<tblpPr> (Floating Table Positioning)

This element specifies information about the current table with regard to floating tables. Floating tables are tables in a document which are not part of the main text flow in the document, and are instead absolutely positioned with a specific size and position relative to non-frame content in the current document.

The first piece of information specified by the <tblpPr> element is that the current table is actually a floating table. This information is specified simply by the presence of the <tblpPr> element in table's properties. If the <tblpPr> element is omitted, the table shall not floating in the document.

The second piece of information is the positioning of the table, which is specified by the attribute values stored on the <tblpPr> element. In all absolute positioning cases, the positioning of the table is relative to its top-left corner position. For relative positioning (e.g. center), the positioning of the table is relative to its entire frame.

Note that the table still has a logical position in the file (its location within the block-level elements in the document). This logical location shall be used to calculate the position of the table relative to a paragraph, using the next regular (non-table, non-frame) paragraph in the document.

example: 
<w:tbl>
  <w:tblPr>
    <w:tblpPr w:leftFromText="144" w:rightFromText="144" w:topFromText="144" w:bottomFromText="144" w:vertAnchor="page" w:horzAnchor="page" w:tblpX="4320" w:tblpY="4320"/>
    …
  </w:tblPr>
  …</w:tbl>

The presence of the <tblpPr> element dictates that this table is a floating table, and its attributes specify that the floating table shall be anchored 4320 twentieths of a point (3 inches) from the top and left edges of the current page. ]

Parent Elements

<tblPr> (§2.7.5.3); <tblPr> (§2.7.5.4); <tblPr> (§2.4.55); <tblPr> (§2.4.56)

Attributes

Description

<bottomFromText> (Distance From Bottom of Table to Text)

Specifies the minimum distance which shall be maintained between the current floating table and the top of text in the paragraph which is below this floating table.

This distance is expressed in twentieths of a point.

If this attribute is omitted, its value shall be assumed to be 0.

<w:tblPr>
  <w:tblpPr … w:bottomFromText="720" />
</w:tblPr>

The @bottomFromText attribute specifies that the spacing between text and this floating table shall be a minimum of 720 twentieths of a point. ]

The possible values for this attribute are defined by the ST_TwipsMeasure simple type (§2.18.105).

<horzAnchor> (Table Horizontal Anchor)

Specifies the base object from which the horizontal positioning in the <tblpX> and/or <tblpXSpec> attribute should be calculated.

A floating table may be horizontally positioned relative to:

  • The vertical edge of the page before any runs of text (the left edge for left-to-right paragraphs, the right edge for right-to-left paragraphs)

  • The vertical edge of the text margin before any runs of text (the left edge for left-to-right paragraphs, the right edge for right-to-left paragraphs)

  • The vertical edge of the text margin for the column in which the anchor paragraph is located

If this attribute is omitted, then its value shall be assumed to be page.

<w:tblPr>
  <w:tblpPr … w:tblpX="1440" w:horzAnchor="column" />
</w:tblPr>

These table properties specify that they are relative to the current column, and that relative to that column, the floating table should be 1440 twentieths of a point. ]

The possible values for this attribute are defined by the ST_HAnchor simple type (§2.18.40).

<leftFromText> (Distance From Left of Table to Text)

Specifies the minimum distance which shall be maintained between the current floating table and the edge of text in the paragraph which is to the left of this floating table.

This distance is expressed in twentieths of a point.

If this attribute is omitted, its value shall be assumed to be 0.

<w:tblPr>
  <w:tblpPr … w:leftFromText="720" />
</w:tblPr>

The @leftFromText attribute specifies that the spacing between text and this floating table shall be a minimum of 720 twentieths of a point. ]

The possible values for this attribute are defined by the ST_TwipsMeasure simple type (§2.18.105).

<rightFromText> ((Distance From Right of Table to Text)

Specifies the minimum distance which shall be maintained between the current floating table and the edge of text in the paragraph which is to the right of this floating table.

This distance is expressed in twentieths of a point.

If this attribute is omitted, its value shall be assumed to be 0.

<w:tblPr>
  <w:tblpPr … w:rightFromText="720" />
</w:tblPr>

The @rightFromText attribute specifies that the spacing between text and this floating table shall be a minimum of 720 twentieths of a point. ]

The possible values for this attribute are defined by the ST_TwipsMeasure simple type (§2.18.105).

<tblpX> (Absolute Horizontal Distance From Anchor)

Specifies an absolute horizontal position for the floating table. This absolute position is specified relative to the horizontal anchor specified by the @horzAnchor attribute for this floating table.

This value is expressed in twentieths of a point. If it is positive, then the floating table is positioned after the anchor object in the direction of horizontal text flow in this document. If it is negative, then the floating table is positioned before the anchor object in the direction of horizontal text flow in this document.

If the @tblpXSpec attribute is also specified, then this value is ignored. If this attribute is omitted, then its value shall be assumed to be 0.

<w:tbl>
  <w:tblPr>
    <w:tblpPr … w:horizAnchor="page" w:tblpX="1643"/>
  </w:tblPr>
  …
</w:tbl>

This floating table specifies that it should be located exactly 1643 twentieths of a point after the vertical edge of the page (from the @horizAnchor attribute). ]

The possible values for this attribute are defined by the ST_SignedTwipsMeasure simple type (§2.18.88).

<tblpXSpec> (Relative Horizontal Alignment From Anchor)

Specifies a relative horizontal position for the floating table. This relative position is specified relative to the horizontal anchor specified by the @horizAnchor attribute for this floating table.

If omitted, this attribute is not specified and the value of the @tblpX attribute determines the absolute horizontal position of the floating table. If specified, the position for this attribute supersedes any value which is specified in the @tblpX attribute, and that value is ignored.

<w:tbl>
  <w:tblPr>
    <w:tblpPr … w:horizAnchor="page" w:tblpX="1643" w:tblpXSpec="left"/>
  </w:tblPr>
  …
</w:tbl>

This floating table specifies that it has a horizontal placement of exactly 1643 twentieths of a point relative to the page, but that exact placement is overridden by the presence of the @tblpXSpec attribute to place the table on the left side of the page. ]

The possible values for this attribute are defined by the ST_XAlign simple type (§2.18.114).

<tblpY> (Absolute Vertical Distance From Anchor)

Specifies an absolute vertical position for the floating table. This absolute position is specified relative to the vertical anchor specified by the @vertAnchor attribute for this floating table.

This value is expressed in twentieths of a point. If it is positive, then the floating table is positioned after the anchor object in the direction of vertical text flow in this document. If it is negative, then the floating table is positioned before the anchor object in the direction of vertical text flow in this document.

If the @tblpYSpec attribute is also specified, then this value is ignored. If this attribute is omitted, then its value shall be assumed to be 0.

<w:tbl>
  <w:tblPr>
    <w:tblpPr … w:vertAnchor="text" w:tblpY="73" />
  </w:tblPr>
  …
</w:tbl>

This floating table specifies that it should be located exactly 79 twentieths of a point below the top vertical edge of the anchor's paragraph's text (from the @vertAnchor attribute), assuming that the vertical text direction is top to bottom. ]

The possible values for this attribute are defined by the ST_SignedTwipsMeasure simple type (§2.18.88).

<tblpYSpec> (Relative Vertical Alignment from Anchor)

Specifies a relative vertical position for the floating table. This relative position is specified relative to the vertical anchor specified by the @vertAnchor attribute for this floating table.

If omitted, this attribute is not specified and the value of the @tblpY attribute determines the absolute horizontal position of the floating table. If specified, the position for this attribute supersedes any value which is specified in the @tblpY attribute, and that value is ignored, unless the @vertAnchor is set to text, in which case any relative positioning is not allowed, and is itself ignored.

<w:tbl>
  <w:tblPr>
    <w:tblpPr … w:vertAnchor="margin" w:tblpY="73" w:tblpYSpec="center"/>
  </w:tblPr>
  …
</w:tbl>

This floating table specifies that it has a vertical placement of exactly 73 twentieths of a point relative to the top margin, but that exact placement is overridden by the presence of the @tblpYSpec attribute to place the table in the center of the margin. ]

The possible values for this attribute are defined by the ST_YAlign simple type (§2.18.115).

<topFromText> (Distance From Top of Table to Text)

Specifies the minimum distance which shall be maintained between the current floating table and the bottom edge of text in the paragraph which is above this floating table.

This distance is expressed in twentieths of a point.

If this attribute is omitted, its value shall be assumed to be 0.

<w:tblPr>
  <w:tblpPr … w:topFromText="720" />
</w:tblPr>

The @topFromText attribute specifies that the spacing between text and this floating table shall be a minimum of 720 twentieths of a point. ]

The possible values for this attribute are defined by the ST_TwipsMeasure simple type (§2.18.105).

<vertAnchor> (Table Vertical Anchor)

Specifies the base object from which the vertical positioning in the @tblpY attribute should be calculated.

A floating table may be horizontally positioned relative to:

  • The horizontal edge of the page before any runs of text (the top edge for top-to-bottom sections, the bottom for bottom-to-top sections)

  • The horizontal edge of the text margin before any runs of text (the top edge for top-to-bottom sections, the bottom for bottom-to-top sections)

  • The horizontal edge of the page before any runs of text (the top edge for top-to-bottom sections, the bottom for bottom-to-top sections)

If this attribute is omitted, then its value shall be assumed to be page.

<w:tblPr>
  <w:tblpPr … w:tblpY="2880" w:vertAnchor="page" />
</w:tblPr>

These floating table properties specify that they are relative to the anchor page, and that relative to that page, the table should be 2880 twentieths of a point in the direction of the flow of text (down, in this case). ]

The possible values for this attribute are defined by the ST_VAnchor simple type (§2.18.109).

The following XML Schema fragment defines the contents of this element:

<complexType name="CT_TblPPr">
	<attribute name="leftFromText" type="ST_TwipsMeasure"/>
	<attribute name="rightFromText" type="ST_TwipsMeasure"/>
	<attribute name="topFromText" type="ST_TwipsMeasure"/>
	<attribute name="bottomFromText" type="ST_TwipsMeasure"/>
	<attribute name="vertAnchor" type="ST_VAnchor"/>
	<attribute name="horzAnchor" type="ST_HAnchor"/>
	<attribute name="tblpXSpec" type="ST_XAlign"/>
	<attribute name="tblpX" type="ST_SignedTwipsMeasure"/>
	<attribute name="tblpYSpec" type="ST_YAlign"/>
	<attribute name="tblpY" type="ST_SignedTwipsMeasure"/>
</complexType>