1. Is it possible to select which row or column formatting it should follow when a new row/column is inserted to the table?

For example
Col1 --- Col2 --- Col3

If you insert a new column
Col1 --- Col2 --- NewCol --- Col3

NewCol copies the formatting of Col3, but I want Col2's.
How?



2. When I drag and drop the table column, Word automatically adjust the width of the column to match the right side of the column. It is annoying. I want it to keep the original width. How to do?

For example
Col1 --- Col2 [width 2cm] --- Col3 --- Col4 [width 6cm]

Then I dragged and dropped Col2
Col1 --- Col3 --- Col2 [width 6cm] --- Col4 [width 6cm]

I don't want to change the width. I want to keep it 2cm after I moved Col2.
How?

Any efficient workaround is appreciated.

Thank you very much.

One suggestion, or rather a workaround, for your first question: You can copy the text formatting with Ctrl+Shift+C and then paste it onto the added column with Ctrl+Shift+V.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

Hello. It does not work. This method does not copy the column width nor cell formatting.

As I wrote, copy and paste formatting (no matter if you use the Format Painter or the handy shortcuts I suggested) only works with text formatting.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

OK, so it is not even a workaround for my situation as I need to apply cell formatting.

Thank you.

The steps I suggested do take care of the text formatting inside the table cell. But I realize that I misunderstood your question, as you were referring to column widths only. For those there seem to be no workaround, strange as it may seem. :-(

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

Well actually I want to preserve all formatting. That includes both text and cell formatting. But since it is the cell formatting which is missing, that's why I ask only cell formatting.

It is normal to expect all formatting should be preserved when you cut/copy and paste the whole block of cells. It does not behave like that in older versions (XP). What a big step backwards!

Hmm, you can experiment with the "Use Smart cut and paste" settings at File tab | Options | Advanced. In a quick test, I haven't been able to get Word to paste a column without adjusting the column width, though. I'm starting to wonder if this is a bug in Word 2013.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional