Working with Tables in Word

A table is made up of rows and columns.  Where a row and column meet is called a cell.  Text in a cell can be formatted like any text in a paragraph.  Cells can be merged and split to accommodate positioning of text in a document.

 - Insert Table icon.  This icon on your standard toolbar allows you to instantly create a table of up to 4 rows and 5 columns.

To create a table with this icon:

1. Click in your document where you want the table.

2. Click on the Insert Table icon.

3. Highlight the number of rows and columns you want.  Then click the left mouse button.

4. The table will appear with the cursor in the first cell.  Type text.  Press the Tab key or Arrow keys to move around in the table.

To Delete a table:

1. Click somewhere in table.

2. Click Table, Delete, Table from menu bar.
    

 - Tables and Borders
Toolbar.  This icon brings up your
Tables and Borders Toolbar as a
floating toolbar.  This toolbar can
be moved or placed at the top or
bottom of your screen along with other toolbars.  Most of these tasks can be found under the Table menu.
 

 - Draw Table

1. Start table by holding left mouse button and dragging mouse in a diagonal direction to create the outer border of table. 

2. Then hold left mouse button to draw vertical lines and horizontal lines for columns and rows in the table.
    

 - Erase lines in table.  Click on lines you want erased.
 

Border style, thickness, color, Outside Borders and Cell Fill color.  These allow you to change the style, thickness, and color of your cell borders.  The border icon allows you to create borders or take them off.  The paint bucket allows you to fill in your cells with color.  These tasks can also be found in Borders and Shading under the Format menu.
 

 - Insert Table window.  This icon allows you to create a table with special features and that can be more than 4 rows and 5 columns.
 

 - Merge Cells/Split Cells

To Merge Cells:

1. Highlight cells to be merged.

2. Click the Merge Cells icon.

To Split Cells: 

1. Highlight cells to be split.

2. Click on the Split Cells icon.

3. Type in how many rows or columns to split the cell into.

4. Click Ok.
    

 - Cell Alignment

1.        Highlight cells.

2.        Click the down arrow next to the Alignment icon.

3.        Click on the alignment you want.
 

 - Distribute Rows/Columns Evenly  This will set all rows selected or all columns selected to be the same height or width.
 

 - Table AutoFormat for specific table styles.
 

 - Text Rotation.  This icon will rotate the text within the cell(s) that are selected or at the cursor position.  This task can also be found under the Format menu and can only be performed on text within a table or text box.
 

 - Sorting – ascending/descending
 

 - SUM Function.  When the cursor is placed in the next empty cell after a row of numbers or column of numbers,  Clicking this icon will add all the numbers and give a solution in that empty cell.

To insert a row/column/cell:

1. Highlight the number of rows/columns/cells you wish to insert.

2. Click Table, Insert.

3. Then click on your choice for Rows/Columns/Cells, whichever task you wish to perform.  When inserting cells, you will be asked how to insert the cells, then click Ok.

To delete a row/column/cell:

1. Highlight the number of rows/columns/cells you wish to delete.

2. Click Table, Delete.

3. Then click on your choice for Rows/Columns/Cells, whichever task you wish to perform.  When deleting cells, you will be asked how to delete the cells, then click Ok.