Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: How to Stop a Table Row from Splitting Over Two Pages.
For some documents, it is par for the course to have tables extend from one page to another. As your tables get larger, Word automatically breaks tables so the most information can get on each page. This may mean that a row of your table may start on one page and end on the following page. Obviously, this is not acceptable for some tables. You may have the need to make sure that entire rows of your table stay together.
To make sure that Word doesn't break a particular row of your table, follow these steps if you are using Word 97:
If you are using Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003 the process is slightly different. Follow these steps, instead:
Figure 1. The Row tab of the Table Properties dialog box.
If you are not sure about where a table may break (or even if it will), but you want to make sure that no row of the table is divided, you simply need to select the entire table in step 1 rather than selecting a single row.
Remember that these steps won't stop a table from splitting across two pages; it only stops individual rows from splitting across pages.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1827) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: How to Stop a Table Row from Splitting Over Two Pages.
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2019-03-26 20:34:09
Peter
This does not work in all situations. I have a table with a list of items in column one and requirements for those items in column 2. I don't wan the cell with the requirements to split across pages because it makes it hard for people to read and understand. When multiple items have the same requirements I merge the cells in column 2 because it saves space and duplication. However whatever I do (select table, select row, select cell) the table will split according to the cells in column 1 and column 2 cells can't be protected against splitting across the page.
Any solutions to this?
2018-05-31 21:14:53
Ken Lester
I occasionally have a table column split between 2 Pages. I can't get the table to heal. I've tried everything to have the table be brought together on the same page-- Margin changes, content changes to add to or delete from to have the table not to have a column split.
Can you help?
Kenny
2018-05-10 16:10:38
it worked... thanks
2016-07-27 08:48:03
Michiel
This does aparently not always work. I have a table that doesnt seem to bother if I check this box or not. It does work in other tables.
So what can be wrong?
2016-05-11 12:42:01
Jimson Wallaby
Hey guys, this worked and didn't work at the same time. Why is that?
2015-10-20 23:54:41
J Lauder
This saved my bacon. Thank you!
2015-09-02 19:17:54
Jose Antonio Garciarivas
Thank you so much.
I wish the best for you also.
2015-07-27 05:12:09
Blaire del Rio
I have already done the step, but it is still not working...the table shouldn't split to another page 'coz there is still enough space
2015-02-28 11:52:13
HEMEN VITHLANI
on the word table :
my row is too long ( wide )., it goes out of the page, to the adjoining page.
i am not bothered about that. problem is how can i visualise and work on the row that has gone far beyond my page.
can i change the page margins, to a wider page width., so that i can see the whole table on one "screen"., is this page widening possible only for the table in the word document
2014-08-20 09:09:02
Deb
Actually I was looking for just the opposite, (I wanted the Table Row to Split Over Two Pages) but found this to be exactly what I needed. My hang-up was that I wasn't highlighting just one row, I had the whole table selected and that check box didn't appear. I just checked the box for each row and everything is now perfect.
Thanks!
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: 
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