If using the subfigure package, leaving a blank line between the subtables will make Latex put all the tables (or figures) in a vertical column. If you do not leave spaces, the tables or figures will be placed side-by-side if there is enough room, as expected.

Thus:

begin{table}[tbp]
centering
caption{Title of table}
label{fnru435n}
subtable[Title of subtable]{
begin{tabular}{lll}
end{tabular}
label{h5ft5n}
}
subtable[Title of subtable]{
begin{tabular}{lll}
end{tabular}
label{h5ft5n}
}
end{table}

not:

begin{table}[tbp]
centering
caption{Title of table}
label{fnru435n}
subtable[Title of subtable]{
begin{tabular}{lll}
end{tabular}
label{h5ft5n}
}
subtable[Title of subtable]{
begin{tabular}{lll}
end{tabular}
label{h5ft5n}
}
end{table}

categories: Nature and Science and Tech
tags: computing, latex, top tips
last modified: 20th Feb 2012