Header row is not repeated on the following pages automatically if filling the table with VBA

In a Word template, I have a table template consisting only of a header row, with "Allow row to break across pages" unset and "Repeat as header row at top of each page" set:

In a VBA script (from Excel via Word.Application if that matters), I add many data rows like the following, so that the table becomes larger than a page:

Dim table as Word.table
Set table = <get the table>
Dim data()
data = Array("a", "b", "c", "d", "e")
Dim r As Word.row, i, j As Long
For j = 1 to 100 Set r = table.Rows.Add() For i = 0 To UBound(data) r.Cells.Item(i + 1).Range.Text = data(i) Next
Next

The data rows appear fine but the header row is not repeated on the following pages despite the setting.

The solutions found on the Net say the following:

• Word 2013 & 2016 – Table ‘repeat header row’ not working – IT Support Guides: Select the table (or place the cursor into any cell on the first page of the table _{(This is my own finding)}), then on Table Tools->Layout ribbon pane, deselect and reselect Repeat Header Rows.

  This works, but I need to do this programmatically.

• How to enable 'Repeat Header Rows' in a Word Table from VBA?:

  wd.ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Rows(1).Select
  wd.Selection.Rows.HeadingFormat = True

  This has no effect.

1 Answer

This is a bug, most probably. I've seen it from Word 2007 all the way to 2016.

This is a workaround that I've found:

'Headings do not start replicating themselves on further pages automatically
'even though they should.
'Have to force their reformat manually.
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
table.Rows(1).HeadingFormat = False
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
table.Rows(1).HeadingFormat = True

All the operations are required, as is the order. Otherwise, there's no effect.