Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007 and 2010. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Putting Tables within Margins.
Need to know a quick way to make sure a too-wide table fits within the margins of your page? Here's a really easy method:
The result is that each of the column widths of the table is set evenly, with the entire table fitting from margin to margin.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (11646) applies to Microsoft Word 2007 and 2010. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Putting Tables within Margins.
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2019-05-15 13:04:57
Gary Jay
Nope. 2016 Mac version. Tried all three ... auto fit contents (scrunched the columns very small); auto fit window and fixed column width. None will allow me to put the table within a specific margin for a book I'm formatting. Plus, I see no way to make the table also work with mirror margins. Was hoping this was the answer. Will continue my mission, moving into the fourth day. PS Right click doesn't offer autofit when clicking. The submenu is cut, copy, past, insert, delete columns, rows, borders... cell alignment is close ... but top, bottom, center, right...nothing to do with margins.
2019-01-03 19:22:56
Cliff Lemieux
If Microsoft would have continued the option of us being able to show the non-printing margin outline, we would not have this problem.
2015-05-04 22:03:16
Lauren Murray
Thanks.
2014-05-29 16:14:03
Mikeco
This failed to enable my top margin. Liked that there was help. Any help is better than no help.
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007 and 2010. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: 
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