Tables – AutoFit to Window (2000 SR1)

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When trying to resize and reposition a table that has gone past the page margins or off the page, I use the option to AutoFit to Window and that instantly brings the table back within the margins without having to switch to Normal view and pfaffing around. (I understand that it formats the table for a browser window. So, I figure it treats the margins as a window) While I find this trick quite useful, before I share this little gem with new users of Word, are there any hidden glitches or problems using this technique?

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What happens when you go to print such a table. Does it automatically rescale itself to the paper size or use a static size? I think this sort of table definitely has its uses, but for someone like me who likes control over every detail of table layout, it would not be appropriate. So… I guess I would describe it to users as a completely different kind of table, and not a solution to the hassle of changing views.

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What happens when you go to print such a table. Does it automatically rescale itself to the paper size or use a static size? I think this sort of table definitely has its uses, but for someone like me who likes control over every detail of table layout, it would not be appropriate. So… I guess I would describe it to users as a completely different kind of table, and not a solution to the hassle of changing views.

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Hi Hetty:
FYI, what AutoFit to Window (a misnomer) does is change the Table Properties to measure the table at 100% (rather than by any other measurement). It also changes the measurement on the column tab to a percentage. It actually doesn’t autofit to window; it autofits to the margin. You can switch between landscape & portrait or any other paper size & it will adjust.

This is especially useful if you have a table in a header. With a “normal” header, Word uses tabs to put text on the left, center, & right. If you switch to landscape, the center header is no longer centered (b/c the tab is incorrect). The same is true if you change the margins. If you use a 3 column/1 celled table in the fashion you describe, it will adjust automatically.

Essentially, the two autofit options of to window & fixed column width merely change the type of measurement (plus the “to window” adjusts to 100%). Word doesn’t insert such tables with this property by default so I created tables with a various number of columns (measured by percent) & gave them autotext names. If you work a lot with tables, I’d recommend doing so.
Cheers,

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Hi Hetty:
FYI, what AutoFit to Window (a misnomer) does is change the Table Properties to measure the table at 100% (rather than by any other measurement). It also changes the measurement on the column tab to a percentage. It actually doesn’t autofit to window; it autofits to the margin. You can switch between landscape & portrait or any other paper size & it will adjust.

This is especially useful if you have a table in a header. With a “normal” header, Word uses tabs to put text on the left, center, & right. If you switch to landscape, the center header is no longer centered (b/c the tab is incorrect). The same is true if you change the margins. If you use a 3 column/1 celled table in the fashion you describe, it will adjust automatically.

Essentially, the two autofit options of to window & fixed column width merely change the type of measurement (plus the “to window” adjusts to 100%). Word doesn’t insert such tables with this property by default so I created tables with a various number of columns (measured by percent) & gave them autotext names. If you work a lot with tables, I’d recommend doing so.
Cheers,

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