asked on Tables in Excel
hey experts, here is the problem:
I have a bunch of data mapped out in excel. Prior to creating a table, I have a bunch of data, one column is normal, the other column is spread across 8 cells and all of the cells are merged. So this second cell is spread across the whole page.
I NEED to make this thing into a table. When I go to Format as table, it turns my second column (made of merged cells) into 8 columns.
If I delete the unnecessary ones, then the column in the table is now really tiny, and I can't expand it without expanding the column for the entire spreadsheet.
How can I merge columns IN A TABLE? (note: Excel 2007)
-Jeff
I have a bunch of data mapped out in excel. Prior to creating a table, I have a bunch of data, one column is normal, the other column is spread across 8 cells and all of the cells are merged. So this second cell is spread across the whole page.
I NEED to make this thing into a table. When I go to Format as table, it turns my second column (made of merged cells) into 8 columns.
If I delete the unnecessary ones, then the column in the table is now really tiny, and I can't expand it without expanding the column for the entire spreadsheet.
How can I merge columns IN A TABLE? (note: Excel 2007)
-Jeff
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office
Last Comment
jeffiepoo
hi Jeff,
As you have found merged cells cause problems - I recommend getting rid of merged cells.
Some combination of the below alternatives may help:
- not wrapping text at all & letting the text flow out to the right of the table (depending on the order of the columns).
- using [alt + enter] withn a single cell to create a linefeed & then expand the single column slightly less than you have previously.
- selecting the 8* cells across the different columns (in the same row) pressing [ctrl + 1], then on the Alignment tab choose "centre across selection" from the Horizontal dropdown.
*or fewer, if you also use [alt + enter] as well.
hth
Rob
As you have found merged cells cause problems - I recommend getting rid of merged cells.
Some combination of the below alternatives may help:
- not wrapping text at all & letting the text flow out to the right of the table (depending on the order of the columns).
- using [alt + enter] withn a single cell to create a linefeed & then expand the single column slightly less than you have previously.
- selecting the 8* cells across the different columns (in the same row) pressing [ctrl + 1], then on the Alignment tab choose "centre across selection" from the Horizontal dropdown.
*or fewer, if you also use [alt + enter] as well.
hth
Rob
Ooopps!
I posted too soon
You'll need to also tick the "wrap text" option in conjunction with some of my other suggestions.
Rob
I posted too soon
You'll need to also tick the "wrap text" option in conjunction with some of my other suggestions.
Rob
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Rory,
I haven't done too much work with formatting tables* so I just typed out a standard mantra for discouraging the use of merged cells. If you'd posted a couple of days earlier, you could have saved me some typing! ;-)
*For me, Tables are usually just data dumps from various db's & I don't need to "pretty them up".
Rob
I haven't done too much work with formatting tables* so I just typed out a standard mantra for discouraging the use of merged cells. If you'd posted a couple of days earlier, you could have saved me some typing! ;-)
*For me, Tables are usually just data dumps from various db's & I don't need to "pretty them up".
Rob
ASKER
Rorya, I disagree that it defeats the purpose of a table. But you are right, you cannot merge columns.
ASKER
Doesn't defeat table's purpose
Try to save your file as xls not xlsx and see the result,
if it still doesn't work then try to wrap the text in one cell instead of merge 8 cells.
good luck
Wellous