Excel 2013 does not let me insert rows in a table anymore

[Angry Thinker]

I have a worksheet with 2 tables separated by 2 rows. Everything worked fine, and I could insert a row in the upper table without any problems. Today Excel does not accept it anymore, even though I have not changed anything to the worksheet.
If I try to insert a row I get the following message:

this operation is not allowed. the operation is attempting to shift cells in a table on your worksheet

Is there a solution for this?

 

[RoryA]

Are your tables the same width, and positioned directly above each other?

 

[Angry Thinker]

They are posiitoned directly above each other, the lower one has 1 column more.

 

[Jonmo1]

the lower one has 1 column more.

That's why.

If you insert a row in the upper table that only has say 3 columns
But the table below has 4 columns, then essentially that would be trying to SPLIT the bottom table
So that the first 3 columns begin in 1 row (down from where it was originally), but the 4th column would still be in the original row.


Rather than inserting a row just within the table, try inserting the ENTIRE Row..

Or just make the upper table the same size (or larger) than the bottom table.
Even if you have to add just an empty 'dummy' column.

 

[Angry Thinker]

Hey Jonmo, thanks for jumping in there. I get your explanation about the splitting, so I added an extra column in the upper table, and, lo & behold, it works .
What I am still puzzled about is why it worked for a few weeks & then suddenly it did not today.

 

[Jonmo1]

I would have to say that it didn't actually work the way you describe for the last few weeks.
Perhaps the 2 tables actually were the same size previousely (Or at least the top table was larger than the bottom one)
You just didn't notice because there was no problem, so no reason to notice.

Or you were actually doing the insert ENTIRE row, not just the row within the table.

Or the tables weren't really tables at all, just normal ranges.

 

[Angry Thinker]

Maybe you are right. Anyway, thanks for your help & patience. This thread can now be closed; not sure if I can do that or the moderator does. If you don't answer I will assume the moderator will.