This element specifies the way in which a cell shall be included in a merged group of cells (horizontally or vertically) within the parent table.

[Example: Consider a table with three rows and two columns with the last column completely vertically merged:

The second cell in the first row starts a vertical merge that is completed in the last cell, resulting in the following WordprocessingML:

<w:tbl>
…
<w:tr>
<w:tc>
…
</w:tc>
<w:tc>
…
</w:tc>
<w:tc>
<w:tcPr>
<w:vmerge w:val="restart"/>
</w:tcPr>
…
</w:tc>
</w:tr>

<w:tr>
<w:tc>
…
</w:tc>
<w:tc>
…
</w:tc>
<w:tc>
<w:tcPr>
<w:vmerge w:val="continue"/>
</w:tcPr>
…
</w:tc>
</w:tr>

<w:tr>
<w:tc>
…
</w:tc>
<w:tc>
…
</w:tc>
<w:tc>
<w:tcPr>
<w:vmerge w:val="continue"/>
</w:tcPr>
…
</w:tc>
</w:tr>
</w:tbl>

The val attribute of type ST_Merge on the vmerge element defines the cells which are vertically merged, and how each cell is merged together. end example]

This simple type's contents are a restriction of the XML Schema string datatype.

The following are possible enumeration values for this type:

Enumeration Value

Description

continue (Continue Merged Region)

Specifies that the current cell continues a previously existing merged group of cells in the parent table.

If the previous cell in the document (horizontally or vertically) does not either begin or continue a set of merged cells, then this value shall be ignored (i.e. a group of merged cells must start with a merge whose ST_Merge value is restart).

restart (Start/Restart Merged Region)

Specifies that the current cell starts (or restarts) a group of merged cells in the parent table.

After this value, all following cells which have a value of continue shall be merged into this merged cell group.

Referenced By

hMerge@val (§2.4.16); vMerge@val (§2.4.81)

The following XML Schema fragment defines the contents of this simple type:

</restriction>

</simpleType>