Help techies! Can't merge cells in a table in Windows XP

[Lucycat]

I am trying to construct a basic table in Word, where I can merge 2 cells together to make one larger one - and I CAN'T DO IT!!!

When I had Windows 98, there was a 'merge cells' option in the Table dropdown at the top, but there's nothing there with xp and it's driving me nuts!

[SoupDragon]

highlight the cells and choose table-merge cells on my version. I did have to click the arrow at the bottom of the "table" menu because it doesn't show all options first click.

[Gobbledigook]

What happens if you highlight the 2 cells and right click - do you not get a merge option in the little box?

[Lucycat]

Thanks Soupy, but there's no merge cells option anywhere on my Table dropdown. I have Insert Table / Row / Column, then Clear Cells, then Select Cell / Row / Column / Table and lastly Table Format / cell height and width and Cell text alignment! no merge cells anywhere!! still!

[SoupDragon]

And no little arrow/triangle at the bottom?

[Lucycat]

No gdg. no merge cells when I right click either!

[Lucycat]

No arrows, no triangles NOTHING!!

[SoupDragon]

Um.... my merge cells icon is a little table with the botom right corner coloured pale blue and cells shown top and left hand cide... Other than that, have you tried the "help" on Word?

[SoupDragon]

And without wanting to sound like I think you're stupid - it is definitely Word and not something similar...? What does it say when you choose "help" "about MS Word"?

[Lucycat]

It was quite likely that I was being stupid, but no it DEFINATELY says Word.wps-Microsoft Works Word Processor.

I am going to give up in a minute and have a glass of wine!

[meggymoo]

Message withdrawn

[SoupDragon]

aha! It's Microsoft works not word which is (I think) different.

[Lucycat]

ermm think so, just remind me which is the 'right' tool bar? In View we have both Standard and Formatting toolbars on.

[NoPearls]

Works is the baby brother of Office and the Word Processing packages are different, although they look really similar. It is only at times like this when you want to do something and can't that you find the differences...

I haven't got Works WP on my computer so can't have a look, but it is entirely possible that it just doesn't do cell merging - you may be asking the impossible.

Try using the help to ask how to merge cells in a table and see if it looks confused?

[SoupDragon]

Might not have the same options. I can't find my Works version so can't check.

[Lucycat]

Ahhh nopearls, you are a genius!! Yep 'puter is definately looking confused when I ask it to merge cells. Well if it won't do it then I can go and have a glass of wine (or 12!!) and b*gger the thing.

Thank you to everyone - knew MN would have the answer! now I need to get Word!!