How to remove an empty row after a table anchor?

[bufossil]

We are using FrameMaker 12 on a Windows 7 (64 bit) platform.

I am working my way down a chapter of training content. I am halfway down the chapter, and—as fate would have it—I need to start a table at the top of a page.

When I insert a table (with a caption/title at the top), FM creates an anchor at the top of the page. The space to the right of the anchor is a blank line.  I actually want the table to start at the top of the page without the blank line to the right of the anchor.

This is what I tried, with the results:

I put the cursor after the anchor, and press Delete.

Result: The text *below* the table is brought up above the table.

I put the cursor after the last bit of text on the previous page, and press Delete.

Result: The paragraph on the previous page moves down to the next page on top of the table, leaving a large blank space on the previous page.

I change the Start option (on Table Designer) to Top of Column (or Top of Page).

Result: FM leaves the anchor where it was, moves the table down to the next page, and leaves a totally empty page where the table used to be.

Is there any way to just move the table up so that it is on the same line as the anchor?

(And as a tool design issue, is there EVER a reason why a content developer would want an entire blank line above of a table?)

Thank you in advance,

Tim

[Bob_Niland · Accepted solution]

Assuming your anchoring para has a Line Spacing of X:

• In Paragraph Designer for the anchor para, set the Basic: Space: Below Pgf: to -X
• In Table Designer for the table, set the Basic: Space: Above: to -X

> ... is there EVER a reason why a content developer would want an entire blank line above of a table?

A series of tables not run-together, sure. But the negative space hack above is needed often enough that having to do it suggests a design oversight.

[Mike Wickham]

I've always thought it strange that FrameMaker doesn't properly butt

tables against the top of a column by default. Here's how to make tables

do it.

1. First, in the Table Designer, on the Basic tab, set Spacing Above to

a negative number, such as -2.0 pt, for the table. (You probably want to

update all of your table styles to use this number by default.)

2. Create an anchor paragraph style to hold tables, perhaps naming it

TableAnchor. In the Paragraph Designer, on the Basic tab, set Spacing

Below Pgf to the same negative number, such as -2.0 pt, for this

paragraph style and select the "Fixed" checkbox. On the Default Font

tab, set the font to the same number, but positive-- such as 2.0 pt.

3. Now, whenever you want to insert a table, first insert a TableAnchor

paragraph to hold the table, then insert your table. The table will not

only fit properly against the top of a column, but should also look

better when it follows text in a column.

NOTE: Anywhere I've used 2.0 or -2.0, you can use any number you want,

just be sure to get the signs right and use the same number in all three

places. Some people use 12.0 pt and -12.0 pt, for example.

[bufossil]

Thank you both for your answers.

I will added your instructions to my permanent FM tip sheet.