How to Insert a

Table

using Microsoft Word

 What is a Table . . .
. . . and how can it help me?
Aaaah!!

Hey . . . Get your feet off of my table!!!

Oooops . . . . Wrong kind of table!

Actually, tables can help make organizing text and
pictures, on your page much easier ...
. . . Like this seating plan for our computer lab
Computer Computer Computer Computer
#9 # 10 # 11 # 12
Luis Hazel Chris Carley
Computer Computer Computer Computer
#5 #6 #7 #8
Camilo Name Colin Kaitlin
Computer Computer Computer Computer
#1 #2 #3 #4
Name Tatiana Patrick Name
 or . . . your class schedule!
A B C D E F
TECH ED Social Science AE ENGLISH MATH
8:00 – 8:57 Rm 16 Studies Rm 27 Rm 22 Rm 104 Rm 22
Rm 24
MATH AE Social Science ENGLISH
8:57 – 9:55 Rm 22 Rm 22 Studies Rm 27 GYM Rm 104
Rm 24
MATH TECH ED Social Science AE
9:55 – 10:50 ENGLISH Rm 22 Rm 16 Studies Rm 27 Rm 22
Rm 104 Rm 24
MATH AE Social Science
10:50 – 12:12 GYM ENGLISH Rm 22 Rm 22 Studies Rm 27
Rm 104 Rm 24
Science AE ENGLISH MATH TECH ED Social
12:12 – 1:07 Rm 27 Rm 22 Rm 104 Rm 22 Rm 16 Studies
Rm 24
Social Science ENGLISH MATH AE
1:07 – 2:05 Studies Rm 27 GYM Rm 104 Rm 22 Rm 22
Rm 24
. . . Or this one with colors!
What are the parts of the table?

Each box
like this is
called a Cell

Cells can
contain text
& pictures!
And can be
shaded with
color too!
Vertically stacked cells are called columns . . .

Vertically
stacked cells
are called:

COLUMNS
(Vertical means
one on top of the
other – up and
down)
Horizontally arranged cells are called Rows . . .

Horizontally arranged cells are called ROWS

(Horizontal means
side-by-side)
These lines make up the Table Border
(It surrounds the entire table and we can make the border visible or invisible!)
These lines are the Cell Borders
They can be made invisible too!
This is a Symmetrical Table - all of the cells are the same size
This is an Asymmetrical Table - cells are not all the same size
 So . . . how do I make a table??
• First . . . open an MS-Word document
 Now, let’s use a Landscape Orientation Page Setup . . .

• First Select File > Page Setup

1) Change Margins to 0.5” for Top, Bottom, Left, and Right
2) Select Landscape Orientation
3) Click “OK”
 Then, from the Drop Down Menu
select TABLE > INSERT > TABLE >
From the “Insert Table” dialog box, choose how many
Columns & Rows you need for your Table
(I need 8 columns and 8 rows . . .)

Then click “OK” when you’re done

 You should now have a symmetrical
8 column x 8 row table on your page . . .
Left Click on the small square in the lower right corner
of the table and “stretch” the table by holding the left
mouse button and dragging the mouse down the page
 Congratulations -You just made your first table!
Let’s right-click inside the table, and select “Table
Properties” in order to change the table border style
Now, left-click on “Borders and Shading”
Next, select “Grid” and choose a style of line for your
Table Border
Click “OK” when finished
Your Table should look something like this . . .
Now you are ready to add text and shade the cells with colors
 Left-click the “cross” in the upper right
corner of the table in order to select all of
the cells in the table
 Next, right-click inside the table, select
“Cell Alignment” & choose an center alignment style
Now when you add text, it should be center-aligned
both vertically and horizontally in the cell
 To Shade or Color a cell, place your cursor in the
lower left corner of a cell, left-click, then right-click
Select Borders and Shading
Select the “Shading” tab, choose a color, then click “OK”
You should have one shaded cell . . . Now
you can add more text & color the rest
 The possibilities are endless . . .
• Tables will help you organize your text
and pictures in the documents that you
create.

• Tables can be used in a variety of

applications such as reports, posters,
flyers, and even web sites!

• Be creative and have fun!