Tables help you organize text, numbers, or graphics in side-by-side columns. Using the Table frame you create a grid with columns and rows. Table cells can be merged or split, and enter data directly into any cell.
The Table frame is a specialized frame especially suited to the Word Processing environment. The Table frame is not a full document type; it can only be used as a frame within another document. However, the Table frame does have its own specific Standard Toolbar tools.
Table frames can be created in-line or as floating frames, in the same way as standard word processing frames.
An in-line table frame is inserted directly into the flow of text in a full-screen word processing document. The table frame gets treated like a character and as such is affected by indentation and alignment. However, text styles, size, and font properties do not affect an in-line table frame.
In-line table frames are useful if you want the table to stay in the same position relative to the text. When inserted in-line, text inside the full-screen document wraps around the table borders.
Creating a New In-Line Table Frame
Position the insertion-point (blinking bar) where you want to place the new in- line table frame.
From the Insert menu, select Table Frame. An Insert Table dialog box is displayed.
Select the number of rows and columns you want the table to have.
Click OK to enter the table at the insertion point position.
A floating table frame is placed in a special graphics layer that exists above the full-screen word processing document. A floating table frame is not directly tied to the text flow, thus it does not move with the text in the full-screen word processing document. The floating table can be moved anywhere within the document, by selecting it and using the mouse. You can also specify how text in the full-screen word processing document wraps around the floating table frame.
Creating a New Floating Table Frame
Display the Drawing Toolbar.
Select the Table Frame icon. The cursor changes to a cross-hair.
Draw the frame in the workspace, then release the mouse button.
Text in the full-screen word processing document flows around the floating table frame.
To change the number or rows and columns after you create the frame, see
“Inserting and Deleting Rows and Columns”.
The Table Frame Menu and Toolbar
The following Menu is specific to Table frames:
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Table |
Contains commands specific to a table, such as merging and splitting cells, inserting and deleting rows and columns, and distributing rows and columns evenly. |
Most of the tools on the table frame Toolbar are also found on the Word Processing Toolbar. The following additional tools are available:
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Vertical Alignment Tools
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Control the vertical text/number alignment of the selected cells (top, center, bottom, or justified). | |
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Select Table |
Selects the entire table.
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Select Column |
Selects the current column.
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Select Row |
Selects the current row.
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Select Cell |
Selects the current cell.
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Split Cells |
Splits a cell into several cells. See "Splitting Table Cells" for more information.
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Borders |
Change individual Cell borders | |
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Merge Cells |
Merges two or more cells into a single cell. See "Merging Table Cells" for more information.
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The remainder of this topic describes using the table tools and menu items.
Distributing Rows and Columns Evenly
Table columns and rows can be individually sized, or they can be sized evenly across the table. To size rows and/or columns evenly:
Select the cells in the table that you want to change, by using the mouse or one of the selection tools.
Perform either of the following actions:
To make all the rows and cells the same height, select Distribute Rows Evenly from the Table menu.
To make all the columns and cells the same width, select Distribute Columns Evenly from the Table menu.
Inserting and Deleting Rows and Columns
Either select the whole row or column, or place the insertion point (the blinking bar) into the desired row or column.
Perform the deletion or insertion:
To delete a row or column from the table, select Delete Row or Delete Column from the Table menu. The selected row or column is deleted.
To insert a row or column, select Insert Row or Insert Column from the Table menu. Rows are inserted above the insertion point; columns to the left.
You can merge two or more contiguous cells into a single cell. Cell contents are merged left to right, top to bottom.
To merge cells:
Select the cells you want to merge, either by using the mouse or the Table menu’s selection items.
Select Merge Cells from the Table menu, or the Merge Cells on the Toolbar.
NOTE: When cells are merged, only the data in the top left-most cell is preserved.
You can split a single cell into multiple rows and columns. Cell contents are not split, but rather remain in the top-left-most cell of the split area.
To split a cell:
Select the cell you want to merge, either by using the mouse or the Table menu’s selection items.
Select Split Cell from the Table menu, or the Split Cell tool from the Toolbar.
Specify the number of rows and columns to split the cell into.
The cell gutter is the white space between the cell contents and the cell border. You can specify a value of 0-8 for the cell gutter, where 0 is no extra space and 8 is the maximum padding. Cell gutter settings apply to the entire table, not just the selected cells.
To change the cell gutter:
Click anywhere in the table.
Select Cell Gutter from the Table menu.
Select a number from 0-8.