Key Applications Module Lesson 14 — Working with Tables Computer Literacy BASICS

Key Applications ModuleLesson 14 — Working with Tables

Computer Literacy BASICS

Computer Literacy BASICS2

Objectives

Create a table. Insert and delete rows and columns. Insert and edit table text. Adjust column width and center a table. Use the Draw Table and Eraser tools to

create a table grid.


Objectives (cont.)

Format text alignment and direction within a table cell.

Format borders and shading. Sort data in a table. Convert text to a table and AutoFormat the

table.


Vocabulary

Cell Gridlines Merging cells Splitting cells


Tables

Word makes the task of arranging text and numbers in columns both quick and easy by providing features to create tables in a document.

Tables consist of cells to which you add text or graphics.

A cell represents the intersection of a row and a column.


Creating a Table

The Insert Table button on the Standard toolbar places a table structure in your document.

Word formats a border around tables by default, but it can be removed.

Boundary lines within a table are called gridlines and are for layout purposes. They do not print.

Insert Table


Inserting a Table

To insert a table, click the Insert Table button on the Standard toolbar.

When the table grid at left appears, click in the first cell and drag down for however many rows and columns you want, as shown.


Inserting Rows or Columns in a Table

To insert a new row at the end of a table, simply position the insertion point in the last cell of the table and press Tab.

Use the Insert command on the Table menu to insert a row or column anywhere else in the table.


Deleting Rows or Columns in a Table

If you select cells and press the Delete key, you will delete the contents, but not the row or column.

To remove a row or column, you must use the Delete command on the Table menu.

When you delete a row or column in a table using the Delete command, the contents of the row or column are also deleted.


Merging Cells

When you remove the boundary between two cells, it is called merging cells.

Cells can be merged horizontally or vertically. Cells are frequently merged to create headings

that span multiple columns. To merge cells, select the cells to be merged

and then select the Merge Cells option on the Table menu.


Splitting Cells

You can also split cells into two or more rows and/or two or more columns.

To split table cells, you must place the insertion point in the cell to be split and then select the Split Cells option on the Table menu to open the Split Cells dialog box.

You can also split a table into two separate tables using the Split Table option on the Table menu.

The Split Cells dialog box opens when you select the Split Cells option to let you enter the values you want.


The Draw Table Tool

Create complex and custom tables using the Draw Table tool.

This tool is similar to drawing a table layout as you would with pencil and paper, but you use the mouse to draw the table’s structure.

You must be in Print Layout view to use the Draw Table tool.


The Tables and Borders Toolbar

To draw a table, display the Tables and Borders toolbar shown below by selecting it from the Toolbars submenu on the View menu.

Use the Draw Table button to draw the outline of your table.

Eraser tool

Draw Table


The Eraser Tool

The Eraser tool can be used to customize a table by erasing selected cell boundaries to create a complex table structure.

Once your table is drawn, click the Eraser tool button on the Tables and Borders toolbar to erase cell boundaries and make your table appear as you need it.

The Eraser tool allows you to remove specific cell boundaries.


Removing Table Borders

To remove table borders, use the Borders and Shading dialog box (right).

Under Setting on the Borders tab, select None and then click OK to delete table borders.

The gridlines, which do not print and appear lighter than the default borders, will still display in your table after you remove the borders.

Use the Borders and Shading dialog box options to add or remove formatting elements from a table.


Formatting Borders and Shading

Adding borders and shading to a table can enhance its appearance.

You can use the Borders and Shading dialog box or the formatting buttons on the Tables and Borders toolbar to– Change the weight of the cell borders to make

them thicker or thinner.– Shade selected cells with various colors.


Entering Text in a Table

Adding text to cells in a table is similar to entering characters in a document.

Place the insertion point in a cell and key text. You can move from cell to cell using the arrow

keys or the Tab key. If the text is wider than the column, Word will wrap

the text to the next line in the same cell. When you press Tab at the last cell in a row, Word

goes to the first cell of the next row.


Editing Table Text

Editing text in a table is basically the same as editing text in any other part of the document.

You can insert, delete, copy, or move text from cell to cell.

Use drag-and-drop editing to move text from one cell to another location in the table.

You can apply formatting attributes to one or more cells.


A Table with Text and Formatting


Aligning Text in Table Cells

You can align text in one or more cells. You change the alignment of text within

cells using alignment options on the Tables and Borders toolbar.

Click the drop-down arrow next to the Align Top Left button to see the alignment option box shown at right.


Aligning Text in Table Cells (cont.)

Select the cell or cells to be aligned and then click one of the boxes to set that alignment.

You can also use the Change Text Direction button on the Tables and Borders toolbar to change text direction.– The default position of text is horizontal. – When you click the Change Text Direction button,

the direction toggles between three text positions: top to bottom, bottom to top, and back to horizontal.


Modifying the Table Structure

When you create a table grid, Word makes all columns the same width.

To change row height or column width:– Drag the cell borders to the desired size.– Use the Table Properties dialog box to specify

exact values.– Use the AutoFit to Contents feature to let Word

size each column and row based on cell contents.


Modifying and Aligning a Table

If a table cell is formatted for AutoFit, Word will automatically adjust the cell width each time the cell contents change.

To align a table on the page horizontally:– First select the entire table.– Then format the alignment of the table using the

alignment buttons (Left, Center, Right) on the Formatting toolbar in the same way you would format paragraphs in a Word document.


Sorting Data in a Table

You can sort information in a table on different search criteria to organize the table contents so as to empha-size data in different ways.

The Sort command on the Table menu opens the Sort dialog box shown at left.


Sorting Data in a Table (cont.)

You can also sort data in a table by using the Sort Ascending and Sort Descending buttons on the Tables and Borders toolbar.– Sorting data in ascending order rearranges it

into alphabetical order from A to Z or numerical order from lowest number to highest number.

– Sorting data in descending order rearranges it in alphabetical order from Z to A or numerical order from highest number to lowest number.


Converting Text to a Table

Word document data in tabular format can be converted to a table.

The data must be separated by tabs, commas, paragraph marks, or other characters.

Word determines the number of columns and rows required based on the selected data.


Converting Text to a Table (cont.)

To convert text to a table:– Select the text to convert.– Select Convert from the

Table menu.– Select Text to Table on the

submenu to open the dialog box at right.

– Accept or change the number of columns and rows displayed in the dialog box and then click OK to complete the conversion.


Converting a Table to Text

You can also change a table to tabular text in a Word document:– Select the entire table and then

click Convert on the Table menu.– Select the Table to Text option on

the submenu to open the dialog box shown at left.

– Make sure the Tabs option is selected in the dialog box and then click OK.


Using AutoFormat

The AutoFormat feature provides several predefined table formats that you can apply to your table.

These formats include border, shading, and color options to make the tables more attractive and easier to read.

Apply a format by selecting the Table AutoFormat option on the Table menu.


Summary

The table feature in Word enables you to organize and arrange text and numbers easily.

If you need to change the organization of information after you create a table, you can remove rows and columns.


Summary (cont.)

The Draw Table tool and the Eraser tool are especially useful when you need to create a complex table. You can draw the table boundaries with the Draw Table tool much like you would draw a table on a sheet of paper. You can use the Eraser tool to remove cell boundaries.


Summary (cont.)

Borders and shading greatly enhance the appearance of a table and often make the table easier to read.

Format fonts and text alignment in table cells the same way you apply those formats in other Word documents.


Summary (cont.)

You can edit the text in table cells using the same editing methods used for other Word text.

The AutoFit feature automatically adjusts the width of a column based on the contents of the cells in a column.


Summary (cont.)

Sort the information in a table to organize the table contents to emphasize data in different ways.

Word will convert text to a table or a table to text.

The AutoFormat feature automatically adds borders and shading to your table.

Documents

Key Applications Module Lesson 14 — Working with Tables Computer Literacy BASICS