Can't create a table with fixed column width when using \multicolumn

Question

I want to generate a table with fixed column width even though every line of it has \multicolumn.

I have seen this solution but it's not suitable for my needs since I need to be able to control each cell's border.

MWE:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{multirow}
\begin{document}
\begin{tabular}{*{2}{p{1cm}}*{2}{p{2cm}}}
&
&\multicolumn{2}{c}{strong}\\
&
&\multicolumn{1}{c}{work and steal}
&\multicolumn{1}{c}{work}\\
\cline{3-4}
\multirow{2}*{weak} 
&\multicolumn{1}{c|}{work}
&\multicolumn{1}{c|}{(x,y)} 
&\multicolumn{1}{c|}{(x,y)}\\
\cline{3-4}
&\multicolumn{1}{c|}{rest}
&\multicolumn{1}{c|}{(x,y)} 
&\multicolumn{1}{c|}{(x,y)}\\
\cline{3-4}
\end{tabular}
\end{document}

What should happen to "work and steal"? This is wider than 2cm. — leandriis, Feb 11 '20 at 20:08
Probably you are more satisfied with &work and steal &work\\ instead fo your current 2 multicolumns. If you insist on using the multicolumn commands, although I can't see any reason why, you can use &\multicolumn{1}{p{2cm}}{work and steal} &\multicolumn{1}{p{2cm}}{work}\\. — leandriis, Feb 11 '20 at 20:09
All multicolumns to control borders. Cells can be as wide as necessary but preferably minimal. — Morzen, Feb 11 '20 at 20:10
Not all of the multicolumn commands are needed to expicitly control the borders of the table. Especially not the ones in the second row. — leandriis, Feb 11 '20 at 20:11
You're right and this solves some of the problem, but I also use multicolumn since I want to control the alignment (because when I use p{2cm} I can't center the text) — Morzen, Feb 11 '20 at 20:14
you are completely removing the p specification and replacing it by c so the column width is not specified. if you need multicolumn (which seems unlikely) use p again not c. a p column entry is a parbox so you can use \centering to center, or for a fixed width c column use array package and wc{2cm} — David Carlisle, Feb 11 '20 at 20:18

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 22 '21 at 00:31

1

An alternative solution with tblr environment of tabularray package:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tabularray}
\begin{document}
\begin{tblr}{
  colspec = {{2}{t{1cm}}{2}{t{2.3cm}}},
  hline{3-5} = {3-4}{solid},
  vline{3-5} = {3-4}{solid},
  cells = {c},
  cell{1}{3} = {c=2}{}, % multicolumn
  cell{3}{1} = {r=2}{}, % multirow
}
     &      & strong         &       \
     &      & work and steal & work  \
weak & work & (x,y)          & (x,y) \
     & rest & (x,y)          & (x,y) \
\end{tblr}
\end{document}

answered Aug 22 '21 at 00:31

L.J.R.

10,932

+1: You seem to systematically address old questions using the nice new package tabularray :) - are you the package author? – Dr. Manuel Kuehner Aug 22 '21 at 01:20
1

@Dr.ManuelKuehner Yes, I am the author. – L.J.R. Aug 22 '21 at 01:21
Nice - good work! I gave you some upvotes as a "thank you". – Dr. Manuel Kuehner Aug 22 '21 at 01:23
1

Thank you for your appreciation of my package. – L.J.R. Aug 22 '21 at 01:30

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 23 '21 at 09:42

Here is a solution with {NiceTabular} of nicematrix.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{nicematrix}
\begin{document}
\begin{NiceTabular}{ccw{c}{23mm}w{c}{23mm}}
                  &      & \Block[C]{1-2}{strong} & \
                  &      & work and steal & work \
\Block{2-1}{weak} & work & \Block[hvlines]{2-2}{} 
                           $(x,y)$  & $(x,y)$ \
                  & rest & $(x,y)$  & $(x,y)$ \
\end{NiceTabular}
\end{document}

Can't create a table with fixed column width when using \multicolumn

2 Answers2