Working with tables in documents

A table is a way of arranging data in rows and columns: a timetable, a class register or a football tournament table are all examples. If a table has n columns and m rows, the number of cells is n × m; for example, a table with 3 columns and 4 rows has 3 × 4 = 12 cells. The cell is the main element of a table, a kind of “mini document”: you can type in it, format the text and even put a picture inside. To insert a table, put the cursor in place and press the Table button on the Insert tab. There are two ways: mark the needed number of columns and rows on the grid with the mouse, or type the numbers into the Insert Table dialog. The first row usually holds column headings and the first column holds numbers. You move between cells with Tab or the arrow keys. To change a column’s width, move the mouse over the column border until a double arrow appears and drag. When the cursor is in a table cell, the Table Design and Layout tabs appear: the first has cell shading, borders and table styles; the second has adding rows and columns, merging cells, alignment and sorting data.