Jun 10, 2024
Google Docs will not change the height of rows in a table to make them smaller
I'm trying to change the height of a row on a table I have created within a document on Google Docs to make it smaller than the default size.
I can click and drag the border of the row up and down, but that does not do anything to change the height of the row smaller no matter how far you drag it.
I went into table properties and went to the row options to see if changing that would do anything, I can make the rows bigger, but never smaller not even setting it to zero makes it work.
Changing the text size seems to make the row smaller, but I need the text to be big without such a large margin around the edge.
Every other word processing software I have used has allowed me to adjust text and table properties independently, does google docs have a setting somewhere that mirrors other modern word processors?
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All Replies (5)
Hi, Zac,
It would be difficult to say why you are unable to make your rows shorter or how to fix it without seeing the table directly. Please share a copy of the document (omit any personal information). To do that, share it by clicking on the blue Share button, changing "Restricted" to "anyone with the link can EDIT," and then pasting the link in a reply message in this thread.
Jo S.
Google Docs/Drive forum volunteer
not a Google employee
Jun 12, 2024
This seems to be standard behavior for the platform to not have the ability to make the table row smaller than the text margins.
You can test this in any doc by adding a table, adding text, and then trying to make the row smaller.
Any insight you could provide as a workaround would be appreciated!
I hope that helps.
Jo S.
Jun 12, 2024
Thanks for the suggestions that didn't make the row smaller though. It looks like there is just a limit to what google docs is capable of.
I'll have to use another more robust word processor to accomplish what I need done.
Its a shame Google Docs is unable to accommodate
Jo S.
Jun 22, 2024
There isn't anything crazy I am doing with the table. All I do is...
1) Create a new Google Doc
2) Insert Table into Google Doc
3) Insert Text into Table Cell
4) Try to make the row smaller
Everything stops at step 4 because Google Docs will not make a row any smaller than the margins around the text.
You can test this for yourself in any Google Doc at the behavior will be the same. Google Docs simply lacks the capability.
Last edited Jun 22, 2024
Jo S.
Jun 23, 2024
There is a lot of empty space around the text inside of the row and it is taking too much space on the paper. I just need to get rid of the whitespace like I posted originally
I don't need the cell to be smaller than the contents, just slightly smaller so there isn't a fat gap between the word and the end of the cell.
As I have already said though and through my own testing, Google Docs is incapable of making a cell smaller
Perhaps you could share some screenshots of what you see as the problem.
Jo S.
Jun 23, 2024