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Position text at an absolute position in a Word table using VBA

I have a Word table with 2 columns.The row sizes vary but the column widths are fixed. Each row has several pieces of text in the first column. Each piece is separated by a blank line. Each text piece can be of arbitrary length. There can be any number of text pieces in the first column.

I need to insert text in the next column that lines up vertically with a specific text piece in the first column. Note that the column widths are not equal. The first column width is significantly wider than the second. Also note that not every text piece in the first column will have an associated text piece in the second column.

Below is an image that shows an example

Any help on how to align each piece of text in the second column with the associated text in the first column would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

GrahamSkan

Divide the table into more rows. You can hide the new borders.

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borgtamer

ASKER

The problem is that I do not know beforehand how many text pieces there will be in the first column. They are added dynamically at run time.

In addition, there are other columns after the second with only 1 piece of information in them.

GrahamSkan

Here is an example HiddenRowBorders.doc

borgtamer

ASKER

Can I use absolute positioning in any way to specify exactly where the text in the second column should go?

GrahamSkan

So to insert more data, you will need some code to insert a new row at the end of the first apparent row, with a hidden top border, but visible bottom border.

I'll give it a go.

GrahamSkan

It is very difficult to do absolute positioning. You could put the text in text boxes and float them over the table, or you could add some blank paragraphs or line feeds, or possible use 'Space before' in the paragraph formatting.

I'll do the hidden row code, and see how that suits you.

GrahamSkan

You can increase the size of the array to suit a table with more columns

Sub AddNewDataRow()
    Dim tbl As Table
    Dim rw As Row
    Dim cl As Cell
    Dim rw1 As Row
    Dim i As Integer
    Dim NewData(1) As String
    
    NewData(0) = "Some more text for the first column Some more text for the first column"
    NewData(1) = "Some more text for the second column"
    
    Set tbl = ActiveDocument.Tables(1)
    For Each rw In tbl.Rows
        If rw.Borders(wdBorderTop).LineStyle = wdLineStyleSingle And rw.Borders(wdBorderBottom).LineStyle = wdLineStyleSingle Then
            Set rw1 = tbl.Rows.Add(rw)
            rw1.Borders(wdBorderTop).LineStyle = wdLineStyleNone
            rw1.Borders(wdBorderBottom).LineStyle = wdLineStyleSingle
            
            For i = 0 To UBound(NewData)
                rw1.Cells(i + 1).Range.Text = NewData(i)
            Next i
        End If
    Next rw
End Sub

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borgtamer

ASKER

The table also has a third column with a single piece of text in it. This text can be of arbitrary length and must be kept together. It can easily span the entire height of the column. Below is another image showing the table with this row.

So how do I solve the problem in light of this? Thanks

GrahamSkan

You can merge the cells in the third column.

HiddenRowBorders2.doc