Tables the way we want them...

[smurphy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

I always resent having to format something in a particular
way because of software limitations. I feel like a really
good package ought to support whatever formatting I
(or my boss) want to apply. But then, sometimes I have
just not explored all the options. Here's an example to
test your creativity. I'd appreciate any feedback.

We have a table format called "Task Table" that we used
to apply in our documents. It had rulings around the outside
of the table, between columns, and under the heading row(s),
but no ruling between body rows. Got the picture?
The table usually had about 8-12 rows and fit nicely on a page.

For a variety of reasons, our task tables have gotten
much longer, with additional rows. This forces the
table to wrap to a second page. With the current
definition, the task table will appear with no row ruling
after the bottom row on the first page, and it looks odd
that way, just "hanging" in thin air. So, my boss always
draws a red line across the bottom....

Basic problem summary: I'd like to find a way to have
a table with no internal body row separators to draw
a row line if it is at the bottom of the page.

So (you ask), why can't we just manually apply a
ruling at print time? As an "override" (I hate that word...)?
Well, we could... but: it is a pain to do so.
It is a particular pain since this is a conditional document that
applies to five different operating systems and platforms,
and the table is different for each version. This means that
we would have to go in at the last minute, during printing
and production, and draw the line for each version.
Lots of chances for problems. We want to find an automated way.

So, we have modified the format to draw
ruling after each body row, with a boring old
normal grid-type table as the result. Have we
surrendered too easy? Is there some obvious solution
that I, with all of my certifications and experience
and so forth have overlooked? I humbly invite
your responses!

Thanks in advance,

Steve Murphy
Senior Documentation Specialist
Adobe Certified Expert/FrameMaker, Acrobat
SOFTWORKS, Inc.
5845 Richmond Highway
Alexandria, VA  22303 USA
(703) 317-8879
1-(800) 727-4422
smurphy@softworkscc.com  

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