\let\beforeTABLEsplitbox\relax \let\afterTABLEsplitbox \relax \let\beforeTABLEbox \relax \let\afterTABLEbox \relax

you can play with these macros since they are the formal hooks

Hans, I played with \let\beforeTABLEsplitbox\dontleavehmode \def\afterTABLEsplitbox{\relax\dontleavehmode} \let\beforeTABLEbox\dontleavehmode \let\afterTABLEbox\relax which gives the right indents but stops the tables splitting. I think I will just have to live with non-splitting tables for now, unless you can suggest a better redefinition? Thanks very much for the help anyway. Duncan