Graphics, Figures & Tables ⇒ Linebreak inside multirow environment

[ptrcao]

I want to do a \\ or \par or something to equivalent effect inside the text argument of the multirow environment. In the table below, after "Light" I want to enter down a line so "Photo-" begins on a new line.

I use TexWorks. The table in question:

Code: Select all

\documentclass[12pt]{article}

\usepackage{a4wide} %yeah, I know it's obsolete; just until I learn how to use geometry

\usepackage{booktabs} %for top, middle and bottomline

\usepackage{multirow} %multi column and row spanning

\usepackage{rotating} %enables sidewaystable

\begin{document}

\begin{sidewaystable}[h]
\centering
\begin{tabular}{l l l l}
 \toprule
\multicolumn{4}{c}{Nutritional Modes}\\
\midrule
Energy source & Reducing equivalent source & Carbon source & Name\\
\cmidrule(r){1-1} \cmidrule(l r){2-2}  \cmidrule(l r){3-3}  \cmidrule(l){4-4}
\multirow{4}{*}{Light {\it Photo-}} & \multirow{2}{*}{Organic -organo-} & Organic -heterotroph & Photoorganoheterotroph\\
& & Carbon dioxide -autotroph & Photoorganoautotroph \\
\cmidrule(l r){2-4}
&  \multirow{2}{*}{Inorganic -litho-} & Organic -heterotroph & Photolithoheterotroph\\
& & Carbon dioxide -autotroph & Photolithoautotroph \\ 
\midrule
\multirow{4}{*}{Chemical compounds {\it Chemo-}} & \multirow{2}{*}{Organic -organo-} & Organic -heterotroph & Chemoorganoheterotroph\\
& & Carbon dioxide -autotroph & Chemoorganoautotroph \\
\cmidrule(l r){2-4}
&  \multirow{2}{*}{Inorganic -litho-} & Organic -heterotroph & Chemolithoheterotroph\\
& & Carbon dioxide -autotroph & Chemolithoautotroph\\ 
\bottomrule
\end{tabular}
\end{sidewaystable}


\end{document}

[localghost]

You could use a \parbox of a certain width.


Thorsten

[ptrcao]

You could use a \parbox of a certain width.


Thorsten

Since the width argument is mandatory, how would I make the parbox adapt exactly and automatically to the width of the column?

The column width is itself liable to change so I prefer not to specify a fixed width for parbox.

[localghost]

You can use the \linewidth length parameter.

[ptrcao]

You can use the \linewidth length parameter.

Thanks, tried it, but it appears both \linewidth and \textwidth are not interpreted as the width of the column but the width of the page or something wider than the column itself... Any suggestions?

[localghost]

My fault, of course. This would only work in a table cell with a specified width like the »p{…}« colum type. So either use this type or set up your tables with the quite new tabu package and use its »X« column types.

[ptrcao]

My fault, of course. This would only work in a table cell with a specified width like the »p{…}« colum type. So either use this type or set up your tables with the quite new tabu package and use its »X« column types.

Ah ok, well that would explain it then.

In general, I really try to avoid setting fixed widths for anything. I would rather not have to make these decisions about typesetting; I mean LaTEX algorithms should be deciding the optimum width, not me. It also creates an inflexible situation where there is no automatic readjustment on modifying the table contents and I edit my tables a lot. I want a way of telling Latex to "use as much space as needed, optimise the widths for a balanced appearance, and don't bother me for micromanagement details". At the same time, I want to maintain to full range of functionalities of tables that some specialist packages don't have.

I haven't studied it at depth, but the tabu package seems to require manual setting of parameters; I apparently have to supply column ratios...

Word processors seem to make these decisions effectively, automanaging table dimensions and column widths to good effect. But like many who peruse these forums, I'm committed to LaTEX...

Any other ideas? The original problem of linebreaking was resolved, but not without introducing the problem of having to manually set a width for \parbox, which I want to be the width of the column, but there doesn't appear to be a way to specify "the width of the column" whatever it has been set to by tabular or other packages.

[localghost]

The only thing I can come up with is what I think a workaround. That is to say a table within a table.

Code: Select all

\documentclass[12pt]{article}
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
\usepackage[margin=1in]{geometry}
\usepackage{booktabs,multirow}
\usepackage{rotating}

\begin{document}
  \begin{sidewaystable}
    \centering
    \begin{tabular}{*4l}\toprule
      \multicolumn{4}{c}{Nutritional Modes} \\ \midrule
      Energy source & Reducing equivalent source & Carbon source & Name\\
      \cmidrule(r){1-1} \cmidrule(l r){2-2}  \cmidrule(l r){3-3}  \cmidrule(l){4-4}
      \multirow{4}{*}{\begin{tabular}{@{}l@{}} Light \\ \emph{Photo-}\end{tabular}} & \multirow{2}{*}{Organic -organo-} & Organic -heterotroph & Photoorganoheterotroph \\
      & & Carbon dioxide -autotroph & Photoorganoautotroph \\ \cmidrule(l r){2-4}
      &  \multirow{2}{*}{Inorganic -litho-} & Organic -heterotroph & Photolithoheterotroph \\
      & & Carbon dioxide -autotroph & Photolithoautotroph \\ \midrule
      \multirow{4}{*}{Chemical compounds \emph{Chemo-}} & \multirow{2}{*}{Organic -organo-} & Organic -heterotroph & Chemoorganoheterotroph \\
      & & Carbon dioxide -autotroph & Chemoorganoautotroph \\ \cmidrule(l r){2-4}
      &  \multirow{2}{*}{Inorganic -litho-} & Organic -heterotroph & Chemolithoheterotroph \\
      & & Carbon dioxide -autotroph & Chemolithoautotroph \\ \bottomrule
    \end{tabular}
  \end{sidewaystable}
\end{document}

Finally some remarks to your example.

• Even if you have not learned yet how to use geometry (although you should), using a4wide (setup for A4 paper) contradicts with your chosen paper format (letter paper). The package does not set the correct paper dimensions.
• We are using LaTeX2e, so you should abstain from using the old LaTeX2.09 syntax like \it or similar. Use the correct syntax like \emph{…} or \textit{…} for setting font styles.