WD2000: Cannot Adjust Column Width by Dragging Column Boundary Inside Table

ID: Q224657

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

When you try to adjust the width of a column by using your mouse to drag a column boundary inside a table, Microsoft Word 2000 may not allow you to adjust the width or may limit the amount you can adjust the width of the column.

NOTE: This problem occurs after you create a table in Word, or you copy and paste a table from Microsoft Access 2000, Microsoft Excel 2000, or a Web page.


WORKAROUND

Use one of the following methods to adjust the width of the columns in a table:

Method 1: Drag the Column Marker

To adjust the width of a column of a table, drag the column marker in the ruler. To show the column markers, your insertion point must be inside a column cell in the table.

NOTE: To display column width measurements as you drag the column marker, hold the ALT key.

Method 2: Change the Table Column Properties

To change a column width to a specific measurement, do the following steps:
  1. Click into a cell within the column you want to adjust.


  2. On the Table menu, click Table Properties.


  3. On the Column tab, change the Preferred width box to the setting (width) that you want, and then click OK.


Method 3: Allow the Text to AutoFit the Table Columns

To make the columns in a table automatically fit the contents, do the following steps:
  1. Click into the table you want to adjust.


  2. On the Table menu, point to AutoFit and then click AutoFit to contents.


For more information about changing the column width in a table, click Microsoft Word Help on the Help menu, type "How do I adjust the width of table columns?" in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.


STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

Additional query words: 


Keywords          : kbdta wd2000 
Version           : WINDOWS:2000
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbbug

Last Reviewed: June 24, 1999