Preventing a Frame when Converting a Table to Text

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated October 12, 2024)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365


When Peg has a table with the text wrapping set for Around, and then she converts the table to text, that text ends up being in a frame. She doesn't want it in a frame; she just wants it as plain, in-line with text. Peg wonders if there is a setting to prevent the converted table from ending up in a frame.

There is no setting that controls this behavior. Word does it because it doesn't know where to put the table text relative to the regular document text, so it places it in a frame. The only way around this manually is to change the text wrapping so that the table is inline, and then do the conversion to text. You could automate this a bit by using a simple macro:

Sub ConvertTable1()
    If Selection.Information(wdWithInTable) Then
        Selection.Tables(1).Rows.WrapAroundText = False
        Selection.Rows.ConvertToText Separator:=wdSeparateByTabs, _
          NestedTables:= True
    Else
        MsgBox "Insertion point must be in a table."
    End If
End Sub

Of course, if you choose to go the "macro route," you could use the macro to convert the table to text (which would place it in a frame) and then delete the frame. Here's the way to do that:

Sub ConvertTable2()
    If Selection.Information(wdWithInTable) Then
        Selection.Rows.ConvertToText Separator:=wdSeparateByTabs, _
          NestedTables:= True
        ActiveDocument.Frames.Delete
    Else
        MsgBox "Insertion point must be in a table."
    End If
End Sub

Either macro produces the same result. All you need to do is make sure the insertion point is within the table and then run the macro.

Note:

If you would like to know how to use the macros described on this page (or on any other page on the WordTips sites), I've prepared a special page that includes helpful information. Click here to open that special page in a new browser tab.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (2358) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Counting Shaded Cells

Ever want to know how many cells in a worksheet (or a selection) are shaded in some way? You can create a handy little ...

Discover More

Deleting All Headers and Footers

Headers and footers add a finishing touch to documents, but sometimes they can be bothersome. You may need to remove them ...

Discover More

Aligning Numbered Lists on the Period

When you convert a paragraph to a numbered list, Word adds a number at the start of the paragraph, as you would expect. ...

Discover More

The First and Last Word on Word! Bestselling For Dummies author Dan Gookin puts his usual fun and friendly candor back to work to show you how to navigate Word 2019. Spend more time working and less time trying to figure it all out! Check out Word 2019 For Dummies today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Changing Table Cell Text Direction

When creating a table, you can turn the orientation of the text, within a cell, by ninety degrees in either direction ...

Discover More

Changing Spacing Between Table Cells

Need to adjust the space between individual cells in a table? Word gives you a good deal of control over this spacing, as ...

Discover More

Using Outline Numbering in a Table

Can you put a numbered outline in a table? Yes, you can. But Word is rather prickly when it comes to using the keyboard ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is seven more than 3?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


This Site

Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.

Videos
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.