I would like to ask if this is possible with Libre writer. I am doing this in Microsoft Word.
For example, I have a 2x2 table, and I want the column widths for the first row be different than the second row. In Microsoft word, I just drag the column border to the width I like for both rows, and I’m finished. How do I do this in Writer? Thanks.
Hmm… I was sure it’s possible directly when a row (or cells) are selected. Well, I’m apparently wrong.
To achieve that, given the example you gave (2x2), you would need to do a split and then a merge, e.g.:
- Split cell A1 horizontally (now you have 3 cells in row 1)
- Merge cells B1 and C1 (now you have 2 cells in row 1, but their sizes are different from row 2).
Now the sizes are adjustable independently, until you make them equal, in which event they will become linked again.
Hold down Shift + Ctrl and then drag the column borders as needed (tested on Windows 10).
Another possibility:
- Click in cell B2.
- Press
Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Right Arrow. - Drag the column borders of row 1 or row 2 as needed.
Alternatively, split and merge, as in the answer by @mikekaganski.
Thanks!
Ctrl + Alt + Right Arrow seems to be enough.
In previous versions, I thought that merging and then splitting into 2 columns worked, but it seems 3 columns are required now
It works for me with 6.0.0.1, if you merge one row, resize cells in second row (so that the border isn’t at the center), and then split top row. The matter is that the borders don’t coincide vertically, or else they are joined together.
On my Windows machine, Ctrl + Alt + Right Arrow turns the whole view 90 degrees instead.
You’re right; I must have merged and then resized the other row before splitting. The three cell solution is better because cell contents are not merged unnecessarily.
Well - the screen rotation is a video driver “feature” that conflicts with the hotkeys… that’s another story. It’s good that adding Shift works in this case - but that must also be the driver’s feature - because on my system, the ctrl+shift+alt+arrow does nothing.
thanks. this works.
Ctrl Alt Shift Right arrow did not work for me for a table, using LibreOffice Draw 6.3.3.2 (x64). Nothing happened, even after disabling hotkeys.
In LO Writer, a table has a global format: all properties are shared over all rows. As such, you can’t define different column widths for rows.
However, provided your customised column widths are sufficiently “rare”, you can do that with different tables.
For example, you need a 4-column x 7-row table where rows 4-5 show different width. Insert first a 4-col x 3-row table, then with the cursor immediately after the table insert a 4-col x 2-row table, and again with the cursor after the second table insert a 4-col x 2-row table.
The column widths can be set independently in the tables. Space between individual tables is tuned in Table>Table Properties, Table tab.
In case you can’t “join” the tables, make sure there isn’t a paragraph mark between your partial tables: display formatting information with View>Nonprinting Characters and eventually delete the paragraph mark (cursor before the mark and hit Delete key.
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