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RKeithHoward-0180 asked PeterShacklock-9003 commented

Word table row copy and paste creates jagged columns

When I highlight a row, then copy then paste, it pastes in a new row with columns that are misaligned with the original row. Is this a Word setting? (Note that ‘Layout’ > ‘Insert’ creates a new row with aligned columns, but this is not a copy.

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This problem is infuriating. When I want to copy/cut a row in a Word table and paste it into a new position in the table this exact thing happens, and has done for years.

It actually shrinks the table width for all other rows, and pastes the original row in with a larger width.

The workaround suggested does work (split table, paste row, merge table), but it shouldn't have to.

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StefanBlom-6438 avatar image StefanBlom-6438 PeterShacklock-9003 ·

This problem is infuriating. When I want to copy/cut a row in a Word table and paste it into a new position in the table this exact thing happens, and has done for years.

It actually shrinks the table width for all other rows, and pastes the original row in with a larger width.

The workaround suggested does work (split table, paste row, merge table), but it shouldn't have to.



Is your issue exactly the same as the one described by the original poster in this thread?

Feel free to share a sample document for illustration.

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Here's a simple table created from Insert/Table:

Now I select a row and Copy (CTRL-C), go up 2 rows and Paste (CTRL-V)

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Update: My networks guy set up a fresh copy of Windows 10 and Office 365 on a clean machine, and it fixed the problem. We still have no idea what caused the problem, so we are about to embark on a laborious process of trying to narrow down to see if any particular configuration or customization caused this.

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Thanks for the update. I'm glad things have improved. :-)

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I will provide a further update as we eventually narrow down the culprit. It could take us a long time...

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erinding-msft avatar image
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erinding-msft answered

Hi @RKeithHoward-0180

What version of Office are you using?

Does this issue occur on specific Word document or all?
Please create a new file to check this issue.


If an Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.
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StefanBlom-6438 avatar image
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StefanBlom-6438 answered

After you have copied a table row, select the row where you want to insert the copy and press Ctrl+V.

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RKeithHoward-0180 avatar image
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RKeithHoward-0180 answered StefanBlom-6438 commented

Hi Stefan, Yes, that is exactly what I am trying. It used to work perfectly every time, but sadly not anymore. Many thanks, Keith

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Do you see this problem in a particular document? (As I wrote, I'm not seeing it here.) You could try in another document.

You can upload the problem document with the forum, if you wish.

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RKeithHoward-0180 avatar image
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RKeithHoward-0180 answered StefanBlom-6438 commented

Hi Stefan,
I am unable to upload any document.
I tried using the attach function in this message. It first told me that I cannot upload a .docx file. I then saved the document as .xml because this was one of the extensions the website advises is permitted. But this also fails to upload - I get a message saying it is not allowed.
The file I am trying to upload shows the problem in its most simple form.
I created a new one row table in this file by doing Insert>Table.
This inserted a one row, wide column, table in the document.
I then copied this row and pasted it, a the narrow row gets inserted.
Many thanks,
Keith

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RKeithHoward-0180 answered
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StefanBlom-6438 avatar image
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StefanBlom-6438 answered RKeithHoward-0180 commented

Looking at your example document, the copy/paste behavior I'm seeing is different from the one you are describing.

Here, Word seems to prefer pasting in the wider table format, even if I copy and paste the more narrow row.

What you can do is copy the row you want do duplicate, and then split the table or add a blank paragraph below the table, if you want to copy the duplicate at the very end of the table. Paste the row. Merge the tables again.

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First, I don't see that your method fixed anything....the second example you showed (after the split, paste, and merge) still has "jagged" rows. Second, why do we now have to use this cumbersome workaround? I used to be able to copy and paste rows within the same table in earlier versions of Word, without the cell widths getting all screwed up like that.

Does Microsoft acknowledge that there's a problem now and, if so, are they working to resolve it? This has become a very frustrating and time-consuming problem, as I use tables frequently in Word!

(Apologies if you're not a Microsoft employee...I wasn't clear about whether you were or not.)

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If table columns are different widths, you have to drag them into position. Hold the Alt key as you drag the border until the columns align again.

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Sefan, the table has many rows, and all columns are aligned throughout all rows. I am aware of your Alt drag technique, and it is not necessary here.
The problem is that when you copy a row, and paste it somewhere else in the table, the column widths get very misaligned. This makes the table virtually unsuable. This is a major problem, as I work with big tables a lot.
Thanks.
Keith

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RKeithHoward-0180 avatar image
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RKeithHoward-0180 answered

Thanks Stefan. That was helpful. Strange that the original simple copy and paste approach just stopped working as the table got very large.

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