Need to convert tables from Microsoft Word to PM 6.5

[totorore]

I`m new to pagemaker, and I would be grateful if someone could help me out on this one. I`m trying to convert tables from a microsoft word document to pm 6.5, but fail to do so.
There are several tables, all with different formatting.

How can I do this as simple as possible?

All help appreciated!!

 

[Eggles]

You can't 'convert' Word tables to PM. They have to be brought in. There are several ways it can theoretically be done, but not all of them work.

I can't remember if PM6.5 accepts PDFs as a graphic format, but if it can this is the best way to go. Convert your Word table to a PDF, and then use File>Place to bring it into PM. Works beautifully.

If you can't put a PDF into PM, the next thing to try is to use Insert>Object. I have found that this method often puts too much white border around the table, and sometimes chops off the RHS of the table. Or it looks OK on screen but doesn't print properly.

If there are no graphics in the table, you should be able to use PDF Writer (in Word, use File>Export as PDF) to create the PDF. If there are graphics, you will need to use Acrobat Distiller.

You might want to check out this info on the Adobe User-to-User forum on Pagemaker.

http://www.adobeforums.com/cgi-bin/webx?13@251.cEkOadAnCP2.1@.ef8504d

 

[Eggles]

Sorry, the link doesn't seem to work.

Try the main page here:

http://www.adobe.com/support/forums/main.html

then scroll down the list of forums and click on the link to the Pagemaker forum. If you choose the Win platform, there is a list of Pagemaker Frequently Asked Questions at the top of the list of forum threads. Click on that, and it will take you to a list of FAQs. Item 4 relates to tables.

 

[totorore]

Thank you for your quick reply!!

 

[BionicJohn]

Hi, totorore,

The link Eggles is referring to is:

http://www.adobeforums.com/cgi-bin/webx?13@95.OWvHaRgkCbR.0@.ef8504d

InDesign has vastly superior Table Handling than PM.

Iechyd da! John
03:08 03/02/03 GMT

 

[totorore]

I got several useful tips from the link you both referred to. Great! Thanks a lot.

 

[pat731]

Let me know what worked for you with the tables. I just redid it in excel and then copied and edit-paste special and insert excel. That worked perfet for me.

 

[Vida]

You should be able to bring it in as a graphic, but the margin and space settings shift around a lot. You may need to play with the spacing in the Pharagraph window in Word.

However, for really good looking tables in PageMaker, you should convert to text, using tabs for separation. Then, make a nice style for tables with tabs set just right in Pagemaker. Bring in your table to PM. Apply the style to your table, and everything lines up. And looks much much better. And, you have more control if you need to tweak something.

 

[BionicJohn]

Hi, Vida,

Yes, that's the best way to make the tables look really professional but it can be time-comsuming.

I still have PM5 on my PC, which came with TE2.1. TE2.1 is much superior to TE3.04 (PM6.5x amd PM7.x) - and TE2.1 files will import easily into PM6.5x and PM7.x)

Iechyd da! John
01:48 06/02/03 GMT

 

[totorore]

Hello, long time. I tried the Roger Trigg method and it worked quite well, with the exception of tables lying horizontally on the page (landscape). On these tables a part of the table does not show when I print or export it as a pdf-file. The missing part seems to have been replaced with white space.
Method: Copy table from word, use the Paste Special command in pm and select the Metafile option.

Any suggestions on how I can solve my problem with the landscape-tables?

Thanks everyone!