How to get the in HTML tables to fit content, and let a specific fill in the rest

Answer 1

demo - http://jsfiddle.net/victor_007/ywevz8ra/

added border for better view (testing)

more info about white-space

table{
    width:100%;
}
table td{
    white-space: nowrap;  /** added **/
}
table td:last-child{
    width:100%;
}

    table {
      width: 100%;
    }
    table td {
      white-space: nowrap;
    }
    table td:last-child {
      width: 100%;
    }

  

    

      
Column A
      
Column B
      
Column C
      
Column D
    
  
  

    

      
Data A.1 lorem
      
Data B.1 ip
      
Data C.1 sum l
      
Data D.1
    
    

      
Data A.2 ipsum
      
Data B.2 lorem
      
Data C.2 some data
      
Data D.2 a long line of text that is long
    
    

      
Data A.3
      
Data B.3
      
Data C.3
      
Data D.3