Special Shaped Tables

[Spiny Norma]

Is there any way to make special-shaped tables that flow in InDesign?  I'm working on a book that has tons of tables, but it goes on a bottle, and so has a curved edge at the top (upper right on odd pages, upper left on even pages).  I'm trying to find a way to create the tables so that they will still flow with the text - sort of the way paragraph shading works with curved or special-shaped text boxes, but I need to add columns and not just one row.  Is this possible?  Does anyone know of any workarounds?  If I build each table with lines and the book reflows, every table will need to be redrawn.  Attached is a screen shot of a simple, one cell box for a visual.  Is there any way this is possible with a table?  This book is 50 pages - there has to be a way other than hand-drawing each individual table, right?  Any help would be very much appreciated!

[James Gifford—NitroPress · Accepted solution]

I think you've found something ID can't do.

Rather than have the table flow, what about empty cells in that upper corner and a drawn arc? Close an idea as I can muster... can't think of a way to make this happen with content flow.

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[Diane Burns]

You know, there might be a way that's gets you there, or at least part way. If you have a sub to Linkedin Learning, check out the section in my course on InDesign Tables:  "Tables that don't look like tables" Chapter 9: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/indesign-tables/.

It would involve anchoring a shape that does that cut out for you. Here is a super-simple example with a colored circle, just so you can see it there. You can set an object style that positions the cutout left or right, depending on which page it falls on. 

[Spiny Norma]

Thanks for your help, James and Diane!

In order to get this out on time, I mostly did what James said, except where I only needed one column, then I was able to use paragraph rules to get the horizontal lines within a special-shaped textbox.  I just hope they don't want to add or take out a bunch - reflowing will not be fun, lol!

As soon as I get time, I'm going to look into the "Tables that don't look like tables" lesson, though.  This may be a better way to approach these files in the future - I just need to look into it further!

Thank you both again!

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

There's always a way to do it in ID... but the last thing you can get into the mix, in many cases, is easy reflow. Especially with tables.

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