Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Microsoft 365. 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: Setting Up an Array with Fields.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated September 2, 2024)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Microsoft 365
There may be a time when you need to create an "array" in the middle of a sentence. For instance, you may need to have a 3 x 3 "mini table" within a sentence. Using an actual table can be unwieldy, particularly if you literally want the array in-line within your sentence.
If you have such a special need, try this out:
{ EQ \a \ac \co3 (One,Two,Three,Four,Five,Six,Seven,Eight) }
When putting together your field, the \a switch indicates you are creating an array. The \ac switch indicates you want the information in each cell centered (you can also use \al for left alignment or \ar for right alignment). The \co3 switch indicates you want three columns in this array; you can (and should) change the number in the switch to reflect the number of actual columns you want in the array. Finally, the information within the parentheses represents the text to appear in each cell of the array, top to bottom and left to right. As shown in this example, the resulting array will be three columns by three rows.
You can also add some spacing switches to the field, if desired. For instance, if you wanted four points of space both vertically and horizontally between the array cells, you could add \vs4 \hs4 to the field.
It is hard to describe the effects of setting up an array. The best way to understand it is simply to try it. You may very well find many instances when you can use arrays in your own documents.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (13174) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Setting Up an Array with Fields.
Comprehensive VBA Guide Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is the language used for writing macros in all Office programs. This complete guide shows both professionals and novices how to master VBA in order to customize the entire Office suite for their needs. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2010 today!
When you are editing a document, you may need to modify where the author placed footnotes relative to surrounding ...
Discover MoreOne of the most powerful and versatile fields you can use in Word is the SEQ field. This tip shows how you can use the ...
Discover MoreOne of the properties you can specify for a document is a subject. You can then use a field code to insert this subject, ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2024-09-03 15:02:23
RM
Allen,
I always enjoy your tips, but sometimes for tips like this one, I wish you would show an example of the results it produces. I'm trying to imagine an inline 3x3 table and trying to understand the purpose for it.
Thanks!
2021-07-04 02:32:43
Roy
@bruin: Not up on much vis-a-vis Fields so I offer no "natural" solution.
But... you could always, effort involved obviously, copy a Field's textual content to another document (just a new file, for example, for this use only, then closed without saving... a scratchpad, if you will), and spellcheck it on its own. If any corrections are made, copy that material back over the original in the Field and you have accomplished spellchecking it.
2020-08-10 03:45:58
Richard Curtis
When inserting an EQ field from scratch, Word isn't at all helpful. In contrast this article is very helpful. Not sure when I might use this feature but I'm starting out on a test report so the opportunity might present itself.
2020-06-08 04:31:39
Andreas
If this tip does not work for you: in my case, I had to use ";" instead of "," , i.e. { EQ \a \ac \co3 (One;Two;Three;Four;Five;Six;Seven;Eight) }. I expect this depends on the regional settings.
2020-06-06 15:53:58
Brian
I love this tip! A field code I never knew about, and I'm sure I'll find it useful. Thanks for the info!
To respond to Bruin's question: I inserted a misspelled word into the array and tried checking spelling with the field codes toggled on & off -- no luck, it wasn't flagged as misspelled. I also checked the spelling & grammar options in Word -- there doesn't appear to be anything related to fields, so also no luck.
2020-06-06 10:28:01
bruin
How do you get Word to check the spelling of words in an array?
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.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2024 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments