire column width changes to 3". TEST THREE 1. Same as TEST ONE steps 1 through 7 2. Change width setting to 1". 3. Go to Column tab and uncheck "preferred width" 4. Click OK 5. Result, entire column is resized to 1". TEST FOUR 1. Same as TEST ONE steps 1 through 6 (default cell width is left unchanged) 2. Go to Column tab and uncheck "Preferred width" 3. Click OK 4. Result, the entire center column collapses even though the "Cell width" was still set at 2.2". Please try these same EXACT steps and see how it works for you. -- 2dogs in Oregon USA "Herb Tyson [MVP]" wrote: If you completely select one or more cells before adjusting the width, then only the width of the selected cells will be changed. If no cells are selected, then Word assumes that you want to adjust the width of the entire column. To select a cell, move the mouse pointer to the left side of a cell so that an arrow pointing northeast appears, then click. -- Herb Tyson MS MVP |
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