How to Keep Text Together?

[MikeT1953]

I'm trying to documant a database. I'm using two (2) columns in portrait mode. I have a lot of short lines for each table which need to be kept together, and separated from each other table with a blank line.

When a table won't fit in one column and part of it spills over to the next column or page, how can I force Word to keep all of the parts of the table together in one column, and force the next table to start in the next column or page? I don't want to have to keep adjusting the number of hard returns between each table to make things fit.



Thanks.

[legalbeagle]

I have not been able to find a way that will keep the table together; however, you are able to insert a column break so that the start of the table will be in the next column, and that way stay all together.

In Word 2010, with cursor at point where you want the break, go to Page Layout, then to Breaks (odd looking icon in upper right of that section). You then will choose Column Break.

If necessary, you can sometimes add more space to a column (pushing last part of a table UP into previous column) by inserting some Returns at the end of the column, but it's always best not to format using the Space bar or Returns.

[timpani]

I hope I'm understanding your question correctly; if so, you're better off avoiding manual column breaks which you'll then have to keep adjusting, and letting Word do the work for you.

Select the whole table and unset "allow row to break across pages" in the row properties. Then select everything except the last row of the table and set "keep with next" in the paragraph properties.

If you do that on all your tables you should get the layout you're after.

[macropod]

Folks, please consider the age of a thread before resurrecting it. In this case, the original query was made more than two years ago. Somehow I doubt it's still a burning issue for the OP.

There are various ways of forcing a table to 'keep together; timpai mentions one. Applying the "keep with next" method to all except the final paragraph in any one column also works. Another method is to put the table into a textbox. Note that neiter of the first two methods work with a table with the 'around' layout.