Moving a Table Column

Summary: Want to move a column in a table very easily? You can do so by using the same editing techniques you are already using. (This tip works with Microsoft Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, Word 2003, and Word 2007.)

In the last tip you learned how to move a table row. Moving a column is similar and is accomplished by the following steps:

Select the column you want to move.
Press Ctrl+X, click on the cut tool on the toolbar, or choose Cut from the Edit menu. This removes the column from the table and copies it to the Clipboard.
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the top cell of the column before which you want to place the column you just cut.
Press Ctrl+V, click on the paste tool on the toolbar, or choose Paste from the Edit menu.

It should be noted that the above steps will not work as expected if you have Track Changes turned on. If you do, then when you attempt step 2 you are told that if you continue, your edit will not be "tracked" (marked). You will then need to make a decision as to whether this is a "deal breaker" on the edit. For most people it probably isn't, since you are going to paste the column elsewhere.

Tip #1769 applies to Microsoft Word versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2007

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Moving a Table Column