Graphics, Figures & Tables ⇒ Centering Cell content in fixed Width Columns

[Toty]

Hi, perhaps this is a basic question, but looking around in forums I can't find the solution for it .

In a table I defined the width of some of its columns. I'd like to align the content of these columns in the horizontal center. How can I do it ?

Please find an example of the code below. The columns 4 to 7 are aligned to the left, but I want them at the center.

Code: Select all

\documentclass[a4paper]{article} 
\usepackage{amsmath} 

\begin{document}

\begin{table}[H]
\centering
\begin{tabular}{lcccp{2.0cm}p{2.0cm}p{2.0cm}p{2.0cm}}
\hline\\
\centering
Col 1&Col 2&Col 3&Col 3&Col 4 XXX XX XXXX&Col 5 XXX XX XXXX&Col 6 XXX XX XXXXX&Col 7 XXX XX XXXX\tabularnewline
\hline
\centering
XX&XX&XX&XX&XX&XX&XX&XX\tabularnewline
XX&XX&XX&XX&XX&XX&XX&XX\tabularnewline
XX&XX&XX&XX&XX&XX&XX&XX\tabularnewline
XX&XX&XX&XX&XX&XX&XX&XX\tabularnewline
XX&XX&XX&XX&XX&XX&XX&XX\tabularnewline
XX&XX&XX&XX&XX&XX&XX&XX\tabularnewline
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{table}
\end{document}

[Stefan Kottwitz]

Hi Toty,

you could use the array package for defining a centered column type:

Code: Select all

\usepackage{array}
\newcolumntype{C}[1]{>{\centering\arraybackslash}p{#1}}

In your document just use that instead of p:

Code: Select all

\begin{tabular}{lcccC{2.0cm}C{2.0cm}C{2.0cm}C{2.0cm}}

Stefan

[localghost]

Thanks for the clear example which makes working out a solution very easy.

You can define a new column type by the array package which has a fixed width and centers the content.

Code: Select all

\documentclass[11pt]{article}
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
\usepackage{geometry}
\usepackage{array,booktabs}

\newcolumntype{P}[1]{>{\centering\arraybackslash}p{#1}}

\begin{document}
  \begin{table}[!ht]
    \centering
    \begin{tabular}{lcccP{2.0cm}P{2.0cm}P{2.0cm}P{2.0cm}}\toprule
      Col 1 & Col 2 & Col 3 & Col 3 & Col 4 XXX XX XXXX & Col 5 XXX XX XXXX & Col 6 XXX XX XXXXX & Col 7 XXX XX XXXX \\\midrule
      XX & XX & XX & XX & XX & XX & XX & XX \\
      XX & XX & XX & XX & XX & XX & XX & XX \\
      XX & XX & XX & XX & XX & XX & XX & XX \\
      XX & XX & XX & XX & XX & XX & XX & XX \\
      XX & XX & XX & XX & XX & XX & XX & XX \\
      XX & XX & XX & XX & XX & XX & XX & XX \\ \bottomrule
    \end{tabular}
  \end{table}
\end{document}

The look of tables can be enhanced very nicely by the booktabs package. For details please have a look at the respective manuals of the involved packages.


Thorsten

[Toty]

Problem solved ! thanks a lot guys !