TABULAR FORMAT
Printed Position
Tables may be printed on the page in either portrait or landscape position
in a variety of structural forms. In portrait tables, the words and
data extend across the printed page (normal "width"), as these
sentences do. Most tables present statistical data in this format. Landscape
tables are rotated a quarter turn to the left, with the words and data
extending up the page -- the top of the table at the left, the bottom
at the right. Landscape tables should be avoided if possible (particularly
when interspersed in a report with the text and other tables in an upright
position) because smooth transition is interrupted from text to table
and from table to table.
Single-page Tables
Occupying one page or less, these tables are easy to examine and highly
desirable, especially as summary tables. If well designed, they convey
easily grasped amounts of information as complete units. Frequently,
careful pruning will allow a table that is either a little too long,
a little too wide, or both to fit on a single page.
Multi-page Tables
Although single page tables are preferred, there are times when a table
is too long to fit on one page; if these tables cannot logically be
split into smaller tables, they must be continued on one or more additional
pages. The title (with "¾ Continued")
and the boxhead are repeated on successive pages of multi-page tables.
The end of each page preceding the last page of a multi-page table should
carry a note advising the reader to "See notes at end of table."
The notes for a multi-page table appear on the last page of a multi-page
table.
Double-page-spread Tables
The double page spread is a special kind of portrait multi-page table
that extends across facing pages, instead of one page, with about half
of the column headings on each page. It may continue on successive facing
pages. The entire stub should be repeated at the right side of the right-hand
page; but if there is not enough room, line numbers may be used instead.
(See Line Numbers.) The title is repeated on the second and subsequent
pairs of pages (with "-Continued"). Otherwise, the double
page spread is treated much like a one-page-size portrait table with
the advantage of accommodating about twice as many columns.
Hybrid Tables
Two types of portrait tables that combine some of the aspects of both
page-wide and double-page spread tables are the "divide" and
the "double-up" tables.
Divide tables are portrait multi-page tables
in which the title is repeated (with "¾
Continued"), the stub is repeated on the left of each page, and the column
heads continue across a second page or more. If only two pages wide, it may
be set up on facing pages, like a double page spread, and the stub may continue
for any number of pages. The divide table is useful if the stub is only one
page long but the table must be three or more pages wide. It obviously cannot
be both too long for one page and too wide for two.
Double-up tables are set up somewhat
like a double-page-spread table confined to one-page width. It is especially
useful for a long table with few columns. It may continue as a multi-page
table. The title occupies the width of the page, but the stub-head and column
heads are repeated under it in the two halves, as shown.
Or alternatively,
