inserting column sees table expand off page

[DBenz]

Hi,


I have been annoyed at this trait ever since first using word decades ago, about time I found out how to fix it.
Insert a column in a table and table expands off page to right.

Why and what is the fix ?

aaaaaaagh !

DBenz

[Guessed]

I'm not sure there is a fix - this is a design decision. The problem is the table is set to a specific width and each column knows how wide it needs to be. Then you add another column and Word needs to make a decision: Does it resize the existing columns (which you were previously happy with) to make room for the new column or does it leave those columns untouched and add the new column to match the width of the source column. Effectively, the programmers will always make some people unhappy, whichever way they decide.

However, as I experiment with a new table in Word 2016 there is something changeable that influences behaviour of the table. I haven't worked it out yet but there is something going on that gives hope to finding the setting.

Inserting a new table, I can select a column and add a column and the total width doesn't change - the other columns shrink to accomodate the new column. However, if I drag the last column just a tiny bit wider than the margin, adding a new column gives you a much wider table going off the page. On the other hand, dragging the table smaller than the page margins allows me to add a column and other columns adjust to retain the same total width. Is the total table width the key?

Tweaking settings like Table Properties > Options > Automatically resize to fit contents may be the key but I'm not convinced of that.

[DBenz]

I am sure many folk get this happen, much gnashing of teeth and Msoft still get away with it. I am never hell bent on keeping my columns a certain width, not sure anyone is, but we are human and end up needing to add another column.

As such a fix is sought, and I thought this would have an easy answer.

I will dabble with setting you suggest, but dread continuing this nightmare journey.

Thank you Msoft !

DBenz

[Guessed]

Of course you could always use a macro to right these wrongs after adding a column

Sub ResizeTable()
  Dim aTbl As Table
  For Each aTbl In Selection.Tables
    aTbl.PreferredWidthType = wdPreferredWidthPercent
    aTbl.PreferredWidth = 100
  Next aTbl
End Sub