How to Create Tables in Open Office
Creating a table in Open Office can enhance the outcome of projects you have created in the word processing software via simple organization. A table will allow you to enter and align several pieces of text within one line of text. Tables are often used for word processing projects such as creating and formatting directions, resumes, recipes and stats. A table can be created by executing four brief steps within Open Office, and can be put to a variety of uses thereafter.
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Instructions
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Launch the Open Office software. Double click on the Open Office icon on your desktop to launch and open up the word processor. If you do not see an Open Office icon on your desktop, click on the "Start" button or Window's logo located on the lower left hand corner of your screen. Click where it displays "Programs" or "All Programs" in the menu that pops up. From the list of programs that comes up, click on the Open Office icon to launch the word processor.
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Navigate to the Open Office table creator. Click on the option in the main menu bar across the top of the Open Office word processor that says "Table." From the drop-down menu, select the option that displays "Insert." Click on the option that reads "Table" from the side menu that pops out. This brings up the table creator.
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Name the table and select the desired number of columns and rows. The name box will display in the table creator and be automatically filled with the text "Table1." The number in the name box will increase by one every time a table is created. You can leave the default table name or enter your own name for the table. Under the size heading, click on the arrows next to where it says "Rows" to adjust the number of rows to your preference. Click the up and down arrows next to where it says "Columns" to adjust the number of columns in your table.
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Columns and rows can be inserted by clicking on the icons labeled "Insert Column" and "Insert Row" in the Table Toolbar. Columns and rows can be deleted by clicking on "Delete Column" and "Delete Row" in the Table Toolbar. Using the "Split Cells" button in the Table Toolbar, you can split an individual column or row in a table into multiple sections. Cells within the table can be merged by clicking on the "Select Row" option within the Table Toolbar. Once clicked, you can drag your mouse over the rows and/or column you would like to merge.
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Adjust the borders to your preference. Click on the "Options" button located on the top menu bar in Open Office. From the drop-down menu that appears, select the button labeled "Borders" and click "OK." In the screen that pops up, you will be shown your table, and you will see a box that is checked which is labeled "Borders by default." If you wish to keep the table's border (visible lines outlining the table's columns and rows), leave the box checked. If you would like to hide the border, click the check mark to clear the box and click "OK" at the bottom of the window.
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Tips & Warnings
Use the AutoFormat button located in the lower left hand corner of Open Office's "Insert Table" window to make the format of multiple tables the same.
Tables can be resized inside of the Table Toolbar by clicking the icon labeled "Properties." Change the percentages within this window to enlarge or shrink the table.
If you accidentally delete a table or make an unwanted change, you can click the "Undo" button located within the main toolbar. You can also undo changes by holding the control button down on your keyboard and pressing the "Z" key once.
