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: Table Won't Flow to Second Page.

Table Won't Flow to Second Page

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated August 3, 2019)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003


9

Pam is having a problem with a table. In the table, when she reaches the bottom of a page, instead of automatically going onto the next one, the text disappears off the sheet. It is still there; if she deletes rows further up then the text becomes visible. Pam wonders how she can fix the behavior.

There are several possible causes for the problem, Pam, and you'll have to try a few things to see what works. Before trying anything, however, make sure that your table is exhibiting the problem, meaning that it has text that flows beyond the bottom margin of the page. That way, if one of the fixes works, you'll see the table flow as it should to the next page.

First of all, check the formatting of the paragraphs used within the table. If the paragraphs have the "Keep with Next" setting selected, then it can cause problem with the flowing of the paragraphs within the table. Each paragraph tries to stay on the same page as the following paragraph, and since they can't all fit on the same page, Word can get a bit confused. Select all the paragraphs in the table, display the Line and Page Breaks tab of the Paragraph dialog box and clear the Keep with Next check box.

Next thing to check is the formatting of the table rows. You can set them up so that rows don't break across pages, meaning that a row won't split between two pages. If the table has a single row, and that row extends longer than a page, then Word once again gets a bit confused. Right-click the table, choose Properties, display the Row tab, and select the Allow Row to Break Across Pages check box.

There is another table property worth checking. If text wrapping for the table is turned on, then it can cause problems with the table extending beyond the bottom of the page. Right-click the table, choose Properties, display the Table tab, and click None in the Text Wrapping area.

Another thing to check is the compatibility settings used within Word. If the document is based on an old template, or the document was originally created in a very old version of Word, then it is possible that the compatibility settings are causing some weird text flowing problems. You check the compatibility settings by clicking Tools | Options | Compatibility tab.

If all else fails, try selecting the table, converting it to text, and then converting it back into a table. This should "reset" many of the table settings and your table may start behaving as expected.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (5686) 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: Table Won't Flow to Second Page.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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Comments

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What is 2 + 8?

2021-02-17 09:13:54

Marci

Thank you for saving me from an intense headache, which is what I would have gotten from beating my head against the desk trying to solve the issue on my own. You sir, are a star.


2021-01-23 13:53:31

Jen

Thank you so much!!


2020-12-07 03:56:49

SJ

THANK YOU!


2020-09-21 06:42:04

Anonymous

Thank you so much. I was about to go mad because of this. The word-wrapping option was what I was missing.


2020-08-28 11:32:01

Michael

..or, if there is a FRAME around the table, that will lock the table into one page, with no solution given in the above.


2020-03-30 08:47:33

Pavlovic Darko

Dear Allen,

Thank you for your brilliant tips!

Solved an age old problem many of my colleagues seem to be facing!

Cheers and have a wonderful 2020! +1


2020-02-03 01:20:45

Kenneth

Dear Allen,

Thank you for your brilliant tips!

Solved an age old problem many of my colleagues seem to be facing!

Cheers and have a wonderful 2020!


2020-01-13 06:14:59

Shirley

Dear Allen, big thanks for your kind sharing!

Best
Shirley from Hong Kong


2019-08-29 03:49:27

Chantal

Hi, there
I just experienced a similar problem with Word 2003 - my colleagues on a higher version are able to see the document in full.
I figured out that if you right-click in the table, point to ‘Select’, choose ‘Table’, now go to ‘Layout’ at the top under ‘Table Tools’ and decrease the height. The table will shrink and you can sort from there.
Kind regards
Chantal


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