Graphics, Figures & Tables ⇒ Table with ragged right Columns exceeds Margin

[prof_perriwink]

Hello,

sorry if this is too basic, but trying this table, and it goes off the page (to the right), can anyone just show me how to fix this properly with \raggedright and fixed widths or so.

Code: Select all

\begin{figure}
\begin{tabular}{ l l l | l | }
\hline
 & Free jazz & Postserial music \\ \hline
 & the process (energy) & the product (the work) \\
 & emotional & rational \\
 & intensity & cool \\ 
 & spontaneity & construction \\
 & linear phrase & structure-/material process \\
dynamic & loud, organically evolving & quiet, sudden differences \\
tempo & fast, driving, pulsing & slow, static, no pulse \\
rhythm & also organic, unfolding in an arc & sudden differences, contrasts \\
articulation & mostly legato & varies, much staccato \\
instruments & mostly wind (breath) and percussion (heart) & strings, peripheral percussion \\
pitch & subjective, imprecise & objective, precise \\
composer/interpreter relationship & usually the same person & usually different people \\
way out of musical impasse & emotional expression & through the composer's material \\
fixed composition & usually only for ensemble sections & mostly flexible \\
variety of fixed codes & often orally transmitted by composer and flexible & explicit, on the score \\ \hline
\end{tabular}
\caption{\cite[58]{heffley_northern_2005}}
\label{fig:hot_cool}
\end{figure}

Many thanks!
Tom

[localghost]

Create a table with a fixed width for the whole table as well as for the single columns by the tabularx package.

Code: Select all

\documentclass[11pt]{article}
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
\usepackage{geometry}
\usepackage[tableposition=top]{caption}
\usepackage{booktabs,tabularx}

\newcolumntype{R}{>{\raggedright\arraybackslash}X}

\begin{document}
  \begin{table}[!ht]
    \caption{Table caption}
    \label{tab:table}
    \begin{tabularx}{\linewidth}{RRR}\toprule
      & Free jazz & Postserial music \\ \midrule[1pt]
      & the process (energy) & the product (the work) \\
      & emotional & rational \\
      & intensity & cool \\ 
      & spontaneity & construction \\
      & linear phrase & structure-/material process \\
      dynamic & loud, organically evolving & quiet, sudden differences \\
      tempo & fast, driving, pulsing & slow, static, no pulse \\
      rhythm & also organic, unfolding in an arc & sudden differences, contrasts \\
      articulation & mostly legato & varies, much staccato \\
      instruments & mostly wind (breath) and percussion (heart) & strings, peripheral percussion \\
      pitch & subjective, imprecise & objective, precise \\
      composer/interpreter relationship & usually the same person & usually different people \\
      way out of musical impasse & emotional expression & through the composer's material \\
      fixed composition & usually only for ensemble sections & mostly flexible \\
      variety of fixed codes & often orally transmitted by composer and flexible & explicit, on the score \\ \bottomrule
    \end{tabularx}
  \end{table}
\end{document}

Typesetting the table has been enhanced by the booktabs package.


Best regards and welcome to the board
Thorsten