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Microsoft Word or MS-WORD is a graphical word processing program that users can type with. It allows the users to type and save documents very similar to other word processors. There are many versions of MS-word in market, which the user can install as per te. In this tutorial, we will learn about the tables in MS-Word. 

Tables in MS Word are made up of rows and columns with an organized arrangement of text. These tables can be used to align numbers in columns and then various operations can be performed on them. Tables can also be used to create page layouts. Rows in a table are series of data banks laid out horizontally in a table or spreadsheet. Columns are vertical series of cells in a chart, table, or spreadsheet.

How to Create a Table?

Tables in MS Word can be created in the following two ways:

1. Using the Grid

2. Using Table Dialogue Box

Using the Grid

Following are the steps of creating a table using the Grid provided in MS Word:

Step 1: Go to the Insert tab and click on the Table button.

Step 2: In the dropdown menu, select the number of rows and columns from the Grid.

Using Table Dialogue Box

Following are the steps of creating a table using Table Dialogue Box in MS Word:

Step 2: Under the grid, you will see an Insert Table button. Click on it.

Step 3: In the Insert Table Dialogue box, mention the number of rows and number of columns as per the requirement and click on OK button.

How to Modify a Table?

We can also edit/modify a table to make it more creative. Multiple operations can be performed on a table like changing the layout, splitting of cells, merging the cells, applying borders, etc. Here, we will see some of the operations performed on a table in MS Word.

Changing Layout of a Table

Changing the layout of a table can be done with the help of the following steps: 

Step 1: Select the table for which the layout is to be changed. Go to the design tab .

Step 2: Click on the dropdown menu to get various different types of layouts for your table.

Step 3: Select any layout as per the need.

Splitting the Cell

Splitting of a cell can be done with the help of the following steps:

Step 1: Select the cell that you want to split into multiple cells. Then go to the Layout tab and click on the Split Cells button.

Step 2: In the dialogue box , mention the new dimensions as per the requirement. 

Step 3: Click on the Ok button.

Merging the Cells

Merging of various cells can be done by the following steps:

Step 1: Select all the cells that are to be merged into a single cell. Then go over the layout tab, and you will see a Merge Cell button.

Step 2: Now click on the Merge Cell button and the selected cells will be merged.

Applying Borders and Styles on a Table

Borders and styles can also be applied to a table in a similar way as the layout of a table is changed. Go through the following steps to do the same:

Step 1: Select the entire table and go over the design tab.

Step 2: Select the style that you want to apply to your table.

Converting Text to a Table

MS Word allows the conversion of existing text into a table with the help of the following steps:

Step 1: Select the text that is to be converted into the table. Now go to the Insert Tab and you will see a Table button.

Step 2: Click on the Insert Table button and in the drop-down menu, click on the Convert Text to Table button.

Step 3: In the dialogue box, mention the dimensions of the required table and other data that is required. 

Step 4: Click on the OK button and the selected text will be converted to a Table.

Inserting Images in a Table

MS Word allows adding images inside the table cells. To insert an image in a table, go through the following steps:

Step 1: Select the cell in which you want to add the Image. Go to the Insert tab and select the Pictures button.

Step 2: You can either choose a picture from your device or select one online.

Step 3: Choose a picture from the browser window and click on the Insert button.

Step 4: Selected Image will be added in the cell selected.

Performing Calculations in a Table

Mathematical calculations can also be performed on the values present in the table. Microsoft provides various formulas to perform these operations. By default, the sum of the values lying in the rows to the left or column lying above are calculated by Word. Following are the steps to do the same:

Step 1: Select the cell in which the result of the mathematical operations is required. 

Step 2: Now go to the Layout tab and select the formula button. 

Step 3: In the dialogue box, define the formula for the mathematical operation, the default formula is the sum of the values to the left or above.

Step 4: After defining the formula, click on the OK button to apply the formula on the cells given in the formula.

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How to Make and Customize a Table in Microsoft Word

Lots of ways to make it look pro

Making a table in Microsoft Word can be tricky, but with just a few simple steps, creating and customizing one for your needs is easy. In this article, we’ll teach you how to make a table in Microsoft Word and customize it perfectly.

Tables are a handy tool for organizing data, making data calculations using formulas, displaying information in an eye-catching way, or even creating visually appealing charts and diagrams to help break up long paragraphs of content.

How to Create a Table

There are seven ways to import a table into an MS Word document. You can create them from scratch by drawing, inserting a graphic grid, using the insert function, adding a new Microsoft Excel spreadsheet table, inserting an existing Excel Spreadsheet table, using Quick Tables, or converting the existing text into a table.

No matter which option you choose, you’ll have to first open your Word document, find a spot where you want to insert the table, and click your cursor on that spot. Let’s use the above-mentioned methods to create a table in Microsoft Word.

Create a Table with Graphic Grid

This is one of the simplest ways of creating a Microsoft Word table. Follow these simple steps:

• Go to the Insert tab on the ribbon and click the Table button.

• When the Insert Table dialog box opens, it’ll show a basic grid pattern and menu options below it.

• With the cursor, select the first grid cell and slide it down to select the number of columns and rows you want. As an example, choose six columns and four rows.

• The table will be automatically created in the document.

Once there’s a table in your document, you’ll notice two new tabs on the ribbon: Table Design and Layout . You can use these tabs to modify and stylize your newly created table. More on that later.

Create a Table with the Insert Function

Using the insert function is as easy as selecting your table layout from the grid. Here’s how it works:

• Go to Insert , then press on Table .
• Instead of dragging your cursor to select the grid, select Insert Table from the menu just below the grid.

• A dialog box will appear where you can enter the number of rows and columns you want in your table under the Table Size panel. In the AutoFit Behavio r panel, select Auto . You can also experiment with other options to see how you like them. AutoFit to Contents will produce a narrow column that changes in size as you enter data. AutoFit to Window will expand your table to fit the size of your document.

• If you want your future tables to remain this size, check the Remember dimensions for new tables option. Click the OK button to finish and create a table.

Draw a Table

You can manually draw a basic table in Word. Here’s how:

• Go to Insert , select the Table button, and choose Draw Table from the menu below the Grid.

• Your cursor will turn into a pencil. Drag it down and across the document to draw a box. You don’t have to worry about the dimensions; you can modify them later.
• Now you can start drawing cells and columns inside it. Simply drag the cursor to draw them one at a time.
• If you need to add or remove columns or rows later, you can go to the Layout tab and select the Draw Table or Eraser button. This’ll allow you to continue drawing lines with a pencil cursor or to erase existing lines with an eraser cursor.

Insert a New Excel Spreadsheet in Word

You can create an Excel spreadsheet directly in Word . Follow these simple steps:

• Go to Insert , select Tables , and choose Excel Spreadsheet from the menu.

• The new spreadsheet will be created where your cursor is set.
• Excel’s menu and commands will also be available to you, and you can use them to edit your table.

Copy and Paste an Existing Excel Spreadsheet

If you have prepared data in an Excel spreadsheet but need to move it to your Word document, you can simply copy and paste it.

• Open your Excel Worksheet, highlight the spreadsheet you need, and select the Copy button.
• Open Word and position your cursor where you need to insert the spreadsheet.
• Select the Paste drop-down menu on the Home tab in Word and choose Keep Source Formatting .

• You can also right-click your mouse and select Keep Source Formatting under Paste Options.

Quick Tables

If you don’t want to customize your tables, choose one of Word’s templates from the Quick Tables menu. You can also create your own design and save it in the Quick Tables Gallery for later use.

• Go to Insert , then select Tables , and Quick Tables .

• Select the template from the Quick Tables menu that fits your project.

• You can continue modifying it if you want to change the details.

Convert Text to Table

Converting text to a table used to be messy in Word. The data in a table would end up misplaced. That’s because previously, we had to use tabs to separate the data in individual cells.

Microsoft improved this feature, and now you can separate the table fields with commas, paragraphs, or any other separation characters. Let’s see how to convert a simple grocery shopping list into a table.

• Enter your data in a Word document. Remember to separate each data entry you want into individual cells with a comma. The rows will be separated by hitting enter and starting a new paragraph. Your list should look something like this:

• Select the list, go to Insert , Tables , and choose the Convert Text to Table option.

• In the dialog box, make sure that Commas are selected under the Separate text at the panel. Then click OK .

• Word will do the conversion for you, and a table will appear. You can then use the Table Design and Layout tabs to modify it.

How to Customize a Table

Table Design and Layout tabs are filled with helpful table tools you can use to format tables. Use Table Design to stylize your table and change its looks. Here you’ll find tools for shading, painting borders, and setting their thickness, style, and color. You can also select one of the many offered table styles.

In the Layout tab, you’ll find tools to add or remove cells, rows, and columns, merge cells, split them, or split the whole table into several ones. You’ll also use this tab to set other table properties, such as the table’s dimensions, or to align the text.

However, there are quicker ways to achieve anything these tools allow you to do. Let’s see how to quickly resize, align, add, or remove columns, rows, cells, and much more in Word tables.

How to Resize a Microsoft Word Table

Resizing the table manually means you can adjust its size or modify rows and columns individually. It’s as easy as dragging and dropping.

Resize the Whole Table

You’ll have to grab and drag to make the entire table larger or smaller.

• Select your table.
• Grab the little square that appears at its bottom-right corner.

• Drag the table to the size you want.

Resize a Column or a Row

Adjusting only the column or a row is just as easy.

• Place your cursor over a column or a row border until you see a double-sided arrow. The arrows will face left and right for columns and up and down for rows.

• Click and drag the arrow right or left to resize a column and up and down to resize a row.
• When you are done, simply release the mouse button.

How to Align the Table in MS Word

You can align your table to the left, center, or right to best fit your Word document. This is especially useful if you resize the table to fit text around it. Here’s how:

• Select the table and go to the Home tab.

• In the Paragraph section you’ll find Align Left, Center, and Right buttons. Use them to align your table.

How to Insert or Remove Columns and Rows

If your table has too few or too many rows and columns, you can easily fix it.

Add Columns and Rows

Adding a single column or a row is simple:

• Place your cursor on top of the columns or on the left side of the rows until a plus sign appears.

• Click this plus sign to add a new column or row.

If you want to insert multiple rows and columns:

• Select the same number of already existing rows or columns (if you want to add two columns, select two existing ones).

• Right-click, then go to the Insert menu and select to insert columns to the left or right and rows above or below.

Remove Columns or Rows

To delete rows or columns, select them, right-click, and select Delete Columns (or rows).

How to Add Borders or Shading

Table borders and shading are crucial to making your table look professional. With these simple tools, you can make your table stand out and make it easier to read. You’ll find both tools in the Table Design tab.

Adding Borders

Go to the Table Design tab and:

• Click Borders . A drop-down menu will let you choose the type of borders you want to add. Add them around each cell, or only highlight the outside of the table with borders. Place the cursor over the options, and you’ll get a preview of how each one changes your table.

• Once you decide on the border style, click it to apply it to your table.

• To place borders around a specific cell, row, or column, first select it and then choose the border style.

Add Shading

Spice things up by adding a background color to your tables . Use the shading drop-down menu to choose a color with which you’ll shade your table. You’ll find it in the Table Design tab.

If you want to shade a specific row, column, or cell, first select it and then choose the color. You can also shade only the selected cells.

How to Apply a Style

Microsoft Word has many table styles to offer, and you can choose one to make your table look professional. You can also do this to skip adding border style and shading.

• Select the table and go to the Table Design tab.
• Locate the Table Style box at the top of the window, and use the up and down arrows, or the “More” arrow, to browse the gallery.

• If you place your cursor over a specific style, you’ll see its preview on your table.

• Click on the selected style to apply it to your table.

To adjust the premade table style, go back to the Table Design tab and check or uncheck the boxes in the Table Style Options section. By doing this you can add or remove the Header Row, First Column, or Banded rows. There are more options so you can experiment with them and see how they influence your table design.

Use Table Properties

If you need to set a specific row height and a column width, you should use Table Properties. Here’s how:

• Select your table and right-click it. Then, choose Table Properties from the menu.

• When a dialog box opens, use the Table , Row , Column , Cell , and Alt Text to adjust their size, text wrapping, alignment, and more.

• When you’re done with adjustments, click the OK button to apply them to your table.

Word offers you a lot of tools, but creating and customizing tables is a quick and easy task. Not only can you use the pre-formatted table templates, but you can also easily customize your own table based on the needs of your project. Whether it’s adding new rows or columns for different parts of your data or varying the widths and heights of cells, you have all the tools you need to create a professional table. Let us know in the comments below if you have any questions!

Nicolae is a Jack of all trades technology writer with a focus on hardware, programming languages, and AI image-processing software. Over the last five years, he has ghostwritten numerous tech how-to guides and books on a variety of topics ranging from Linux to C# programming and game development. Nicolae loves everything that has to do with technology and his goal is to share his knowledge and experience with others. Read Nicolae's Full Bio

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Erin Wright Writing

Writing-Related Software Tutorials

Three Ways to Insert Tables in Microsoft Word

By Erin Wright

This tutorial shows three ways to insert tables in Microsoft Word so you can choose the method that is most appropriate for your content:

• Create a table from the Table menu (best for general use)
• Create a table from the Table dialog box (offers the most sizing options)
• Insert a Quick Table (fastest setup)

Note that you can also draw a custom table and import a table from Excel .

Don’t miss the five tips for working with tables at the bottom of this tutorial:

• How to delete a table
• How to resize an entire table
• How to resize individual rows and columns
• How to add rows and columns
• How to add color to a table

This tutorial is also available as a YouTube video showing all the steps in real time.

Watch more than 250 other writing-related software tutorials on my YouTube channel .

The images below are from Word for Microsoft 365.The steps are the same in Word 2021, Word 2019, and Word 2016 and similar for Word 2013 and Word 2010. However, your interface may look slightly different in those older versions of the software.

Method 1: Create a Table from the Table Menu

This method is appropriate for most users who want to create a basic table for general use.

• Place your cursor where you want to insert the table.
• Select the Insert tab in the ribbon.

• Select the Table button in the Tables group.

• Move your pointer across and down the grid to select the number of cells (organized as rows and columns) needed in your table.

The selected cells will turn orange.

• Click the selected (orange) part of the grid or press Enter on your keyboard to insert the table.

Method 2: Create a Table from the Table Dialog Box

This method provides advanced sizing options.

• Select the Insert tab in the ribbon (see figure 1).
• Select the Table button in the Tables group (see figure 2).
• Select Insert Table from the drop-down menu.

• Enter the number of rows and columns in the Insert Table dialog box.

• Select an AutoFit behavior:
• Fixed column width can be set to Auto or a specific width between 1/100 inch and twenty-two inches using the increment arrows.
• AutoFit to contents adjusts cell sizes to the content.
• AutoFit to Window adjusts the width of the table to the viewer’s Word window or browser window.

• (Optional Step) Check Remember dimensions for new tables if you want to create the same size table in the future.

• Select the OK button to close the Insert Table dialog box and insert your new table.

Method 3: Insert a Quick Table

Quick Tables are prebuilt tables and calendars you can modify for your own use.

• Select Quick Tables from the drop-down menu.

• Select a table from the gallery.

• Add your own content by typing over or deleting the table’s example text.

Now let’s look at some tips for working with tables.

Five Tips for Working with Tables in Word

The following tips cover the basics of working with tables. We will dive into this topic in much greater detail in a separate tutorial.

Tip 1: How to Delete a Table

• Select the table selector, which looks like crossed arrows, to select the entire table. You may have to hover your pointer over the table to reveal the table selector.

• Right-click the table.
• Select Delete Table from the shortcut menu.

Tip 2: How to Resize an Entire Table

• Click and hold the resizing handle in the bottom right of the table. You may need to hover your pointer over the table to reveal the handle.

• Drag the table to the size you want and then release the handle.

Tip 3: How to Resize Individual Rows and Columns

• Hover your pointer over a row or column border until your pointer becomes two lines with two arrows.

Note that the pointer in figure 14 is enlarged to make it easier to see. Your pointer will be smaller.

• Click and hold as you drag the border to resize the row or column.

Tip 4: How to Add Rows and Columns

• Right-click inside a cell.
• Select Insert from the shortcut menu.

• Select the location of your new row or column:
• Insert Columns to the Left
• Insert Columns to the Right
• Insert Rows Above
• Insert Rows Below
• Insert Cells

If you select Insert Cells, a dialog box will appear asking where you want to insert your new cells. Note that regardless of your answer, you will be inserting an entire row or column, not an individual cell.

Tip 5: How to Add Color to a Table

• Select the table selector, which looks like crossed arrows, to select the entire table (see figure 11). You may need to hover your pointer over the table to reveal the table selector.
• Select the Table Design tab in the ribbon. (Note that this tab only appears in the ribbon when a table is selected.)

• Select the down arrow in the Table Styles group.

• Select one of the styles from the gallery.

Alternatively, you can use the shading menu to add custom colors to individual rows and columns.

Pro Tip: For even more customization, add a background image to your table . Then, save your customized table as a template for reuse in future documents, as shown in “ How to Save Tables as Templates in Microsoft Word .”

Related Resources

How to Create and Customize Charts in Microsoft Word

How to Save Tables and Figures as Images in Microsoft Word (PC & Mac)

How to Insert Figure Captions and Table Titles in Microsoft Word

How to Change the Style of Table Titles and Figure Captions in Microsoft Word

How to Update Table and Figure Numbers in Microsoft Word

How to Create and Update a List of Tables or Figures in Microsoft Word

How to Export PDF Tables from Adobe Acrobat to Excel (PC & Mac)

How to Write Table Titles

How to Write Figure Captions for Graphs, Charts, Photos, Drawings, and Maps

How to Reference Tables and Figures in Text

Updated August 27, 2023

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Word  - Tables

Word  -, word tables.

Word: Tables

Lesson 23: tables.

/en/word/aligning-ordering-and-grouping-objects/content/

Introduction

A table is a grid of cells arranged in rows and columns . Tables can be used to organize any type of content, whether you're working with text or numerical data. In Word, you can quickly insert a blank table or convert existing text to a table. You can also customize your table using different styles and layouts .

Optional: Download our practice document .

Watch the video below to learn more about creating tables.

To insert a blank table:

• Place the insertion point where you want the table to appear.

• Click the grid to confirm your selection, and a table will appear.

To navigate between cells, use the Tab key or arrow keys on your keyboard. If the insertion point is in the last cell, pressing the Tab key will automatically create a new row.

To convert existing text to a table:

In the example below, each line of text contains part of a checklist , including chores and days of the week. The items are separated by tabs . Word can convert this information into a table, using the tabs to separate the data into columns.

• Go to the Insert tab, then click the Table command.

Modifying tables

You can easily change the appearance of your table once you've added one to your document. There are several options for customization, including adding rows or columns and changing the table style .

To add a row or column:

You can also right-click the table, then hover over Insert to see various row and column options.

To delete a row or column:

• Place the insertion point in the row or column you want to delete.

• The row or column will be deleted.

To apply a table style:

Table styles let you change the look and feel of your table instantly. They control several design elements, including color, borders, and fonts.

To modify table style options:

Once you've chosen a table style, you can turn various options on or off to change its appearance. There are six options: Header Row , Total Row , Banded Rows , First Column , Last Column , and Banded Columns .

• Click anywhere in your table, then navigate to the Design tab.

Depending on the Table Style you've chosen, certain Table Style Options may have a different effect. You might need to experiment to get the look you want.

To apply borders to a table:

• Click the drop-down arrow below the Borders command.

Modifying a table using the Layout tab

In Word, the Layout tab appears whenever you select your table. You can use the options on this tab to make a variety of modifications.

Click the buttons in the interactive below to learn more about Word's table layout controls.

Rows and Columns

Use these commands to quickly insert or delete rows and columns. This can be especially useful if you need to add something to the middle of your table.

Merge and Split Cells

Some tables require a layout that doesn't conform to the standard grid. In these cases, you may want to merge multiple cells (i.e., combine them into one) or split a cell in two.

Change Cell Size

You can manually enter a desired row height or column width for your cells. You can also use the AutoFit command, which will automatically adjust the column widths based on the text inside.

Distribute Rows/Columns

To keep your table looking neat and organized, you may want to distribute your rows or columns equally . This will make them all the same size. You can apply this feature to the entire table or just a small portion of it.

Align Cell Text

By changing the alignment of your cells, you can control exactly where the text is located. In the example below, the text has been aligned to the center .

Change Text Direction

You can easily change the direction of your text from horizontal to vertical . Making your text vertical can add style to your table; it also allows you to fit more columns in your table.

• Open our practice document .
• Scroll to page 3 and select all of the text below the dates July 8 - July 12 .
• Use the Convert Text to Table to insert the text into a 6-column table. Make sure to Separate text at Tabs .
• Delete the Saturday column.
• Insert a column to the left of the Friday column and type Thursday in the top cell.
• Change the table style to any style that begins with Grid Table 5 . Hint : Style names appear when you hover over them.
• In the Table Style Options menu, uncheck Banded Rows and check Banded Columns.
• Select the entire table . In the Borders drop-down menu, choose All Borders .
• With the table still selected, increase the table row height to 0.3" (0.8 cm).
• Select the first row and change the cell alignment to Align Center .

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Working With Tables in Microsoft Word

Use tables to align columns and rows of text

In This Article

Jump to a Section

Insert Table Method

Draw table method, enter text in a table, convert text to table.

Aligning text in a word processing document can be tedious when it's done with tabs and spaces. With Microsoft Word , insert tables in a document to align columns and rows of text with ease. Learn how to work with tables in Word.

Instructions in this article apply to Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2019, Word 2016, Word 2013, and Word 2010.

Using the menu, you can either select or type the desired number of columns and rows.

Open a Word document and select the location where you want to place the table.

Go to the Insert tab.

In the Tables group, select Table .

Select Insert Table .

To make a quick and basic table, drag across the grid to select the number of columns and rows for the table.

In the Insert Table dialog box, enter the number of columns and rows you want in the table.

In the Autofit Behavior section, enter a width measurement for the columns. Or, leave the field set to autofit to generate a table the width of the document.

Select OK . The blank table appears in the document.

To add or delete rows or columns, select Insert > Table .

To change the width or height of the table, drag the lower-right corner of the table.

When you select the table, the Table Design and Layout tabs appear on the ribbon. Use the tabs to apply a style or make changes to the table.

Drawing a table in Word gives you more control over a table's proportions.

With a Word document open, go to the Insert tab.

Select Table .

Select Draw Table . The cursor turns into a pencil.

Drag down and across the document to draw a box for the table. The dimensions can be modified later if needed.

Click inside the box and draw a vertical line for each column and a horizontal line for each row you want in your completed table.

Style the table using the Table Design and Layout tabs.

No matter which of these methods you use to draw a blank table, you enter text in the same way. Select a cell and type. Use the tab key to move to the next cell or the arrow keys to move up and down or sideways within the table.

For more advanced options, or if you have data in Excel, embed an Excel spreadsheet in a Word document in place of a table.

If there's text in a document that you want to use in a table, insert separator characters, such as commas or tabs, to indicate where to divide the text into table columns. For example, in a list of people's names and addresses, insert a tab between each name and corresponding address to make it easy to create a table.

Open the Word document containing the text you want to convert into a table and select that text .

Select Convert Text to Table .

In the Convert Text to Table dialog box, change the default settings if needed.

Select OK to create the table.

To revert the table to text, go to the Layout tab and select Convert to Text .

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4 Ways to Create a Table in Word

Insert and Edit a Table with Multiple Columns and Rows in Word

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated August 23, 2022

Applies to: Microsoft ® Word ® 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 365 (Windows)

You can create a table in a Word document in 4 easy ways using the Ribbon. A table is a grid made up of columns and rows that intersect to form cells. You can insert text, numbers and images in a table. Once you have inserted a table, you can easily add and resize columns and rows and change table formatting.

It's best to avoid using Draw Table to create a table since the table may not be created in a consistent way.

Note: Buttons and Ribbon tabs may display in a different way (with or without text) depending on your version of Word, the size of your screen and your Control Panel settings. For newer versions of Word, Ribbon tabs may appear with different names. For example, the Table Design tab may appear as Table Tools Design.

In the following example, a table with 4 columns and 5 rows has been inserted in a Word document:

Recommended article: 10 Microsoft Word Shortcuts for Moving Around in Tables

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Create a table using the Table Grid

To insert a table using Insert Table and select columns and rows in the Table Grid:

• Click in the Word document where you want to insert a table.
• Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
• Click Table in the Tables group. A drop-down menu appears with a Table Grid.
• Hover over the grid until the number of columns and rows you want is selected.
• Click in the highlighted area of the grid to insert a table.

To insert a table, select cells in the Table Grid as follows:

Create a table using the Insert Table dialog box

To insert a table using the Insert Table dialog box:

• Click Table in the Tables group. A drop-down menu appears.
• Select Insert Table. A dialog box appears.
• Enter the number of columns and rows you want to create.
• Select the desired options below AutoFit behavior (typically Fixed column width: Auto).

The Insert Table dialog box appears with options to select the number of columns and rows:

Create a table using Quick Tables

To insert a table using Quick Tables:

• Select Quick Tables. A gallery appears.
• Click the table you want to insert.

Quick Tables appear in the Table drop-down menu:

Create a table by converting text to a table

If you have used tabs or other delimiters in paragraphs, you can convert the data into a table (if the delimiters are entered consistently). Wherever you have pressed Enter or Return to create a new paragraph, Word will create a new table row. You can use various delimiters to separate data but the most common are tabs, spaces or commas.

To convert delimited data to a table:

• Select the text that you want to convert.
• Select Convert Text to Table. A dialog box appears.
• Enter the number of columns if necessary and ensure a delimiter is selected in the Separate text at area.
• Under AutoFit behavior, choose how you want your table to appear. Word chooses a width for the table columns by default. If you want a different column width, choose AutoFit to contents or AutoFit to window.

In the Convert Text to Table dialog box, enter the number of columns as well as the delimiter:

Show table gridlines

Gridlines show the cell boundaries of a table on screen if table borders are not applied. Gridlines appear only on the screen and are not printed.

Gridlines are not visible when you view a document in a Web browser or in Print Preview.

To show table gridlines in a Word document:

• Click in a table.
• Click the Table Layout or Table Tools Layout tab in the Ribbon.
• In the Table group, check View Gridlines.

View Gridlines appears on the Table Tools Layout or Table Layout tab in the Ribbon:

Move around in a table

You can use the following keys to move from one cell to another in a table:

• Tab to move to the next cell to the right.
• Shift-Tab to move to the cell to left.
• Ctrl-Tab to tab within a cell.

Add a row or a column

To add a row in a table:

• Click in a cell that is located above or below where you want to add a row.
• To add a row above the cell you clicked in, click Insert Above in the Rows and Columns group. To add a row below the cell you clicked in, in the Rows and Columns group, click Insert Below.

The commands to insert rows or columns appear on the Table Tools Layout or Table Layout tab in the Ribbon:

You can also right-click in a row and choose Insert from the drop-down menu and insert options from the sub-menu.

If you click in the last cell in a table and press Tab, Word will automatically add a row.

To add a column in a table:

• Click in a cell that is located to the right or left of where you want to add a column.
• To add a column to the left of the cell you clicked in, click Insert Left in the Rows and Columns group. To add a column to the right of the cell you clicked in, in the Rows and Columns group, click Insert Right.

Delete a column or row

To delete a row or column:

• Select the row or column (drag over the cells or click to the left of a row or above a column when the arrow appears).
• In the Rows & Columns group, click Delete. A drop-down menu applears.
• Click Delete Rows or Delete Columns as appropriate.

You can also right-click in a row or column and choose Delete from the drop-down menu and delete options from the sub-menu.

Change column width

To change column width:

• Select the column or columns you want to change.
• Click Properties in the Table group. You can also right-click and choose Properties from the drop-down menu. A dialog box appears.
• Click the Column tab.
• Check Preferred Width.
• Type the new measurement for the column width. For example, typer 1.0" or click the up and down arrows.

The Table Properties dialog box appears as follows with the Column tab selected:

You can also drag the right line of a column to resize it.

Change row height

To change row height:

• Select the row or rows you want to change.
• Click the Row tab.
• Check Specify Height.
• Type the new measurement for the row height. For example, type 1.0" or click the up and down arrows.
• Specify row height as At Least or Exactly.

The Table Properties dialog box appears as follows with the Row tab selected:

You can also drag the bottom line of a row to resize it.

Distribute rows and columns evenly

To distribute rows and columns evenly:

• Select the entire table by clicking the four-arrows that appear on the top left of the table.
• Click Distribute Rows and / or Distribute Columns in the Cell Size group.

Apply a table style

To apply a table style:

• Click in the table.
• Click the Table Design or Table Tools Design tab in the Ribbon.
• Click a table style or click the More arrow to display the Table Styles gallery and click a style.

Table Styles gallery appears on the Table Tools Design or Table Design tab in the Ribbon:

To learn more about working with table styles, check out the article How to Format Microsoft Word Tables Using Table Styles (Ultimate Guide).

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Insert tables and pictures

Insert a table or picture into your document to give it structure or a visual touch.

Insert a table

Select Insert > Table .

Highlight the number of columns and rows you want, and then select them.

To create a larger table, select Insert > Table > Insert Table .

Choose the number or columns and rows you want.

Insert a picture

Select Insert > Picture .

There are two options to choose from:

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If you choose Bing , type what you're looking for, choose a photo, and select Insert .

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How to Create & Manipulate Tables in Word

by Jason Morrell   May 10, 2021

Tables in Word are useful in so many situations. In this post you'll discover how to create tables, then manipulate and design them in the quickest and easiest way to provide that visual punch.

RELATED POST :

Enhance your Word tables with these advanced features

1.  What are tables in Word good for?

Tables are useful for 2 distinct reasons.

• To show an actual table of data, or
• To organise and postion text, images and other elements on the page.

Many years ago, typewriters ruled the world. And a feature of a good typewriter was the tab stop , which was a device that essentially let you control indentation.

Over the years many people have continued to use tabs to indent text, because of its convenience, but they are hard work to set up properly.

Tables provide a much easier way to organise content on a page.

2. How to create TABLEs in Word

1.   Select the Insert tab.

2.   Click the Tables icon in the Tables group.

3.   Move your mouse pointer into the table grid until the required number of rows and columns are highlighted orange, then left-click.

An empty table is inserted into the document.

Two new tabs, Design and Layout are also added to the ribbon area, under the banner of Table Tools .

3. MOVING AROUND A Word TABLE

• While the table is empty, you can use the cursor keys to move around the cells. However, when the cells contain information, using the cursor keys will move through the cell content first before moving to the next cell
• You can left-click in any cell to position the cursor.
• Press  Tab to move to the next cell. The cursor will move across and then down the table.
• Press  Shift  +  Tab to move to the previous cell.

NB. Using Tab is better than using the cursors as it will move to the next/previous cell regardless of whether there is information in the cells.

NB2. If you press Tab while you are in the last cell, a new row will be added to the bottom of your table

4. SELECTING A CELL, ROW, COLUMN OR THE ENTIRE TABLE

To select a cell:

1.   Position the mouse pointer inside the cell on the bottom-left corner of the cell. The pointer will change shape to a solid black arrow that points up and right.

2.   Left-click.

To select a row of a table:

1.   Position the mouse pointer in the left margin in line with the row you want to select. The mouse pointer will change to a white arrow that points up and right.

To select a column

1.   Position the mouse pointer so that it rests on the top border of the table, above the column you want to select. The mouse pointer will change to a solid black arrow pointing down.

To select the entire table:

1.   Position your mouse pointer over  the 4-headed arrow icon situated at the top-left of the table.

5. INSERTING AN EXTRA ROW OR COLUMN

To insert an extra row:

1.   Position the cursor in a cell.

2.   Select the Layout tab, under the Table Tools banner.

3.   Click Insert Above or Insert Below in the Rows and Columns group

Here is a quick way to insert new rows:

1.   Position the cursor to the left of the table, but in close proximity.

2.   A plus symbol will appear above or below the mouse pointer indicating where the new row will be added.

3.   Nudge the mouse pointer up or down to move the plus sign above or below.

4.   Left-click to insert the new row,

To insert an extra column:

3.   Click Insert Left or Insert Right in the Rows and Columns group

Here is a quick way to insert a new column:

1.   Position the cursor above a column, but in close proximity to the table.

2.   A plus symbol will appear to the left or right of the mouse pointer indicating where the new column will be added.

3.   Nudge the mouse pointer left or right to move the plus sign to the left or the right of the column.

4.   Left-click to insert the new column,

6. DELETING A ROW OR COLUMN

To delete the current row or column:

1.   Position the cursor in any cell of the row you want to delete.

3.   Click the Delete icon in the Rows and Columns group.

4.   Choose Delete Row or Delete Colum n from the drop-down menu.

7. Quickly fORMATTING tables in Word

Word provides you with a number of pre-set table designs. This means that it formats the headings and the data, applies a variety of borders and colours the cells in a way that makes it look like a professionally produced table. As a beginner this simple technique will give you a good-looking table.

1.   Position the cursor in any cell in the table.

2.   Select the Design tab under the Table Tools banner.

The Table Styles group lists a number of table designs. To get the full list, click the More button   beneath the table styles scroll bar

The default table style is Table Grid in the Plain Tables category which adds simple gridlines but no shading to your table.

Live Preview allows you to hover over a design and see it applied to your table. If you like what you see, click to select the table design.

In the Table Style Options group of the Design tab, tick the components that you have in your table. For example, if your table has column headings, tick Header Row . In doing this, the various parts of your table are formatted accordingly

Header Row This will emphasise the header row by making the text bold or applying a different cell colour (depending on the table style selected.

Total Row This will emphasise the bottom table row by making the text bold or applying a different cell colour (depending on the table style selected.

First Column This will emphasise the first column (for labels etc.) by making the text bold or applying a different cell colour (depending on the table style selected.

Last Column This will emphasise the last column (for row totals etc.) by making the text bold or applying a different cell colour (depending on the table style selected.

Banded Rows This will make odd rows one colour and even rows a different colour. This helps readability.

Banded Columns This will make odd columns one colour and even columns a different colour. This helps readability.

8. SETTING THE BORDERS AND SHADING

The Table Styles Gallery allows you to completely format a table with one click. Whereas you used to need some nous, anybody can now create a professional looking design.

However, you will often still need to apply your own border and shading, and manually change a table design. With a little effort can add a lot of flavour to your page and dramatically enhance the overall appearance of the document.

To set the borders for tables in Word:

1.   Select the portion of the table that you wish to set the borders for. This may be the entire table, a row or rows, a column or columns or a selection of cells.

3.   Select the Borders icon. A drop-down list appears. This list shows every combination of border that can be turned on or off. The icons with a shaded background are currently switched on. The rest are switched off.

4.   Click any icon to switch the border on or off. The border style that is applied is the default style ( ½ pt solid black line ) or the last style that was used.

5.   To apply customised borders, with different colours, styles and widths, click the Borders & Shading option at the bottom of the list to display the Borders and Shading dialog box.

Your selection will always have an outer border, and if you selected more than one cell, you will have some inside borders as well. The easiest way to use the dialog box is to start on the bottom-middle and work your way up and right.

1.   Select the colour and width (thickness)  that you would like for your border.

2.   Choose a style (e.g. dotted, dashed, double, solid etc.)

3.   Paint your borders. There are two ways to do this.

• The first way is to click directly on a border in the Preview itself.
• The second way is to click the appropriate icon around the edge of the  Preview section that represents each border. Depending on which cells you selected in your table, some of these icons may not be available.

On the left-hand side of the dialog box, there are some pre-defined border combinations which you can use to save yourself some time. Depending on your selection of cells, the pre-defined options may differ. Here’s a run-down:

To shade the cells of tables in Word:

1.   Select the portion of the table that you wish to shade. This may be the entire table, a row or rows, a column or columns or a selection of cells.

3.   Click the Shading icon. The colours that you see displayed match the current them of the document. Themes were discussed earlier in the course.

4.   Click a colour in the palette.

While you can pick any colour, it is recommended to stick with the light colour shades, otherwise your tables will appear very loud and ugly, like they’re shouting in your face. Subtle is the order of the day. The exception to this is column headings or other cells that you wish to differentiate. Under these circumstances, you can use a dark colour, but use a light font with it.

If you cannot find the exact colour you need,

• Click the  More Colours  link underneath the palette. This displays a larger, more accurate colour palette.
• And if that’s not enough, click the Custom tab and you’ll get a really fine selection of colours (you can even enter your own RGB settings if you know them)

9. REPEATING table HEADINGS ON EVERY PAGE WHEN PRINTING

When you have large tables that occupy two or more pages, many people insert manual page breaks, then copy and paste their table header rows at the top of each page.

When rows are added or removed from tables in Word, the table headers end up half way down the page.

There is a simple tool that will eliminate this problem

1.   Ensure that the table is a single table, with no manual page breaks in the middle, and one header at the top. The table header may occupy more than one row, it doesn’t affect the way this feature works.

2.   Position the cursor somewhere in the top row of the table.

3.   Select the Layout tab under the Table Tools banner.

4.   Click the Repeat Header Rows icon ion the Data group.

Now, it doesn’t matter how many rows tables in Word contain, if the table ever spills across into another page, the header row (which normally displays the column headings) will always appear at the top of the table.

10. All the key points again

• Tables in Word serve 2 distinct purpose: to display a table of data and to organise and position items on the page
• To create table, select 2 tabs -  Design and  Layout under the  Table Tools  banner.
• There are 2 tabs -  Design  and  Layout  under the  Table Tools  banner.
• You can press the TAB key to move direct to the next cell and SHIFT and TAB together to move backwards through a table.
• The four elements of a table are cells, rows, columns and the whole table. Each can be selected.
• Rows can be inserted by selecting the Layout tab under Table Tools , then clicking the Insert Above or Insert Below icons. Alternatively, hover to the left of a row and click the plus symbol that appears above or below the mouse pointer.
• Columns can be inserted by selecting the Layout tab under Table Tools , then clicking the Insert Left or Insert Right icons. Alternatively, hover above a table column and click the plus symbol that appears to the left or right of the mouse pointer.
• Columns and rows and be removed from the table, by positioning the cursor in the row or column to be removed, then clicking the Delete icon on the Layout tab of Table Tools and choosing Delete Row or Delete Column .
• Tables can be formatted using the Table Style gallery or by manually setting the shading and borders manually. Both sets of tools are found on the Design ribbon of the Table Tools .
• When using the Microsoft Table Styles , you can control the behaviour of the formatting by setting the Table Style options – 6 tick boxes that define the structure of your table.
• For long tables that spill across onto subsequent pages, the top row, which normally contains the column headings can be set to repeat automatically . So there is no excuse for cutting and pasting headings midway through your table or taping pages together to make sense of the table!

I hope you found plenty of value in this post.  I'd love to hear your biggest takeaway in the comments below together with any questions you may have. Have a fantastic day.

About the author

Jason Morrell

Jason Morrell is a professional trainer, consultant and course creator who lives on the glorious Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia.

He helps people of all levels unleash and leverage the power contained within Microsoft Office by delivering training, troubleshooting services and taking on client projects. He loves to simplify tricky concepts and provide helpful, proven, actionable advice that can be implemented for quick results.

Purely for amusement he sometimes talks about himself in the third person.

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