Technology

Trouble Dragging a Table in Word: Causes and Quick Fixes

One common operational error when composing documents is the inability to drag tables in Word. Possible causes for this issue might include locked tables, editing mode, protected documents, or other software-related errors.

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5 November, 2023

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The issue of not being able to drag tables in Word can be quickly resolved with some simple tricks. If you are still struggling with editing tables, follow the sharing in the article below.

The causes of the issue of not being able to drag tables in Word

The issue that users cannot drag tables in Microsoft Word can occur for various reasons. For example:

The table is locked so you cannot drag or perform any editing operations.
You may be in view mode and not allowed to move tables.
Your table is in a protected part of the document.
Some external software may conflict with Word, making it impossible to drag tables.
Your version of Word is corrupted, too old or not installed correctly.

Ways to fix the issue of not being able to drag tables in Word

To fix the issue of not being able to drag tables in Word, you can apply the following tips:

1. Unlock the table in Word

To check if a table in Microsoft Word is locked, you can follow these steps:

Step 1: Move the mouse over the table to select the entire table, right-click and select Table Properties.

Step 2: In the Table Properties window, click on Positioning.

Step 3: Check the Move with text option to unlock the table. After you have adjusted the options, click the OK button to apply the changes. Then, you can try moving the table to another page normally.

2. Adjust the document editing mode

If the document is in “Read Mode”, you can only view the document as if reading a book. You also cannot edit any content in Word.

Therefore, check and adjust the mode of the Word document as follows:

Step 1: First, open the Word document you want to check or edit.
Step 2: If you are in “Read Mode” or “Print Layout” mode and want to edit the document, you can switch to edit mode by clicking the pen icon or selecting the edit mode Editing on the Ribbon.

Step 3: After you are in edit mode, you can edit the document, move the table as desired.

3. Disable protection mode before dragging the table

If the table in the document is in protection mode, you will not be able to perform tasks. Disable this mode as follows:

Step 1: Select the plus icon on the corner of the table to highlight the entire table.

Step 2: Right-click and select Table Properties, then select Row. Uncheck Allow row to break across pages and click OK.

Step 3: After you have disabled the protection mode, you can drag or edit the table as you wish. Note that disabling this protection mode requires permission from the document creator.

4. Restart Word or your computer

If you have tried many ways but still cannot move the table, try restarting the Microsoft Word software or your computer. This helps eliminate software conflicts on the device and may help you fix the issue of not being able to drag tables in Word.

Notes when fixing the issue of not being able to drag tables in Word

In addition to the suggested solutions above, when fixing the issue of not being able to drag tables in Word, you should also note the following:

If your document has multiple tables, check if the issue occurs with all the tables. If only some of the tables have the issue, check if those tables contain images, charts, etc. If so, try moving or deleting them.
If you are using an outdated version of Word, update to the latest version to use the convenient features.
If the issue of not being able to drag tables persists, copy and paste the content into a new document. This will help you create a copy of the table without having to investigate the cause of the issue.

Conclusion

The issue of not being able to drag tables in Word can occur due to various reasons, so please refer to the suggested solutions in the article! If you need a computer to use the smooth contemporary version of Word, don’t forget to check out the products from FPT Shop!

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Frequently asked questions

There could be a few reasons for this issue. One common cause is that the table is locked, which can happen if you’ve accidentally clicked on the ‘Lock Anchor’ icon or if the table is part of a larger object such as a text box or shape. Another reason could be that your Word settings are set to ‘Print Layout’ view, which doesn’t allow for easy table movement. Try switching to ‘Web Layout’ view for more flexibility.

To unlock a table, simply click on the ‘Lock Anchor’ icon in the upper-left corner of the table. This will allow you to move the table freely. If you don’t see the ‘Lock Anchor’ icon, try selecting the table by clicking on the table move handle (a four-headed arrow that appears when you hover over the table), then look for the ‘Lock Anchor’ icon in the ‘Table Tools’ ribbon.

Print Layout view is designed to show how your document will look when printed, with pages displayed in their correct order. Tables and other objects may be more difficult to move in this view. On the other hand, Web Layout view is a more fluid format that allows for easier movement of objects, including tables. It’s a useful view when you need to quickly rearrange or reposition elements on the page.

In this case, you can cut and paste the table instead of dragging it. Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+X to cut the table, then Ctrl+V to paste it in the desired location. This will maintain the original formatting and positioning of the text surrounding the table.

Yes, a few other suggestions include using the Table Move Handle (the four-headed arrow) to quickly reposition tables, or utilizing the ‘Table Tools’ ribbon for additional formatting options. You can also right-click on a table to access a menu of options, including resizing, deleting, and converting the table to text.