Help with table in a table

users
#1

I'm trying to set up 3x5 grid in a document.

Each element of the grid is a table.

I succeeded in creating the grid and the first table. Now I would like
to copy that table into each position of the rest of the grid.

I tried Table > Select > Table
CTRL-C

Click in the second grid window
CTRL-V

I do not get what I want.

What is the correct procedure for doing this?

Incidentally, this procedure was successful in Word and Kingsoft Writer,
so I'm confident that there's away to to it in LO.

Thanks.

#2

I'm trying to set up 3x5 grid in a document. Each element of the grid is a table.

I'm hoping that by "grid" you also mean "table".

I succeeded in creating the grid and the first table. Now I would like to copy that table into each position of the rest of the grid. [...] I do not get what I want. What is the correct procedure for doing this?

I think the problem occurs only if you have nothing before the nested table in the outer table cell. Here's a workaround:
o Put something before your nested table in the outer table cell: an empty paragraph will do. If you have already created your nested table, you can do this by putting the cursor at the beginning of its top left cell and pressing Alt+Enter.
o Copy the whole cell of the outer table, including the nested table - not just the nested table itself. You can do this by dragging across the cell, using Table | Select > | Cells, using Edit | Select All, or pressing Ctrl+A (with the cursor inside the cell but outside the nested table).
o Copy and paste as necessary.
o Delete the extraneous empty paragraphs.

Incidentally, this procedure was successful in Word and Kingsoft Writer, so I'm confident that there's a way to do it in LO.

Oh, I wouldn't assume that LibreOffice was like any other product! But yes: it will usually achieve what you need.

I trust this helps.

Brian Barker

#3

I have found a bit of a work around. For the inner table, set the alignment left and specify a width. Make the cell of the outer table wide enough (drag border) to get the cursor in the cell with the inner table, then drag the cursor to select the contents of that cell (drag it a cell down and back) then do CTL-C, CTL-V to other cells of the outer table.
Steve

#4

I think you are making this too complicated and underselling yourself! You may not need that adjustment of the nested table's properties, as there will usually be an empty paragraph after the nested table and therefore available space from which to drag. Instead, your trick of selecting the outer table's cell (including the nested table) by dragging from that cell to an adjacent cell and back again is all that is required. That's a much simpler solution than mine!

Brian Barker

#5

Brian Barker has written on 6/12/2014 4:25 AM:

I'm trying to set up 3x5 grid in a document. Each element of the
grid is a table.

I'm hoping that by "grid" you also mean "table".

I succeeded in creating the grid and the first table. Now I would
like to copy that table into each position of the rest of the grid.
[...] I do not get what I want. What is the correct procedure for doing this?

I think the problem occurs only if you have nothing before the nested
table in the outer table cell. Here's a workaround:
o Put something before your nested table in the outer table cell: an
empty paragraph will do. If you have already created your nested
table, you can do this by putting the cursor at the beginning of its
top left cell and pressing Alt+Enter.
o Copy the whole cell of the outer table, including the nested table
- not just the nested table itself. You can do this by dragging
across the cell, using Table | Select > | Cells, using Edit | Select
All, or pressing Ctrl+A (with the cursor inside the cell but outside
the nested table).
o Copy and paste as necessary.
o Delete the extraneous empty paragraphs.

Thanks, Brian. That did the trick.