Word not displaying table data with merged cells after updates

Question

Windows 10, Office 2016 Pro Plus both fully patched.  Have a word document that includes multiple tables, in each table there are merged cells.  If the cell is merged you can't click on the cell or see the data in the cell.  If you copy the table out of word and paste it into excel the data shows.  If you un-merge the cells and paste it back into word it shows all of the data.  I tried this on a system that is not patched and the merged tables display properly in word.  Why would an Office update break pasting merged cells into a word document?  Any advise on this will be greatly appreciated, this is impacting over 4600 documents at this time and I am sure we will be finding many more.  Here is a screen shot of a sample table and what word is doing with it.  You can't click in the blank cells once it is in word.  Thanks all

Answer 1

I did the patches that were released and it fixed the problem.  Make sure that you have the patches that are identified above uninstalled, after you run your updates.  If you can't uninstall or run the updates just show your IT folks this page and it will help them fix it.

Answer 2

This is most probably the same issue as described in https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/msoffice_word-mso_win10-mso_2016/issue-merging-word-tables-after-applying-kb3213656/aeae7b7f-3db8-467d-80db-da8d02a8140e .

This time the patch introducing the issue can be uninstalled without security concerns.

But I'm seriously concerned that the next patch containing also security updates for Word 2016 WILL reintroduce the issue if Microsoft does not investigate and fix it in time.

So please keep us updated!

The problem should also be described as a known issue in https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/3213656/august-8-2017-update-for-word-2016-kb3213656.

Probably the patch should even be revoked as text in the vertically merged cells becomes invisible and uneditable!

Answer 3

I just checked one of our systems that we fixed by removing the patch and the problem has returned.  Nice job Microsoft, not only are you not responding to the post anymore, but you had fixed the problem by pulling the problem patch...now you have released another patch that has brought the issue back again! Does Microsoft even bother testing patches before they release a fix?  I work for a National drug store chain, our Development people test everything throughly before it is released into production.  Do they catch everything no, but come on you have to be kidding.  I guess everyone is just supposed to uninstall Office 16 and install Office 13 that doesn't have the problem. 

Any response from someone at Microsoft?  I mean this is only your forum one would think that you have moderators looking at the posts being put up about your company.

#WAYTOGOMICROSOFT

Answer 4

We have the same issue with merged cells. We have Windows 10 Pro and Office 2016 standard. Updates are installed through windows update automatically, but i can not find this KB3213656 in "View installed updates" window so i can not uninstall it.  But when i try to install it manually i get "this update is already installed" message.

So for now the only thing that worked for me was to uninstall Office completely, reinstall it and block updates... When windows update searches and finds office updates, there is no KB3213656.

Same thing here: no sign of KB3213656 in"Installed Updates" or on WSUS. Luckily the first recent update I uninstalled - KB4011039 - seemed to be the one causing the problems. (A quick search will confirm that others have observed the same behaviour). Off to remove it from WSUS...

Answer 5

I don't have KB4011039 installed so not sure what is causing the problem.  I did have a batch install at the end of August.  I have too many things going on right now to sit here and unistall patches that Microsoft keeps releasing the that is causing the problem, this is crazy.