Why is so hard to use Table inside a Frame. Why does the Frame and the table behaves strangely. I can’t even move the frame containing table properly. Neither can I drag to resize the cell height and width of the table. The Frame also doesn’t move to the point where I want it to be. Why there’s no option to turn off anchor for Frame? It’s extremely frustrating.
No, actually, it isn’t difficult at all.
Most of the time, it simply comes down to knowing how.
To help you, please provide details regarding:
- Operating system
- LibreOffice version
- File storage format
Please describe exactly what your goal is.
It would also be helpful to have a file from you showing the problem—please upload it here.
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(Ranting makes no sense at all!)
Any object inserted into a writer document needs an anchor because it otherwise can’t know in what way to take part in essential automatisms like line-wrapping, page-wrapping, and the flowing (wrapping) of text around it.
Only TextParagraph and TextTable objects do it without an explicit anchor because they always take part in the general flow of the text to which they belong.
A TextTable which shall not be part of the general flowing text must be inserted into a different object. In some special cases this means nesting into the text object of a cell of a superordinate table. In your case the hosting object seems to be a TextFrame. But now this object needs an anchor for the mentioned reasons.
In very rare cases it can make sense to anchor an object “to Page”. It will then not take part in the textflow at all. Only “wrapping around” is supported.
This exceptional case is not listed among the choices for the anchor. You need to open the dialog concerning “position and size” to get it offered.
Property dialogs provide greater control over objects.
- Right Clic on the frame border and chose Anchor To paragraph
This type of anchor is one of the most flexible when you want to move objects with the mouse.
- Right Clic on any cell of the table and select Properties
Possibly, the centered alignment of the table (alignment in the table tab of the table dialog) will help you modify the table.
Refrain as much as you can from moving frames with the mouse. This manual action messes up all positioning parameters. Among other disasters, it changes position to absolute within the page, disabling any automatic “follow-up” behaviour relative to anchor location (when edits cause text reflow).
Once you have “touched” a frame with the mouse (position, size, …), it becomes next to impossible to restore predictable behaviour and stability.
Considering the huge difficulties (for newbies and even learned users) in frames, avoid creating frames when this is not imperative. And with frames, apply strictly frame styles without any direct formatting (including moving and resizing) avent more than with other “style-able” objects.
I do not use the mouse to position frames or objects in their final position, but if that possibility exists, it can be used.
I am only indicating that anchoring to the paragraph is the most convenient for the operations he is carrying out.
- The first thing a novice does is use the mouse to position objects.
- You cannot prohibit it, just as you cannot prohibit the use of direct formatting even if LibreOffice is based on styles.
Ranting? I can’t even insert a table inside a Frame and do whatever I want like in MS Word. LibreOffice is superior to Word mostly but not in such cases - it makes me want to rant. I’ve ditched MS Office and now I can’t do my work involving Tables properly. It’s utterly frustrating.
Yes, ranting. You have never really described what you want to achieve or how you attempt to do this.
You did not ask for help. All you did is listing several “Why is life complicated?”-questions.
.
If you want to reach something, ask for directions. Otherwise we assume you want to stay where you are now… (Ok, there is always hope the world changes and the solution is seeking you.)
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With the default settings, you can drag the columns wider but an increase in width will be outside the frame and anything that is in that part of a table outside the frame will not be visible nor will it interact with text outside the frame.
.
So,
- Right-click in the table and select Table properties
- In the tab Table, under Properties, next to Width tick the box Relative. OK
Now, when you drag the frame handles, the neighbouring row or column table will expand or shrink to fit.
If selecting the frame is tricky, then in the Sidebar, open Navigator and double click the relevant frame in Navigator; the handles for the frame will appear.
In the attached example, both frames have been moved by mouse so are direct formatted but should be easy to move again or to increase table width.
FloatingTable135285.odt (33.0 KB)
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It seems to be difficult for MS Word people, IMO. If you are used to insert tables in Word you immediately can move them without a helping frame like in Writer. Wrapping is no big effort. Other curiosity: Probably trailing (empty) paragraph after the table within the frame.
If someone wants the exact functionality of MS Word, they can buy it. 
But seriously, one must seek the path that is possible.
Wow! Where?
If you insert a table in an empty frame.
Can also be a problem when inserting tables in labels (here: frames including sections) as well.
For experienced users no problems, I know.