Move, copy, and duplicate tables, rows, and columns

Last updated on Jun 2, 2026

Learn how to move, copy, and duplicate table rows and columns to quickly reorganize or reuse table content in Adobe InDesign.

You can perform several actions to manage rows and columns in a table. For example, you can move rows or columns within the same table, duplicate them, paste them before or after another row or column, or copy the contents of a row to a column and vice versa.

Drag and drop or duplicate rows and columns

You can move rows and columns within the same table by dragging them to a new position. You can also duplicate rows or columns during the drag process.

Select the entire row or column you want to move. Partial selections cannot be dragged.

Hover over the selected row or column until the move cursor appears.

Drag the selected row or column to the desired position in the table.

Release the pointer to place the row or column.

Note

Rows can only be dropped as rows, and columns only as columns.
Drag and drop works only within the same table.
Moving rows or columns does not change the total count.
Header rows can only be moved within the header section.

Duplicate rows or columns

You can duplicate rows or columns while dragging them.

Select the entire row or column you want to duplicate with the Type tool.

Hold Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) and position the pointer over the selection until the move and duplicate cursor appears.

Drag the row or column to the desired location in the table.

Release the pointer to create the duplicate.

You can duplicate multiple contiguous rows or columns at once. In macOS, duplicating increases the total number of rows or columns. Also, header, footer, and body rows can be duplicated into other sections using Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (macOS).

Copy rows or columns and paste before or after

You can copy rows or columns and paste them before or after another row or column. This method also lets you copy rows or columns from one table and paste them into another table.

Select the row or column that you want to copy and press Ctrl + C.

Select the destination row or column.

Select Table > Paste Before or Paste After.

Remove header or footer rows

You can convert header or footer rows to body rows if they are no longer required.

Select the desired header or footer rows using the Type tool.

Select Table > Table Options > Headers and Footers.

Select and fill in the Header Rows and Footer Rows in the Table Dimensions section.

Select OK.

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