Microsoft Word 2007
Merging and Splitting Table Cells
When working with tables, you may occasionally want to merge two or more cells, or split one cell into multiple cells. Word makes this easy.
Merging Cells
Cells can be merged either from the Quick Menu or the Ribbon.
HINTS:
To avoid having to redo your table headings, use the merge and split features as the final step in formatting your table.
If there is text in more than one of the cells being merged, the text from each cell will be separated by paragraphs in the resulting cell.
Merging Cells: Quick Menu Option
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Select the cells you want to merge
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Right click within the selected cells » select Merge Cells
The selected cells are merged.
Merging Cells: Ribbon Option
Select the cells you want to merge
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From the Ribbon, select the Layout command tab
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In the Merge group, click MERGE CELLS
The selected cells are merged.
Splitting Cells
As with merging, cells can be split from either the Quick Menu or the Ribbon.
Splitting Cells: Quick Menu Option
HINTS:
Word will attempt to evenly divide any text in the cell you are splitting based on the number of paragraphs.
You can only split one cell at a time using the Quick Menu option.
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Select the cell you want to split
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Right click within the selected cell » select Split Cells...
The Split Cells dialog box appears.
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In the Number of columns and/or Number of rows boxes, type or use the nudge buttons to select the desired number of rows and/or columns
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Click OK
The selected cell is split according to your settings.
Splitting Cells: Ribbon Option
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Select the cell(s) you want to split
NOTE: Unlike the Quick Menu option, using the Ribbon option allows you to split multiple cells at once. -
From the Ribbon, select the Layout command tab
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In the Merge group, click SPLIT CELLS
The Split Cells dialog box appears.
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In the Number of columns and/or Number of rows boxes, type or use the nudge buttons to select the desired number of rows and/or columns
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OPTIONAL: If you are splitting multiple cells, to keep cell information that is in consecutive cells on the first selected row of new cells, select Merge cells before split
OR
To keep the information in individual cells in their original cells after splitting (rather than keeping the information in consecutive cells on the first selected row), deselect Merge cells before split
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Click OK
The selected cell is split according to your settings.
