2.1.1424 Part 1 Section 21.1.3.13, tbl (Table)

a.   The standard specifies that the number of rows is between 0 and unbounded.

In Office, the number of rows is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 1000.

b.   The standard specifies that the number of columns, as defined in child element tblGrid, is between 0 and unbounded.

In Office, the number of columns is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 1000.

c.   The standard does not indicate that the number of cells in each row is dependent on the number of columns.

In Office, the number of cells in each table row is equal to the number of columns defined in child element tblGrid.

d.   The standard does not describe how the tbl element merges cells horizontally and vertically.

A Table merge describes the merging relationships between conjoint cells in a table. The gridSpan and rowSpan attributes of the tc elements ("[ISO/IEC-29500-1] §21.1.3.16; tc (Table Cell)") are used to define a table merge. The gridSpan and rowSpan of the top-left cell of a table merge decide the width and height of the table merge. For example, if the following cell is the top-left cell of a table merge, its merge size is width = 3 columns, and height = 5 rows; or when written out, <a:tc gridSpan="3" rowSpan="5">.

1). All cells in the first row in this table merge must have the same rowSpan as the first one (5 in the preceding example). And their corresponding gridSpan, except the first one must be 1.

2). All cells in the first column in this table merge must have the same gridSpan as the first one (3 in the preceding example). And their corresponding rowSpan, except the first one must be equal to 1.

3). All other cells in this table merge must have their rowSpan and gridSpan being equal to 1.

4). Two merges shall not overlap.

e.   The standard allows the neighboring interior borders of two neighboring table merges to have different line properties.

Office requires the neighboring interior borders of two neighboring table merges to have matching border line properties as defined by the lnL, lnR, lnT and lnB elements.

f.   The standard does not put any restriction on the usage of the lnL, lnR, lnT and lnB elements.

Office ignores the lnL and lnT elements for interior borders.