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wuts23143389
Inspiring
August 4, 2017
Question

Table Spanning Across Two Columns Help

  • August 4, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 4903 views

Hi all,

I am quite new to InDesign and need help with Tables. I cannot figure out how to span a table across a two-columns layout (see ref below). I've looked into the Tables options and I don't any options, and I use the Span column option in the paragraph style but no luck. Could anyone tell me what did I miss? Appreciate in advance!

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    2 replies

    B
    Barb Binder
    Braniac
    August 4, 2017

    I'd guess it is your cursor position. Place your cursor on the ¶ directly above the table (which I assume is embedded in the story) and tap the right or down arrow. Your cursor will now be on the ¶ with the table:

    Then set up the span. (I highlighted the last word above the table in magenta so that you can track it):

    But, this produces an awkward layout, and here is where InDesign falls short, IMHO. FrameMaker (Adobe's other page layout application) has table placement commands that allow you to put a spanned table at the top or bottom of the page automatically. You can simulate this by putting your table in an anchored frame in InDesign, activating text wrap and use anchoring controls to the same effect. It's not as simple, but it gets the job done.

    Or if there aren't that many tables, you might just position them on the page, and pull up the text frames, and hope for the best.

      W
      wuts23143389Author
      Inspiring
      August 4, 2017

      Thank you very much Barb, I got the spanning to work after you specified the cursor placement. I will use anchored frame will text wrap as you suggest. Having a table as part of a story spanned across two columns in the middle of the page indeed does make an awkward layout. Hopefully table function will improve over the next update.

      P
      Peter Kahrel
      Braniac
      August 4, 2017

      Hi thank you for your insight. Indeed I ran into the problem you mentioned – the text wrap doesn't work on any text prior to the anchor point. With the limitation you described, is this line of thinking correct or is there a more efficient way:

      1. I am working on a chapter that has 11 graphs and 2 tables.
      2. The sequence within the story is graph 1-8, table 1, graph 9, table 2, graph 10-11.
      3. I should complete graph 1 first, then place it in the same page where it is referenced in the story. Place the graph unanchored with text wrap and let the text reflow.
      4. Find in the story where graph 2 is referenced, then place the second graph in the same page with text wrap on. Let the text reflow.
      5. Continue in the same fashion as previous, and hope that in the future client won't have a big chunk cut off or add on to the body copy.

      When you are working for a publication that has graphs and tables needed like this, how do you set them up? Or do you just avoid using columns altogether?

      Thank you ever so much for your help.


      It doesn't matter whether a text is in one, two or more columns. I place all graphs and tables in separate frames in a separate document. In the text I mark all text references to tables and figures (see Fig. 1) -- if there are any -- with a condition so that they're easy to see (and you can set the condition to not print, so you can leave the conditions in the text). Then when the text is as good as done, I go through the document and when I see a reference to a figure of table, I place that item. And so on. Works well for me.

        P
        Peter Kahrel
        Braniac
        August 4, 2017

        It's not clear from your screenshot where the cursor is. To have the table span columns, make sure that you select the paragraph that holds the table.

        But you should be cautious with this. I've had no end of trouble with spanning tables using the table's parent paragraph's span settings -- paragraph column spanning is fragile, to say the least. You often end up with bad compositions or crashes. It's much safer to place those tables in separate text frames with text wrap applied.

        Peter

          W
          wuts23143389Author
          Inspiring
          August 4, 2017

          Thank you kindly pkahrel. I will take your advice and apply it.

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