Creating and Editing Tables

CREATING TABLES:

The “Quick Table” tool        (down-pointing arrow on right-side of “Insert Table” icon – See graphics below ) allows users to drag and highlight the number of columns/rows desired.

• 1. Click on the page location where the table is to appear.
• 2. Select the cells/columns to be included in the table, simply click and drag the cursor over the number of cells/columns desired (selected cells/columns will turn blue).
• 3. After selecting cells/columns, release the mouse button and the empty table will appear on page.
• 4. After the table outline has been added to the page, use the “edit table” settings to customize its features (border, alignment, background, add columns and rows, etc.).

 

The “Insert Table” tool opens a dialog box for entering table properties, BUT offers only the basic ones. The Insert Table tool is of little value, since all of  table properties can be easily set using the Edit Table dialog box.

NOTE: It is recommended that tables be initially created with the “Quick Table” tool and then edited as desired. See next page for how to edit table properties.

 Quick Table Maker Tool:

Insert Table Tool:

 

EDITING TABLES:

Once the basic table has been created, its properties (border, space within and around cells, width, horizontal-vertical alignments of table and cells, background color for table and cells, etc) can be established or modified using “Edit Table”.

To access the Edit Table dialog box:

• 1. Right-Click the cursor inside one of the table’s cells.
• 2. Click on Edit Table on the pop-up menu (see graphics below).

After clicking on "Edit Table," you see the Edit Table Properties dialog box (see graphic below)

 

NOTE:  Please experiment with some of the other table properties listed on the pop-up menu (Insert Row, Delete Cells, etc.) to see exactly how each item works. For example: Insert Row inserts a table row only ABOVE the row in which the cursor is located.

 

NOTE ABOUT TABLE WIDTH:

If you are experienced in making HTML tables, feel free to use pixels for setting cell and over-all table widths. Check page 5 of the Training Manual to note the maximum width (in pixels) for this site’s center and right columns.

• A table and its contents (pictures/graphics) must not exceed the maximum column width noted on page 5 of the Training Manual. A larger than allowed picture placed in a 100% width table will result in a corrupted page.
• Generally, it is recommended that all table widths be set using percentages. (Example: width=60%).
• Using a percentage setting of 100% or less, will assure that the table (but not necessarily its contents) won’t corrupt page layout.