Microsoft Word:  Change the column width in a table

Did you know there is more than one way to resize a column in a Word table? Each way is a little different and has it's own benefits.

Resize a column from within the table using the mouse

1. Rest the pointer on the column boundary you want to move until it becomes a two-headed resizing arrow.
2. Click and drag the boundary until the column is the width you want. As you do so, one column will shrink as the adjacent column grows.

Change a column width to a specific measurement

1. Click a cell in the column.
2. On the Table menu, click Table Properties, and then click the Column tab.
3. Choose the options you want and then click OK.

Automatically fit the width of the contents

1. Select the table
2. From the Table menu, point to AutoFit, and then click AutoFit to Contents.

Resize the table as you resize a column

1. Rest the pointer on the column boundary marker you want to move on the Ruler bar until you see the tool tip Move Table Column.
2. Click and drag the boundary until the column is the width you want. As you do so, the left column will grow and all other columns will remain the same, thus increasing the size of your table.
3. To display the column width measurements, hold down ALT as you drag the column boundary marker on the Ruler bar.

If you have any questions regarding this tip or need help implementing it in your own projects, contact Ranelle Maltas, Application Support Associate, at 472-0585 or e-mail at rmaltas2@unl.edu.