WD2000: 'Save As Text' Converts Table to Paragraph-Delimited Text (212171)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 2000
This article was previously published under Q212171

SYMPTOMS

A table in a Microsoft Word document collapses into a single column of text when the document is saved in one of the following formats:
  • Text Only
  • Text Only with Line Breaks
  • MS-DOS Text
  • MS-DOS Text with Line Breaks

CAUSE

A table row is actually a special case of sequential paragraphs, using Chr(7) following the text's paragraph mark and Chr(13) as the end-of-cell, and two of them for end-of-row delimiters. When the file is saved as text, the export routine strips the Chr(7) characters, leaving only the hard returns Chr(13).

RESOLUTION

To work around this behavior, use either of the following methods.

Method 1: Save the Document in "Text with Layout" Format

  1. On the File menu, click Save As.
  2. In the Save As Type list, click Text with layout (*.ans) and click Save.

Method 2: Convert the Table to Tab-Delimited Text

Convert the table to tab-delimited text before you save the file. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Click inside the first cell of the table.
  2. On the Table menu, point to Select, and then click Table.
  3. On the Table menu, point to Convert, and then click Table to Text.
  4. Under Separate text with, click Tabs.
  5. Click OK.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/6/2000
Keywords:kbprb kbtable KB212171
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