Document Editing Problems

How to Convert Space-Separated Text into a 7x6 Table in Word

Maira Mehtab Sep 28, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user wants to format plain text containing space-separated entries into a structured table with exactly seven columns and six rows in Microsoft Word.

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Organizing unformatted, space-separated data into a clean, structured table layout.
Observed behavior: The data is currently formatted as plain text with spaces between entries and needs to be converted into a precise 7x6 grid layout.

Before you start

Ensure that your text entries are consistently separated by a single space and that there are no accidental double spaces, as this can result in unwanted blank columns in your generated table.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Convert Text to Table Feature

Microsoft Word provides a built-in tool to instantly convert plain text into a table by specifying a custom separator character and defining the desired dimensions.

This method relies on Word's ability to read your separator (a space) to create columns, and your paragraph marks (line breaks) to create rows.

Select the text

Highlight all the space-separated text in your document that you intend to convert into a table.

Open Convert Text to Table dialog

Navigate to the 'Insert' tab on the top ribbon, click on 'Table', and select 'Convert Text to Table' from the drop-down menu.

Set separator to space

In the dialog box, locate the 'Separate text at' section at the bottom. Choose 'Other' and type a single space character into the adjacent box.

Define table dimensions

Under 'Table size', change the 'Number of columns' to 7. The number of rows should automatically adjust to 6 based on the paragraph marks in your text.

Apply the conversion

Click 'OK' to finalize. Word will instantly transform your space-separated text into a 7-by-6 table.

Paragraph Marks Determine Rows: Word determines the number of rows based on the paragraph marks (line breaks) in your selected text. Ensure your text is properly broken into 6 distinct lines before converting.

Convert Text to Table Easily

Organize Data Seamlessly with WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers a highly intuitive 'Convert Text to Table' feature that works identically to Microsoft Word. It allows you to transform space-separated, comma-separated, or tabbed text into perfectly formatted tables in just a few clicks.

1. Select Text: Open your document in WPS Writer and highlight the space-separated text you want to convert.
2. Insert Table: Go to the 'Insert' tab on the ribbon, click on the 'Table' icon, and select 'Convert Text to Table'.
3. Configure Settings: In the pop-up window, check 'Other' under 'Separate text at' and enter a space. Ensure columns are set to 7, then click OK.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word document formats (.docx, .doc).Intuitive interface for quick and accurate text-to-table conversions.Lightweight, fast, and completely free to use for basic document editing tasks.Built-in table styling tools to immediately enhance your data presentation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my text convert into a table with extra blank columns?

This usually happens if there are multiple consecutive spaces between your text entries. The conversion tool interprets each space as a column divider. Use the 'Find and Replace' feature (Ctrl+H) to replace double spaces with single spaces before converting.

Can I convert a table back into plain text?

Yes. Select the entire table, navigate to the 'Layout' tab under Table Tools, and click on 'Convert to Text'. You will be prompted to choose a character to separate the text, such as a space, comma, or tab.

What if my text entries contain spaces within themselves?

If your data contains internal spaces (like the city name 'New York'), using a space as a separator will split 'New' and 'York' into different columns. In this scenario, it is better to separate your entries with commas or tabs before running the conversion tool.

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