Keeping a definite table size for printing

Should always fill 8.5 by 11

[Kysmiley]

I am looking to find coding that would allow me to make a specific table size. I want it to print out on a full 8.5 x 11 inch peace of paper when I am done. So as I add cells or merge them the over all out side dimentions can not change can someone tell mewhat the exact measurments would be to create this. I had considered CSS but this may be easier to accomplish in regular HTML coding with tables.
Pat

[BonRouge]

Can't you just set the table width? Am I missing something here?
You can do this the old-fashioned (but-not-very-good) way : <table width="..."> or with css : table {width:...}
You might want to set the width to 100% so it'll fill whatever space is available to it.
8.5 x 11 inches... What is that? A4?

The next question is the obligatory one about the content. Is this for layout purposes or actual tabular data?
If it is for layout purposes, you really would be better with css. You can use a stylesheet especially for printing. In this way, you can remove anything you don't really need/want printed - menus, ads, whatever.

But yeah... maybe I misunderstood the question...

[TheDoctor]

If you're thinking of using the print button on the browser to control printing, you may find that things don't work as you want. Different browsers have slightly different ways of dealing with fonts, plus users can control the area around the printed version of the web page.

If you're not definitely using tabular data, you'll definitely find it easier to use CSS than tables. But, even if you are using tabular data, use CSS to specify the font size on the printed page.

Of course, if you're going to hold the data on an intranet and can control the browser that's going to be used, then you'll have fewer problems than if you're running it over the internet. But this still might not be as simple as you think.

If at all possible, follow the advice in BonRouge's second paragraph.