Tables in Word... and to the web
A table is made up of rows and columns of cells that you can fill with text and graphics. Tables are used to present formatted data, such as in a syllabus, directory, or résumé.
Why use tables?
For a graphic example of why you may wish to use tables, see:
Tables will help you keep your information lined up, no matter how much you edit it.
Create a table
- launch Word (from the Start menu, select Programs, then Microsoft Word)
- type the title of your document: “Syllabus” and press <enter>
- from the standard toolbar, click the “Insert Table” button (looks like a grid) and drag to select the number of rows and columns you want. We’ll use 4x4.
- by default, your new table has a border around all cells.
- explore the table symbols, viewable if “Show ¶” is selected: select table, end of cell mark, end of row mark, row and column edges
- type the column headings: unit, date, readings, assignment
- fill a few rows with data
Format a table
- try autoformat: click in your table, then select “Table AutoFormat” from the Table menu
- to apply manual formatting, you must select areas of your table
- to select rows, click to the left of a row and drag up or down
- to select columns, click above a column and drag left or right
- to select whole table, click the table selection mark at the top left corner
- apply text styles from Formatting toolbar
- add colors and borders with “Borders and Shading” from the Format menu
- change the table structure and size with Table Properties from the Table menu
Copy a table to a web page
- launch Mozilla Composer (from Start menu, select Programs, then Mozilla, click the Composer button at the bottom left corner)
- switch back to your Word document and select the whole table; select Copy from the Edit menu
- switch back to Composer; select Paste from the Edit menu
Save a Word document as a web page
- from the File menu, select “Save As…”
- change “Save in” to Desktop
- change “Save as type” to Web Page (not filtered or archive)
- type “File name” as “MyTable” and click Save
- minimize Word, then double-click MyTable on the desktop to view in browser
