Microsoft® Word 2007 Bible

Chapter 17. Tables

IN THIS CHAPTER

• The quickest way to create a table

• Creating tables from scratch

• Using table styles

• Handling tables, rows, columns, and cells

• Table layout and design

Tables are one of Word's most powerful and useful tools. They're extremely flexible and easy to create and manipulate, both directly and by using the ribbon. Thanks to a gaggle of galleries, it's now easier than ever to create professional-looking tables quickly and with minimal effort. Live preview comes to life when it comes to working with tables. So, pull up a chair!

Quick Start

The quickest way to create a table in Word is to use one that already exists. It might not be exactly what you want, but it often will be closer to what you want than if you create one from scratch. It helps if you can see a picture, of course, and Word 2007 includes many images of tables. From the Insert ribbon, choose Table

Stroll through the gallery to see if there's something you like—something that compares favorably with the table in your mind's eye. If there is, then click on it. If it has too many rows, you can delete the ones you don't need. If it has too few columns, you can add a few more. It the proportions and other attributes aren't quite right, you can use Word's table tools to make them right. The point is that you hit the ground running.

Figure 17.1. The Quick Tables Gallery offers a number of preformatted tables. ...