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Insert Table DialogYou can insert a blank table that suits your need into any Word document. In Word 2003, go to the "Table" menu, point to "Insert" and click on "Table." In Word 2007, go to the "Insert" tab of the ribbon. Click the "Table" drop-down arrow and select "Insert Table." In the "Insert Table" dialog box that opens, enter the number of columns and rows you want in the table.
In the "AutoFit Behavior" section, select one of the three options. Select "Fixed Column Width" if you want the table cells to all be a certain size. Choose "AutoFit to Contents" if you want the table cells to adjust based on the size of the text you enter in them. Select "AutoFit to Window" and the table will adjust to the width of the document, even if you change it from "Portrait" to "Landscape" orientation. Click "OK" to insert the table onto the document. -
Table StylesOnce you have inserted a table, you can use tools provided in Microsoft Word to format it and add more interest. In Word 2003, click on the table to select it. Go to the "Table" menu and click on "Table AutoFormat." In the "Category" drop-down list, select "All Table Styles." Browse through the available styles by clicking a table style name and observing an example of that style in the "Preview" pane. When you find a style you like, select it and click "Apply."
In Word 2007, click on the table to select it. Go to the "Design" tab of the ribbon. Browse the gallery of styles available in the "Table Styles" section. Apply a table style to your table by clicking on it. -
Convert Text to TableMicrosoft Word is a word-processing program, so it is only natural that it would simplify the process of adding and using text in tables. If you have a list or lists of text in a Word document, you can quickly convert the text into a table. Make sure the text in each row is separated with commas or tabs so that Word will know where to divide the rows into columns. In Word 2003, select the text and go to the "Table" menu. Point to "Convert" and select "Text to Table." In Word 2007, select the text and go to the "Insert" tab. Click on "Table" and select "Convert Text to Table."
You can also sort text in a table. Select the table by clicking on the "Table Move Handle," which looks like four arrows in each direction at the top left of the table. In Word 2003, go to the "Table" menu and click "Sort." In Word 2007, go to the "Layout" tab and click "Sort." Select the sort options, such as by which column or columns to sort, and then click "OK."
