Span Columns and Rows

A table cell can span more than one column and row.

Span factor and operator

With a span a table cell can stretch across adjacent columns, rows, or a block of adjacent columns and rows. A span consists of a span factor and a span operator.

The span factor indicates the number columns, rows, or columns and rows a cell should span.

Column span factor: A single integer (<n>) that represents the number of consecutive columns a cell should span.
Row span factor: A single integer prefixed with a dot (.<n>) that represents the number of consecutive rows a cell should span.
Block span factor: Two integers (<n>.<n>) that represent a block of adjacent columns and rows a cell should span. The first integer, <n>, is the column span factor. The second integer, which is prefixed with a dot, .<n>, is the row span factor.

The span operator is a plus sign (+) placed directly after the span factor (<n>.<n>+). The span operator tells the converter to interpret the span factor as part of a span instead of a duplication.

A span is the first operator in a cell specifier.

<span factor><span operator><horizontal alignment operator><vertical alignment operator><style operator>|<cell’s content>

Span multiple columns

To have a cell span consecutive columns, enter the column span factor and span operator (<n>+) in the cell specifier. Don’t insert any spaces between the span, any alignment or style operators (if present), and the cell’s separator (|).

Example 1. Span three columns with a cell

|===
|Column 1, header row |Column 2, header row |Column 3, header row |Column 4, header row

3+|This cell spans columns 1, 2, and 3 because its specifier contains a span of `3+`
|Cell in column 4, row 2

|Cell in column 1, row 3
|Cell in column 2, row 3
|Cell in column 3, row 3
|Cell in column 4, row 3
|===

The table from Example 1 is displayed below.

Result of Example 1
Column 1, header row	Column 2, header row	Column 3, header row	Column 4, header row
This cell spans columns 1, 2, and 3 because its specifier contains a span of `3+`			Cell in column 4, row 2
Cell in column 1, row 3	Cell in column 2, row 3	Cell in column 3, row 3	Cell in column 4, row 3

Span multiple rows

To have a cell span consecutive rows, enter the row span factor and span operator (.<n>+) in the cell specifier. Remember to prefix the span factor with a dot (.). Don’t insert any spaces between the span, any alignment or style operators (if present), and the cell’s separator (|).

Example 2. Span two rows with a cell

|===
|Column 1, header row |Column 2, header row

.2+|This cell spans rows 2 and 3 because its specifier contains a span of `.2+`
|Cell in column 2, row 2

|Cell in column 2, row 3

|Cell in column 1, row 4
|Cell in column 2, row 4
|===

The table from Example 2 is displayed below.

Result of Example 2
Column 1, header row	Column 2, header row
This cell spans rows 2 and 3 because its specifier contains a span of `.2+`	Cell in column 2, row 2
	Cell in column 2, row 3
Cell in column 1, row 4	Cell in column 2, row 4

Span columns and rows

A single cell can span a block of adjacent columns and rows. Enter the column span factor (<n>), followed by the row span factor (.<n>), and then the span operator (+).

Example 3. Span two columns and three rows with a single cell

|===
|Column 1, header row |Column 2, header row |Column 3, header row |Column 4, header row

|Cell in column 1, row 2
2.3+|This cell spans columns 2 and 3 and rows 2, 3, and 4 because its specifier contains a span of `2.3+`
|Cell in column 4, row 2

|Cell in column 1, row 3
|Cell in column 4, row 3

|Cell in column 1, row 4
|Cell in column 4, row 4
|===

The table from Example 3 is displayed below.

Result of Example 3
Column 1, header row	Column 2, header row	Column 4, header row
Cell in column 1, row 2	This cell spans columns 2 and 3 and rows 2, 3, and 4 because its specifier contains a span of `2.3+`	Cell in column 4, row 2
Cell in column 1, row 3		Cell in column 4, row 3
Cell in column 1, row 4		Cell in column 4, row 4