Graphics, Figures & Tables ⇒ Line break within a table cell

[ptrcao]

I can't just use "\\" within a table cell, but I want to start a new line. What can I do to achieve this?

[localghost]

Get familiar with the features of a standard tabular environment. If your own efforts come to nothing, provide a minimal example that shows the problem(s) clearly. Emphasize is on minimal content. The example has to be compilable as provided.


Thorsten

[ptrcao]

Get familiar with the features of a standard tabular environment. If your own efforts come to nothing, provide a minimal example that shows the problem(s) clearly [1]. Emphasize is on minimal content. The example has to be compilable as provided.
Thorsten

In the below minimal example, I want to line break before the new sentence starting with "Presence of lactose...":

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\documentclass[12pt]{article}

\usepackage{fullpage}
\usepackage{booktabs}
\usepackage{tabularx}

\begin{document}

\begin{table}[h!]
\begin{tabularx}{1 \linewidth}{X X X X}
\toprule
Media & Characteristics & Uses/limitations \\
\cmidrule(r){1-1}  \cmidrule(l r){2-2} \cmidrule(l){3-3}
MacConkey agar & The selective components in MAC are bile salts and crystal violet, which inhibit the growth of gram-positive bacteria. Presence of lactose and neutral red (a pH indicator) will confirm a gram-negative bacteria that uses lactose as a carbon and energy source.  Release of acidic products changes colony colour to red.  & Used as a form of selective and differential media to contrast types of gram-negative bacteria that use lactose vs. those that don't.\\
\bottomrule
\end{tabularx}
\end{table}

\end{document}

[localghost]

Just begin a new paragraph at the appropriate place.

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… of gram-positive bacteria.\par Presence of lactose …

[ptrcao]

Just begin a new paragraph at the appropriate place.

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… of gram-positive bacteria.\par Presence of lactose …

Great, that's progress. I still want an actual line skip between the paragraphs, I've tried \newline but that doesn't work. Do you know how I can get a line skip? Thanks.

[localghost]

Then just insert a skip.

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… of gram-positive bacteria.\par\medskip Presence of lactose …

[ptrcao]

Then just insert a skip.

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… of gram-positive bacteria.\par\medskip Presence of lactose …

Thanks localghost. That's good. And just to reinforce the fact that this is a following, not a leading paragraph, is there a way to make it indent a little?

[localghost]

You should decide either for a skip or an indentation. A combination is typographical nonsense. But if you insist, just insert some additional horizontal space (\indent doesn't work here).

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… of gram-positive bacteria.\par\medskip\hspace*{3pt} Presence of lactose …

[ptrcao]

To revisit an old problem. Why can't the suggested solution work for this? Look out for the \par\medskip below (on the row starting with "MSA" and notice it does not achieve the desired new paragraph and lineskip. Thanks.

Code: Select all

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{booktabs}


\begin{document}

\begin{figure*}

\small{
\begin{center}
\begin{tabular}{@{} l c c @{}}
\toprule
Characteristic & \multicolumn{2}{c}{Result}\\
 \cmidrule{2-3}
 & Seaweed isolate & Coral isolate \\
 \midrule
Cell shape & Rod & Rod\\
Gram stain & $-$ & $-$\\
Oxidase & $+$ & $-$\\
Catalase & $+$ & $-$\\
Anaerobic & Growth (weak) & No growth\\
Motility & $+$ & $-$ or ? \\
Indole production & $+$ & $-$ or ? \\
Hugh \& Leifsons & ? & ? \\
MSA \par\medskip Growth \par\medskip Mannitol utilisation & Growth & No growth\\
%Growth in absence of salt & & \\ (Didn't get time to do this one.)
Colony pigmentation & White & White \\
Colony texture & Smooth, creamy & Waxy, pellet-like \\
Colony edges & Entire & Entire \\
Colony shape & Round & Round \\
Colony elevation & Flat & Buldge\\
Medium modifications & Cracked patterns & Clear halo, pits, liquification\\
\bottomrule
\end{tabular}
\end{center}
}
\end{figure*} 


\end{document}

[localghost]

[…] Why can't the suggested solution work for this? […]

The chosen column types don't allow line breaks or paragraphs, respectively.