Fixing the Column Widths in a Table

[maolson3]

I'm having a problem with the width of my columns in a table changing size depending on the size of the output window, as well as outputting to a word document.

I put a fixed size on the width of each of the columns, but when I output the column widths all appear to be about equal, though this is not what I set them up to be. Am I doing something wrong??? Thanks for the help in advance.

[Robotman]

I've had a number of issues with table column widths in Word output and sent them to bug submission. Sorry I can't be of more help. I'm hoping v4 will fix these issues up.

I generally manually re-set the widths after outputting to Word.

[Andrew Heard]

As far as I can see, you can't set the width of individual columns - if you specify a column width it is applied to all columns in the table.

If it is possible to define a width in pixels for individual columns, I too would like to know how.

Andrew

[KevinDAmery]

I'm right clicking on the column widths and assigning a setting in inches. It's working correctly for me. Here's a sample of what the code looks like in the text editor:

Code: Select all

<table class="TableStyle_Inner" style="mc-table-style: url('../Resources/TableStyles/Inner.css');margin-left: 0;margin-right: auto;" cellspacing="1">
            <col style="width: 2in;" />
            <col style="width: 1in;" />
            <col style="width: 3.50in;" />

And here's what it looks like in Word.

table_sample.png

[Robotman]

Kevin,

I'd be interested to see your results if you copied the table as it is (in the same topic) and then rebuilt using Word and check if the columns still match up. I sent my code into support for MadCap to have a look at.

[Andrew Heard]

Kevin -

Can you explain what you mean by "right clicking on the column widths" please? Is this in the Flare interface, and if so, where?

I'd rather not have to modify the html code.

I want to set up my tables like this, for example:
Col 1: 100 px
Col 2: 150 px
Col 3: to remaining page width

Andrew

[NorthEast]

First off, make sure the table rows and columns are displayed - select Table > Show Rows / Columns (or use the icons on the XML editor toolbar).

At the top will be two rows of markers showing the width of the whole table and the width of each column (if there's room) - e.g. 'auto', '100px', etc.

To change a column width, right-click on the column's bar and you'll see a menu of options, including the width setting.

columns.gif

[KevinDAmery]

Kevin,

I'd be interested to see your results if you copied the table as it is (in the same topic) and then rebuilt using Word and check if the columns still match up. I sent my code into support for MadCap to have a look at.

I already have - I used three tables in the same topic all using the same widths but with different content. The output in Word is consistent for me.

[KevinDAmery]

Kevin -

Can you explain what you mean by "right clicking on the column widths" please? Is this in the Flare interface, and if so, where?

I'd rather not have to modify the html code.

I want to set up my tables like this, for example:
Col 1: 100 px
Col 2: 150 px
Col 3: to remaining page width

Andrew

Dave already answered this one - the method he described is what I use.

One thing I would add, though, is that if you are going to print output (like Word) using Pixels as your unit of measurement is going to be unpredictable. Pixels are an online measurement that really aren't applicable to print output. I would use either Points or Inches (or centimeters if you're in a metric part of the world).

[Laurah]

The problem with using pixels/cm/inches for defining column widths is that it doesn't allow for automatic resizing of the table in the online output.

I've yet to come across a foolproof way of setting the column sizes in such a way that they are absolute in printed output, but resizeable in online output I seem to get one or the other working as desired, but not both. I tried to create a .td style which has the "width" property set as a percentage for online medium and as cm for printed medium, but it didn't work in FrameMaker - I don't know about Word.

Laurah

[maolson3]

Kevin,

I am opening my topic file and seeing the widths set exactly as I input them (see below):

" <h6><b>(1) Main Toolbar</b>
</h6>
<table style="width: 100%;border-left-style: solid;border-left-width: 0in;margin-left: 0;margin-right: auto;mc-table-style: url('Resources/TableStyles/Header Table.css');" class="TableStyle_Header_Table" cellspacing="0">
<col style="width: .5in;" />
<col style="width: 1in;" /
<col style="width: 6in;" />
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="TableStyle_Header_Table_Body_0_0">
<img src="Resources/Images/New.bmp" />"

But I am still getting my columns to be set arbitrarily or each column is set at an equal spacing. Is there something overriding my column widths? A table stylesheet?

[LTinker68]

Try removing the 100% width on the table itself. Tables have problems if you try to set width values on both the table and on the individual columns. Either set the width on the table tag and let the columns adjust automatically, or set widths for every column and let the table width be based on the combined column widths.

[KevinDAmery]

Also, just to ensure you have the proper syntax, I believe that it should be

Code: Select all

<col style="width: .5in"; />

instead of

Code: Select all

<col style="width: .5in;" />

ie. the the quotes have to be before the semi colon, since the semi colon demarcates the end of the argument.

[maolson3]

Ok, I'm getting there. Now I get the table width standardized, but each of the columns are equal width in the output, even though my values are not equal. I have 3 columns, .5", 1", and 6" that all become equal width when I look at the output. Anything else??? Thank you for the support thus far.