Bijou Computer Applications Class

• Inserting a table.
• Orienting Text in cells
• Rotate text.
• Inserting a table with Draw Table
• Inserting tables with the Table menu
• Table AutoFormat
• Moving around in a table.
• Modifying cells in a table.

• Creating "invisible" tables

 Perform the tasks as you learn about tables.

- Take the Test

Inserting tables

Just as columns add visual interest to your document, tables add interest and clarity. Use tables to organize information into a grid made up of cells. Each cell in a table can contain elements such as text, numbers, complex graphics, bulleted lists, numbering, fields, and hanging indents.

You can easily insert tables into your Word document or PowerPoint presentation. For complex calculations and statistical analysis, you may prefer to use Microsoft Excel.

People tend to see relationships between facts more clearly when the data is in tables. You can use tables to store data and to perform basic math calculations and averages. You can enhance a table with color to emphasize the data and message. You can add a table by using either the Table menu or the Tables and Borders toolbar.

Note
To get more information on how tables in Word can enhance your documents, click the Office Assistant, and type graphs, charts, and tables.

Inserting a table with Draw Table

1. Open a new blank document.
2. On the Table menu, click Draw Table. The Draw Table pen appears on the desktop.
3. Using the mouse, drag the Draw Table pen diagonally across the screen to draw the outside of the table.
4. Using the Draw Table pen, draw three vertical and five horizontal lines in the table.
5. On the Tables and Borders toolbar, click the Eraser button, and erase the three middle horizontal lines by clicking and dragging the eraser across the lines.
6. On the Table menu, click Select Table.
7. On the Tables and Borders toolbar, click the Distribute Rows Evenly button to rearrange the horizontal lines.
8. Then, click the Distribute Columns Evenly button to rearrange the vertical lines.
9. On the Tables and Borders toolbar, click the Border Color button, select a color, and drag the Draw Table pen across the middle vertical line.
   
   
    
10. Type YOUR Name in the top left cell.
11. On the Tables and Borders toolbar, or by right-clicking in the table, click the Align Center Left button.
    
    
     
12. On the Standard toolbar, click the Align Right button, and then click the Align Center button,
    or, by right-clicking in the table, click the Align Center button.
13. Save the document with the name Tables_yourinitials.doc. It should look like the sample above.

You can rotate text vertically, too.

1. Open the previous table, if you have closed it.
2. Make sure that the cells are large enough that you have extra space, so that you can see what's happening with this exercise.
3. Click in the cell with your name in it.
4. Right-click, and click on Text Direction.
5. Click on one of the vertical choices.
   
6. Change the width of the cell so that it fits the newly-oriented text.  See how this would be useful if you had some long headings to put in a table?
7. Save the document with the name Tables2_yourinitials.doc. It should look like the first table above, but with your name vertically rotated as immediately above.

There are many advantages to being able to create your own table or chart. Using the features on the Tables and Borders toolbar, you can customize your table to fit your exact requirements.

Inserting tables with the Table menu

Note
You can use the Insert Table from the Standard toolbar or from Table Menu.

Creating a table with the Table menu

1. Open a new document.
2. On the Table menu, click Insert Table.
3. Set the number of columns to 4, the number of rows to 3, and the column width to Auto.
4. Click AutoFormat.

   Table AutoFormat

   Like its name states, this command is supposed to automatically format your table.

   However, you have to choose which of the several options you want.

   It does save you some time and effort, because you don't have to take the many steps some of the formatting options would require to complete.
    

5. In the Table AutoFormat dialog box, under Formats, click 3D effects 3.
   
   
   
   
6. Click OK to close the Table AutoFormat window.
7. Click OK to close the Insert Table dialog box and insert the table in your document.
8. Save the document with the name Tables3D_yourinitials.doc. It has nothing in it, but should have the 3D look as above.

Moving around inside a table

In Word, a row in a table is horizontal, and a column is vertical. (This is true of most any table in any program) The following lessons explain how you can move around in a table using the mouse and how to enter text and then copy, paste, and change that text within the table.

Selecting cells in a table

1. Still in your table document, position the mouse pointer on the left edge of any cell.  When you have it positioned correctly, it will change from the "I-bar" cursor that you usually see inside a Word document to an arrow pointing toward the upper-right.  Note that when you usually see the arrow, it is pointing toward the upper-left.
2. Click once to select that one cell.
3. Position the pointer at the start of a row (just outside the table border) and, if properly located, you will see it change into that rightward arrow again. Click once to select that row.
4. Position the pointer at the top of a column. The mouse pointer will turn into a down arrow. Click to select that column.

You can select adjacent columns and rows by dragging the pointer across the additional cells you want to select.

Using shortcut keys in a table to move around

1. Still in your table document, click anywhere in the upper-left cell of your table, but do not select the entire cell.
2. Enter today’s date.
3. Press the tab key to move to the next cell.
4. Enter tomorrow’s date.
5. Position the insertion point in the last cell of the last column.
6. Press the tab key to add another row.
7. Press shift+tab to move back one cell.
8. Save as Table2 again, this version to hand in.

Changing lines inside tables

The standard table may not be sized according to your needs. If the information you enter does not fit into one cell of the column, Word makes the text fit by creating a second line of text. This may not be what you want.

Changing column size to fit your text

1. Open your Table document.
2. Change it, so that it has four columns and three rows:  select that last row you just made, pull down the Table menu, click Delete Rows.
3. Delete the dates in the two cells you altered last time.  (Easy way: select entire cell, press Delete key on your keyboard.)
4. Type the following three lines into your table's three rows:
   
   
   
5. Position the mouse pointer on the vertical line between the Student Name and Class Participation columns until the pointer becomes this symbol:

   Note
   You can use the mouse pointer to adjust vertical or horizontal lines.
   It will change its orientation automatically. 
    

6. Click and drag the vertical line until each name fits on one line.
7. Position the pointer on the vertical line between the Class Participation and Homework columns.
8. Click and drag the vertical line until Class Participation fits on one line....As shown here:
   
   
   
   
9. If necessary, repeat this procedure for the Homework and Quizzes columns.
10. Save.

Creating "invisible" tables

1. Open your Table document.
2. Right-click anywhere in the table.
3. Select "Table AutoFormat."
4. Scroll up the "Formats" window to "(none)," select it, and click OK.
   
   You have just removed the 3-D formatting style you previously chose, and your table should look plain, but notice:
   The lines defining the table are gray, not black.  This means that they will be invisible in your final product.
   
5. On the Table menu, choose Hide Gridlines, (Or toggle between Hide and Show Gridlines) to see how this works.
   Below is an example of a document with and without the gridlines showing:

6. Close document without saving changes. Unless you want to.  Then go ahead and save.  Or not.  But make up your mind before the teacher sees you just sitting there!

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UPDATED 11/14/05