WD: Insertion Point Disappears in Table Cell

ID: Q112167

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.1a, 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
• Microsoft Word for Windows NT, version 6.0
• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.1a

SYMPTOMS

When you press TAB to enter a table cell, the insertion point may disappear. Similarly, the insertion point may disappear when you press CTRL+TAB in a table cell. In these table cells, the end-of-cell marker is not visible when the Show All Nonprinting Characters option is turned on.

CAUSE

The insertion point may disappear for any of the following reasons:

• In a table cell, if you set a decimal tab outside the cell margins, it is not visible on the screen. When you enter the table cell, Word moves the insertion point to that tab and it disappears from the screen. If you type at this tab stop, the text may not appear on the screen.

  -or-

• If the table cell contains a decimal tab and is set to either center or right alignment, the insertion point may disappear when you press CTRL+TAB in the table cell. If you type, the text may not appear on the screen.

  -or-

• If the table cell contains a custom tab stop (any kind of alignment) outside the cell margins, the insertion point may disappear when you press CTRL+TAB in the table cell. If you type, the text may not appear on the screen.

  -or-

• In the table cell, if you set a right paragraph indent outside the cell margin, or if you set a negative left paragraph indent, the insertion point is not visible on the screen. When you type, the text may not appear on the screen.

WORKAROUND

To restore the insertion point, press TAB to move to a different table cell or click the mouse somewhere else in the document.

To view or reset the tab stops in a table cell

1. Position the insertion point in the cell.

2. On the Format menu, click Tabs.

3. Clear or reset any tab stops outside of the margins of the cell.

   For example, in a 2-inch table cell that contains a decimal tab at 3
   inches, clear the 3-inch tab or reset it to a value less than 2 inches.

To view or reset paragraph indent formatting

1. Position the insertion point in the cell.

2. On the Format menu, click Paragraph.

3. Change any indentation settings that are set outside of the margins of

   the cell.

To view or reset paragraph alignment formatting

1. Select the table cells in question.

2. Click Paragraph on the Format menu.

3. Click the Alignment drop down arrow and click Left.

4. Click OK.

STATUS

This behavior is by design in Word. When you set tab stops or paragraph indentations in a table cell, you should set them inside the cell margins if you want all the text to appear in the cell.

Additional query words: disappear type width gone cannot see invisible missing ip cursor

Keywords          : kbusage kbtable 
Version           : 1.x 2.x 6.0 6.0a 6.0c 6.0.1 6.0.1a 7.0 7.0a 97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: October 29, 1997