I have to print content in a column based fashion, but I need the output specific for a book binding layout. So basically what I want to do is on my "Right Page" have my table render as:



Content 1 Note on Content 1 (Optional)
Content 2 Line 1 Note on Content 2 (Optional)
Content 2 Line 2
Content 2 Line 3
Content 3 Line 1 Note on Content 3 (Optional)
Content 3 Line 2
Content 3 Line 3

Where the Content and the Note are aligned to the top of the row.

Then on my "Left Page" I want the opposite:

Note on Content 1 (Optional) Content 1
Note on Content 2 (Optional) Content 2 Line 1
Content 2 Line 2
Note on Content 3 (Optional) Content 3

Is there a way to automate this as the content runs from page to page?

I should also add that I'm using the Open XML mixed with XSLT to generate these documents, so I could possible do some code pre-rendering to calculate line heights and flip the table formats being used, but I'd rather the template handle that if possible.

Of course the format I tried to convey didn't translate to the RTF editor of the post. What I want is for an "Even Page" to have a table where column one is a narrow width and column 2 is the remainder of the page. Then have the "Odd Page" table have column one with the larger width and column 2 is a narrow width. I'd also like this to happen automatically so if the table cell spans 2 pages the template compensates for it.

If the main idea is to have the contents laid out for a book binding, then you are approaching the problem from a wrong direction. What you want to do is set up a gutter in your page setup dialog box. There are many options as to how to set this gutter: left side, right side, mirror margins, bookfold etc. You will find the page set up link in the Print preview of the document. The shortcut for this view is Ctrl+P.

You should be able to find enough help on this from the MS Word help feature (F1).

Hi robrastelli,

Word does not support tables that vary their layout by page. To achieve such an outcome, you would need to use different tables entirely for the odd & even pages.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

If the purpose is to lay out the contents in a particular book binding format, then you are approaching the problem from a wrong direction. There is no need to keep changing the width of the columns for odd and even pages (may be even impossible to do so, as pages change dynamically). All you need to do is set up a gutter in your page. A gutter is an extra margin space for binding. Depending on how you want to bind the book, you can have the gutter on the left or on top. Also, there are options to have gutter with book fold. To set up a gutter, go to the page setup dialog box which can be accessed from the Print Preview (CtrL+P).