<ST_Merge> (Merged Cell Type)

This element specifies the way in which a cell shall be included in a merged group of cells (horizontally or vertically) within the parent table.

example:

The second cell in the first row starts a vertical merge that is completed in the last cell, resulting in the following WordprocessingML:

<w:tbl>
  …
  <w:tr>
    <w:tc>
      …
    </w:tc>
    <w:tc>
      …
    </w:tc>
    <w:tc>
      <w:tcPr>
        <w:vmerge w:val="restart"/>
      </w:tcPr>
      …
    </w:tc>
  </w:tr>
  <w:tr>
    <w:tc>
      …
    </w:tc>
    <w:tc>
      …
    </w:tc>
    <w:tc>
      <w:tcPr>
        <w:vmerge w:val="continue"/>
      </w:tcPr>
      …
    </w:tc>
  </w:tr>
  <w:tr>
    <w:tc>
      …
    </w:tc>
    <w:tc>
      …
    </w:tc>
    <w:tc>
      <w:tcPr>
        <w:vmerge w:val="continue"/>
      </w:tcPr>
      …
    </w:tc>
  </w:tr>
</w:tbl>

The @val attribute of type <ST_Merge> on the <vmerge> element defines the cells which are vertically merged, and how each cell is merged together. ]

This simple type's contents are a restriction of the XML Schema string datatype.

The following are possible enumeration values for this type:

Enumeration Value

Description

<continue> (Continue Merged Region)

Specifies that the current cell continues a previously existing merged group of cells in the parent table.

If the previous cell in the document (horizontally or vertically) does not either begin or continue a set of merged cells, then this value shall be ignored (i.e. a group of merged cells must start with a merge whose <ST_Merge> value is restart).

<restart> (Start/Restart Merged Region)

Specifies that the current cell starts (or restarts) a group of merged cells in the parent table.

After this value, all following cells which have a value of continue shall be merged into this merged cell group.

Referenced By

<hMerge@val> (§2.4.16); <vMerge@val> (§2.4.81)

The following XML Schema fragment defines the contents of this simple type:

<simpleType name="ST_Merge">
	<restriction base="xsd:string">
	<enumeration value="continue"/>
	<enumeration value="restart"/>
	</restriction>
</simpleType>