Word Processing Advanced
What are Tables? This feature enables you to create tables in order to organize items in columns and rows, instead of calculating tab settings. In many cases it is better to organize your data within a table rather than using tab stops. The advantage of using a table is that text will flow from one line to the next within the table. Tables are much more flexible than Word columns, they are easier to manipulate and are correctly displayed on-screen in Normal view (unlike columns).
In Microsoft Word 2010 its more graphical - Click insert - Table - as below
Create standard tables - using Openoffice writer 2009 version - similar
procedure to microsoft Word.
To create a table - place the insertion point where you want the table to start, in this case it's the start of the document - using the Insert Table icon on the Standard toolbar. Click on the icon
Select the number of rows and columns you require - as below
the Insert Table control toolbars box should appear automatically with your table - as below
Entering data into a table · Click on any cell and insert text or numbers. To move from cell to cell use the Tab key.
Change cell attributes: formatting, cell size,
color etc.
Formatting your table using - Click Table AutoFormat button -select your desired colours etc.
Using Table AutoFit - You can automatically resize elements of your
table to fit the data contained with it. Thus column widths can be automatically
resized to accommodate data. Right Click within your table and click
on the Table drop down menu. Select the Table AutoFit command. Select
the option required from the sub-menu displayed to apply the changes
needed.
To color a cell(s) - Click on a cell or click and drag to select several cells. Click on the toolbar and select the Borders and Shading icons, and select a colors. Click on the OK button to apply the selected color to your cell(s).
To change the text color - Use the same techniques as you would for changing any text color within word. I.e. select a cell(s) and click on the down arrow next to the Font Color icon contained in the toolbar. Then select a color to apply it.
Insert and delete columns and rows.
To select a column - Move the mouse pointer to the top of the column and the cursor will change from an I-beam to a small, thick downwards pointing arrow. Click to select the column.
To select a row - Move the mouse cursor to the left of the row that you wish to select. Double click to select the row.
To select the whole table · Make sure that the Num Lock is switched off. Simultaneously depress the Alt key and the 5 on the numeric keypad. Or click on the Table drop down menu and select the Select Table command.
To turn off table gridlines - From the auto format wizard button deselect - Gridlines box to turn the gridlines off.
To insert a column or row into the table. Select the column or row where you want the new one to appear. Press the Insert column or row button. A new column or row will be inserted .
To delete a column or row within a table · Select the column(s) or row(s) you want to delete and then from the Table menu, choose Delete Columns or Delete Rows.
To merge cells within a table. Select the cells you wish to combine to make a single cell and then from the Table menu, choose the Merge Cells button.
To split cells within a table -To split a cell into two or more cells, select the cell you wish to split and from the Table menu, choose the Split Cells button to display the Split Cells dialog box. Enter the number of columns or rows you wish to split the cell into and then select OK or press Enter to split the cells in the table.
To split a table - Place the insertion point where you want to split the table. From the Table menu, choose the Split Table button. A blank row will appear in the table, above the current row, to create a separate table.
Table manipulation, using the right-mouse pop-up
menu. Place the insertion point within a table and right click. The
following pop-up menu is displayed. This can be used to quickly manipulate
the table, by for instance inserting a row or column.
Look at the numbers in the above cell - click on the bottom cell - click on the Autosum Icon within the table toolbar as indicated above - the column will be totalled.
Tables and the Del key - If you select a row or column and press the Del key, then only the data contained within the selected area is deleted (i.e. not the row or column itself). However if you select a few rows at the top or bottom of a table AND ALSO a line above or below the table, then depressing the Del key will remove this line PLUS the selected rows of the table. This is a convenient way to delete a whole table!
Add borders to a table.
To add a border to a table · Click once
within your table.· Click on the Table drop down menu and then
click on the Select command. From the sub-menu displayed, click on Table.
This will select the entire table for you.
· Once the table is selected click on the down arrow next to
the Border icon (on the Formatting toolbar) to select and apply border
formats to your table. De-select your table to view the results.
Use the automatic table formatting tool.
To use Table AutoFormat -Ensure that the insertion point is within the table you wish to AutoFormat.· From the Table drop down menu, select Table AutoFormat, which will display the Table AutoFormat dialog box. An easy way to select this feature is to right click on the table to bring up a pop-up menu and select Table AutoFormat. Use the Formats list to select the required format type (a preview of the format style is displayed in the Preview box). Specify in the Formats to apply section what element of AutoFormat you wish to apply to the table.· Use the Apply special formats to section to enhance your formatting choices. Click on the OK button when the desired format style and options have been selected.