I have text above a large table. just discovered that somewhere down the line the separate text is now the first line in the table. have no idea how this happened. problem is I can't figure out how to un-attach it. should I just delete that row, create a new line above the table and reinsert the text? the online help didn't suggest any way to separate that row from the table.

That should work: cut and paste the text, then delete the table row. But just in case, first select the whole table and make sure that no text outside the table is part of it. It's unlikely, but there might be a top table row without a border.

Another way is that you could place the cursor in what should be the topmost row. Then on the Layout tab for the table, select Split Table from the Merge group. You can then use Convert to Text in the Data group to convert the sundered part of the table back into text.
The instructions above are based on the Word 2010 ribbon. I don't know if the 2007 ribbon is the same in these details, but Split Table and Convert to Text are the objectives.

I thought I had looked in LAYOUT but if so I missed it. SPLIT TABLE option is right there. funny no mention of this in online help when i searched for "split table."

thx for replys.

You don't need to split the table in order to convert the first row to text.

Just select the row and go to Table Tools > Layout > Convert to Text

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Andrew Lockton
Chrysalis Design, Melbourne Australia