HTML Tables and how they are handled in printing

[pmidwest]

Can anyone explain to me how a printer handles an HTML table and what the best way to make a table so that all info will fit on a sheet? I am having problems with my tables getting cut off on the printed version. If anyone can explain it would be of great help to me...

Thanks in advance

Paul

 

[tviman]

Printing will be controlled by the users printer settings. Usually, if a table won't fit on a page, it will be broken where the printer settings determine it should break. The balance goes onto the next page. If there is other text above the table, say half a page, and the table won't fit on the remainder of the page, it will be printed on the next page.

Note, I say usually... it all depends on the printer and the print settings negotiated by the browser, the spooler, and the printer. There's always a better way...

 

[pmidwest]

So the coding of the table really makes no difference its all in the print settings? I believe the tables are set to 90% and they look great on the screen. The problem is just in the printing. The last column gets cut off the right side of the page and doesn’t get printed out on another page.

 

[tviman]

This is the unfortunate thing about browsers and printers. The browser will control the printer setting - usually. The default margins will get you in trouble because they're never consistant and are controlled by the user. I, for one, have set my left/right margins to .25 inches from the default 1"!

If the user isn't up on changing things like this then you've got a tough road ahead of you! I'd suggest that if it's just text that you're printing, then supply a
"Print This Page" link and open a page with just the text of the table - and center it in the page allowing for wider margins. There's always a better way...