Can a Table Cell span more than one page?

Question

Level 1

4 points

Can a Table Cell span more than one page?

I'm working with tables in Pages to create a list of literature and important takeaways from each article. Sometimes the important information is more than I can fit on one page. However, Pages doesn't seem to be able to handle splitting cells across multiple pages. Instead, it seems to "push" the overflow text beyond the page, so I can't even see it as I'm typing.

In Word, such situations just cause the table cell to continue on to the next page. But I can't figure out how to do that in Pages. (And I'm a little concerned that there's not a way to handle this.)

Thanks!
Gary

iMac Dual Core & 15"MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.7), Pages '09

Posted on Jun 18, 2009 5:02 AM

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Answer 1

fruhulda

Level 6

15,167 points

Jun 18, 2009 5:26 AM in response to GFGebhardt

A table generated in Pages in Word Processing mode can span over several pages but it wont split an actual cell. But in a Page Layout it can't flow over to the next page.

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Answer 2

KOENIG Yvan

Level 8

41,819 points

Jun 18, 2009 6:04 AM in response to GFGebhardt

If your document is a Page Layout one a table can't flow from one page to an other one.

If it is a Word Processor document you are using a floating table.
It's your duty to add the required character in the text layer to force the creation of new pages.

The menu item Insert > Page Break is your friend.

Yvan KOENIG (from FRANCE jeudi 18 juin 2009 15:04:48)

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Answer 3

GFGebhardt Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 18, 2009 7:09 AM in response to fruhulda

Dear Fruhulda,
Thanks for the information/confirmation.
The Table does span multiple pages, but as you said, an individual cell won't.
Best,
Gary

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Answer 4

GFGebhardt Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 18, 2009 7:11 AM in response to KOENIG Yvan

Unfortunately, "Page Break" is not an option from inside a Pages table cell. The option is shaded out.
And while one table CAN span multiple pages in Pages, it doesn't appear that a single table cell can.

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Answer 5

fruhulda

Level 6

15,167 points

Jun 18, 2009 7:56 AM in response to GFGebhardt

Do you really need to split the table within a cell? If the table spreads over several pages I would fins it more logic that it splits the table as Pages does.

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Answer 6

GFGebhardt Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 18, 2009 8:35 AM in response to fruhulda

The cell in question does split across 2 pages. "Do I need to" do that isn't really the point.
My question was whether Pages can handle splitting a table cell across 2 pages.
Pages can't; Word can.
(I'm trying to switch over for all of my future work into Pages, so there's a learning curve for me. The type of work I'm doing does have cells that split over 2 pages. In Word, it's not a big deal. Unfortunately, in Pages, I need to split the row in order to do the same thing. Which is kind of a pain, since I'm building the table dynamically and may insert rows above, below or between existing rows. In Word, it automatically handles moving the cells across multiple pages - or merging them back if I edit the text or insert/remove rows above.)

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Answer 7

Jun 18, 2009 9:04 AM in response to GFGebhardt

GFG,

I don't understand your comment: +"Instead, it seems to "push" the overflow text beyond the page, so I can't even see it as I'm typing."+ I've not seen anything like what I think you are saying about text going out of view. Could you clarify?

Jerry

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Answer 8

KOENIG Yvan

Level 8

41,819 points

Jun 18, 2009 10:32 AM in response to GFGebhardt

I didn't ask you to enter a page break in a cell (which would be a nono) but I asked you to insert it

_in the text layer to force the creation of new pages._

Yvan KOENIG (from FRANCE jeudi 18 juin 2009 19:30:36)

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