How to Change Header Rows in a Long Table Across Multiple Pages in InDesign

[Federica370702447a5d]

Hi,

I have a long table in Indesign with content overflowing from page 1 to page 20. I have a header row on every page. I'd like to change the header row to a different header row at page 7. This way I can have a header row for pages1 to 7 and a different header row for pages 8 to 20. Is there a way to do to this in Indesign?

Thank you

<Title renamed by MOD>

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @Federica370702447a5d,

Thanks for reaching out! You can achieve this by using table styles and creating a new header for your table.

1. Select the row that you want as the new header (for pages 8 to 20).
2. Go to Table > Cell Options > Rows and Columns, and check the "Header" box.
3. Next, apply the new header style to the selected row.

To ensure everything works seamlessly, could you please let us know which version of InDesign you're using and your operating system details? This will help us assist you better!

Best,
Abhishek Rao

[Federica370702447a5d]

Hi, 

Thank you for the reply, but I'm not sure how I can make this work. Once I apply a header from page 1, it applies the header for every page in the document. This means I cannot select the header row' on any other page other than page 1.
Without being able to select it, I also cannot apply a new header to the rest of the pages. 
I am using Indesign 2024 19.5. Thanks!

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @Federica370702447a5d,

Thanks for the clarification! Please try below to set different header rows in your table:

1. Go to Window > Styles > Paragraph Styles and create two styles (e.g., "Header Style 1" for pages 1-7 and "Header Style 2" for pages 8-20).

2. Select the first header row (for pages 1-7) and apply "Header Style 1".

3. After your content rows for pages 1-7, insert a new row for the new header. Select it and apply "Header Style 2".

4. Go to Table > Cell Options > Rows and Columns, and check the "Header" box for both header rows. 

This should allow you to have distinct headers for your table! Let us know how it goes. 

Best,  
Abhishek Rao  

[Federica370702447a5d]

Thanks, I've tried this, but when I go to Table > Cell Options > Rows and Columns, I don't have a 'Header' box to check, screenshot attached 😞

[Frans v.d. Geest]

@Abhishek Rao  Strange that you give an advice that simply does not work: if you define a header in a long table that is threaded from one page to another, of course that header is repeated. That is how it works. Automatically repeated headers can NOT be changed (or even selected) on other pages. In Cell Styles there is no 'Header' checkbox as you describe. You should know that.

Your advice therefore is absolutely wrong and can confuse users. 

[Steve Werner]

Sadly, I have to agree with @Frans v.d. Geest . Your suggestions do not work. I could not think of a way what he wants to do could be done within one table.

Perhaps the table could be recreated as two separate tables...not an easy task.

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi Everyone, 

I sincerely apologize for the confusion caused by my previous suggestions. My intention was to guide you to break the table into separate tables at the desired point to allow for distinct headers. 

I appreciate your understanding and expertise in this area and thanks for correcting me out. Thank you for your patience, and I’m here to help if you have any further questions.

Best,  
Abhishek Rao  

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS · Accepted solution]

You can use a work-around to have a different "header" on the first page and another header on the others, but you can't tell it what page to start on. Why not create two tables? You can format them like the are one long document if necessary. 

[Steve Werner]

@Dave Creamer of IDEAS,

Yes, the two tables solution was the only one I could think of. InDesign tables are  not designed to change headers in ",mid stream".

[Barb Binder]

Team two tables! 

Just select the second half of the table, cut the rows, add a new paragraph return, and paste the rows back in as a second table. Each table can have zero, one or more heading rows, but as previously stated, you can not change the header row mid-stream. 

~Barb

[Federica370702447a5d]

Thank you all! I'll use this solution then 🙂