Word: Pasting a row into a table doesn’t keep the column widths

Problem

You have a Word table with several rows. You cut a row from the table and paste it into another position within the same table. The column widths don’t ‘honor’ the widths of the original row.

You figure out you can get around it by any of these methods:

• split the table, resize the column widths, then join the table back together again
• convert the table to text, then convert it back to a table again
• drag the columns to lock them into the previously established positions
• insert a blank row into the main table, then copy/paste the content from the cut row into the table cells.

But all of these solutions are painfully tedious and time-consuming. You should ask my husband just how painful — he had this problem and I heard him complain long and loud in frustration (he works with Word tables ALL the time)!

Solution

Check your Smart Cut and Paste settings and make sure the Adjust table formatting and alignment on paste check box is selected.

1. Check the Smart cut and paste settings:
   • Word 2003: On the menu, go to Tools > Options. Click the Edit tab.
   • Word 2007: Click the Office button, then Word Options. Click Advanced in the left panel and scroll down to the Cut, copy and paste section.
2. Make sure the Smart cut and paste check box is selected.
3. Click the Settings button next to that check box.
4. Make sure the Adjust table formatting and alignment on paste check box.
5. Click OK to exit both windows.

Word 2003 window; the Word 2007 selections are the same, but the window is different

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