# Can't create a table with fixed column width when using \multicolumn

I want to generate a table with fixed column width even though every line of it has \multicolumn.

I have seen this solution but it's not suitable for my needs since I need to be able to control each cell's border.

MWE:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{multirow}
\begin{document}
\begin{tabular}{*{2}{p{1cm}}*{2}{p{2cm}}}
&
&\multicolumn{2}{c}{strong}\\
&
&\multicolumn{1}{c}{work and steal}
&\multicolumn{1}{c}{work}\\
\cline{3-4}
\multirow{2}*{weak}
&\multicolumn{1}{c|}{work}
&\multicolumn{1}{c|}{(x,y)}
&\multicolumn{1}{c|}{(x,y)}\\
\cline{3-4}
&\multicolumn{1}{c|}{rest}
&\multicolumn{1}{c|}{(x,y)}
&\multicolumn{1}{c|}{(x,y)}\\
\cline{3-4}
\end{tabular}
\end{document}

• Why all those \multicolumns? Feb 11 '20 at 20:07
• What should happen to "work and steal"? This is wider than 2cm. Feb 11 '20 at 20:08
• Probably you are more satisfied with &work and steal &work\\ instead fo your current 2 multicolumns. If you insist on using the multicolumn commands, although I can't see any reason why, you can use &\multicolumn{1}{p{2cm}}{work and steal} &\multicolumn{1}{p{2cm}}{work}\\ . Feb 11 '20 at 20:09
• Not all of the multicolumn commands are needed to expicitly control the borders of the table. Especially not the ones in the second row. Feb 11 '20 at 20:11
• you are completely removing the p specification and replacing it by c so the column width is not specified. if you need multicolumn (which seems unlikely) use p again not c. a p column entry is a parbox so you can use \centering to center, or for a fixed width c column use array package and wc{2cm} Feb 11 '20 at 20:18

An alternative solution with tblr environment of tabularray package:

\documentclass{article}

\usepackage{tabularray}

\begin{document}

\begin{tblr}{
colspec = {*{2}{t{1cm}}*{2}{t{2.3cm}}},
hline{3-5} = {3-4}{solid},
vline{3-5} = {3-4}{solid},
cells = {c},
cell{1}{3} = {c=2}{}, % multicolumn
cell{3}{1} = {r=2}{}, % multirow
}
&      & strong         &       \\
&      & work and steal & work  \\
weak & work & (x,y)          & (x,y) \\
& rest & (x,y)          & (x,y) \\
\end{tblr}

\end{document}

• +1: You seem to systematically address old questions using the nice new package tabularray :) - are you the package author? Aug 22 at 1:20
• @Dr.ManuelKuehner Yes, I am the author. Aug 22 at 1:21
• Nice - good work! I gave you some upvotes as a "thank you". Aug 22 at 1:23
• Thank you for your appreciation of my package. Aug 22 at 1:30

Here is a solution with {NiceTabular} of nicematrix.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{nicematrix}

\begin{document}
\begin{NiceTabular}{ccw{c}{23mm}w{c}{23mm}}
&      & \Block[C]{1-2}{strong} & \\
&      & work and steal & work \\
\Block{2-1}{weak} & work & \Block[hvlines]{2-2}{}
$(x,y)$  & $(x,y)$ \\
& rest & $(x,y)$  & $(x,y)$ \\
\end{NiceTabular}
\end{document}