Graphics, Figures & Tables ⇒ Overfull Box in Cell of Table with full Width

[fboehlandt]

Hi everyone,

I cannot get rid of the "Overfull \hbox" error message.

Code: Select all

\newcolumntype{R}{>{\raggedleft\arraybackslash}X}%
\newcolumntype{L}{>{\raggedright\arraybackslash}X}%

\begin{table}[H] \footnotesize
  \centering
  \caption{A table heading}
    \begin{tabularx}{\textwidth}{@{ } l R R@{.}L R@{.}L R@{.}L R@{.}L R@{.}L R@{.}L @{ }}% 
    \toprule
          &       & \multicolumn{2}{c}{lag 1} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{lag 2} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{lag 3} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{lag 4} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{lag 5} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{lag 6} \\
    \midrule
    ABC   & 38    & 1.281 & 7.180 & 1.026 & 9.222 & 2572.5 & 89.5 & 0.106 & 86.8 \\
    DEF    & 121   & 0.879 & 3.107 & -0.564 & 9.182 & 457.0 & 95.9 & 0.122 & 94.2 \\
    \bottomrule
    \end{tabularx}%
	\caption*{Some more caption...}
\end{table}%

Looks fine in preview and the table does not appear to be wider than the text. However, the error messages make it difficult to find and address more serious issues when compiling. Any suggestions how to deal with this are greatly appreciated.

[cgnieder]

Hi again,

Sadly you did not post a minimal working example (MWE) although in reply to your last post I asked you to do that in your future posts An MWE helps you in two aspects: it let's you focus on the problem at hand and just as important increases the chances of getting help significantly: most people don't like to add missing pieces in order to get a compilable example they can test, especially if they need non-standard packages for that. As a consequence they often don't even try to answer.

I would guess that some of the cells of your table are overfull which would explain why you're getting the messages. This would be easy to verify: check if you still get the messages if you only use empty cells or ones only containing a single letter.

Regards

[fboehlandt]

Hello,
you are right in your assumption. However, looking at the table after compiling it suggests that there is plenty of space. I guess it has to do with enforcing equal column widths, My solution was to shorten the cell contents for column 2, but that obviously doesn't help others encountering the same problem. Thanks again for your input

[cgnieder]

You should be able to reduce the inter-column space. I have no time to look up the right parameter right now, though. I'll try to add an answer soon.

Regards

[fboehlandt]

http://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/16519/adding-space-between-columns-in-a-table

this should suffice to answer questions regarding intercolumn space