Tabs, Tables & Columns
What we will cover Creating tables Formatting tables Sorting information in tables Using columns Using tabs
Tables You can insert a table several: Insert Table button This will open a separate window Click the arrow next to the Insert Table button This will open a grid for you to drag to select your rows and columns. Click Table on the menu bar and use the dialog box Add the Table toolbar Click on View, Toolbars, Table Move around the table using your Tab key or click in the cell You can create a table within a table
Using the arrow next to the Table Button Click on the arrow next to the Table button in the toolbar to open this window Click and drag to select the number of columns and rows needed
Using the Table Toolbar To access the Table Toolbar View, Toolbars, Table You will see the same Table button to get started as in the toolbar When you are clicked out of the table, the table toolbar will hide When you click back in the table, it will come back
Once the table is inserted, the other icons will be available These same choices are available thru the Table menu Remember to select your cell, row, column or entire table when making changes to border style/color and shading.
Insert Table Button Border line style Border line color Border Background color of table/cell Merge cells Split cells Optimize (distribute rows/columns evenly) Top Middle Bottom Insert row Alignment of text/objects in cells Insert column Delete row AutoFormat Sort Delete column Table Properties (opens Table Format window) Sum
Using the Insert Table Button or menu bar Click on the Table button in the toolbar Or click on Table, Insert, Table in the menu bar This window will open Make your choices Click OK
You will see this table. The table is set to fit to window. To make changes - click on Table, Table Properties Or click the Table Properties button the toolbar When you click in your table - your Table toolbar will pop open. When you click outside of your table - it will go away
Table Properties window
A helpful tip to add additional rows quickly, place your cursor in the last cell in the last row and hit Tab. This will insert a new row. You can always go to the Table menu also This feature is the same in Word and Writer
Inserting rows & columns You may need to insert rows, columns or cells to your existing table, either above or below; or to the right or left Click on Table, Insert Make your selection This example shows inserting a row
Resizing Position the mouse over the border until a doubleheaded arrow appears and drag to desired size Adjust the size of columns & rows by dragging vertical or horizontal borders. Position the mouse pointer on a horizontal or vertical border and wait until a resizing pointer appears. Click and drag to desired size. This is not the most accurate way to resize!
The most accurate way to resize Click in any cell Right click on the table Choose Cell, Column, or Row as needed Select Height for Row Select Width for Column
Viewing Table Properties Table Properties is different than Word Click on Table in the menu bar Click on Table Properties Or Right click in table Left click Table
Table tab Name your table Set table alignment Set spacing above and below table
Allow table to split across pages and columns Allows a page break or column break between the rows of a table. Allow row to break across pages and columns Allows a page break or column break inside a row of the table. This option is not applied to the first row in a table if the Repeat Heading option is selected. Keep with next paragraph Keeps the table and the following paragraph together when you insert the break. Repeat heading - Great feature!!! Repeats the table heading on a new page when the table spans more than one page. You can even select more than 1 row or just the first row! Text direction Select the direction for the text in the cells. You can also use a combination of the following StarOffice formatting options to specify the orientation of text in table cells: horizontal text vertical text right-to-left (vertical) direction left-to-right direction. Vertical alignment Specify the vertical text alignment for the cells in the table. Text Flow
Set column width Columns
Borders Borders Line Style Line Color Cell spacing Shadow style
Background Fill color for Cell Row Table
Row tab Specify height for one, many or all Scroll thru rows using Previous and Next Row buttons
Column tab You can set column width for one, many or all Scroll thru columns using Previous and Next column buttons
Cell tab Set vertical alignment of the text in the cells Top Center Bottom
Example of different alignments in the same table Top Center Bottom Mixed: Center, top, bottom, bottom
Deleting You can delete rows and columns, from your table You can even delete the Table Click in the cell of the row, column or cell to be deleted Click on Table, Delete Make your selection Item is deleted
Selecting There are several ways you can select cells, rows or columns. The easiest for beginners is to click in the cell of the row, column or cell you want to select Click on Table, Select Make your choice
The other way to select cells is to click in one cell Hold down your left mouse and drag to select To select a range of rows or cells: Rest your cursor at the top/bottom or left/right of your table until a small solid black arrow appears Click to select Or hold down your left mouse and drag to select more than 1 cell/row/column
Merging Cells There may be situations where you need or want to merge cells to make 1 cell Select the cells to merge Click on Table, Merge Cells
Convert existing text to a table Use commas, tabs, or other puncutation to separate the text that you want to convert to a table Select the text that is to be converted Click Table, Convert, Text to Table Select the appropriate option in the Number of columns, AutoFit and Separate Text You can also convert a table to text. The text that is to appear in each cell must be separated by paragraph marks, tabs, commas or any punctuation you specify (dash, colon, etc.)
Text to convert Elton,John Theresa,Pierce Separate text at Other:, Finished table
Formatting Tables You can change: Use AutoFormat Line style and color Background color Table alignment Position of text/image in cell Alphabetize
Table, AutoFormat AutoFormat It is best to only use AutoFormat on the simplest of tables. Just like in Word, not all tables work well with the preset formats
Borders Line Style Line Color Cell spacing Shadow style The preview window will show your choices before you click OK Borders
Important note! If you only click in a cell and don t select a row or column The entire table will receive the border selection Writer does have a great feature Set outer border without changing inner lines
Background color You can set color by cell, row, column, or entire table Select the cell/cells to shade Click on Table, Table Format Click on the Background tab If you want to set color for a column You WILL need to select that column first Column in not a drop down choice
Background Cell Row Table
Sorting Select your table to be sorted This step is important If you select only 1 column - it will only sort that column! This will make the AZ icon in the Table toolbar active Click the AZ icon to open the Sort Window
Writer will recognize that you have a header row and will sort accordingly You can choose to sort by Row or Column You can change the column to sort by first Choose Ascending or Descending Click OK to sort
Columns Depending on your margins, you can have as many columns as you want. Realistically - 3 or 4 is probably the maximum for best viewing/printing If you have existing text you want to put into columns, select the text first Be careful - it may split your text to 2 columns Click on Format, then Columns this will open the Column dialog box There are 5 preset choices but you are not limited to those
You can choose the number of columns Select AutoWidth Or specify width & spacing of each individual column. You will need to uncheck AutoWidth to do that. You can set spacing between columns You can add a separator line This window also shows a preview men to come to the aid of their country.
You can override an automatic column break by inserting a manual break Move your cursor to where the break is to occur. If your cursor is in the middle of text - the break will put any text after the cursor to the next column Click Insert, then Manual Break Choose the Column Break option, click OK
After you have determined your layout, you may need to change margins to accommodate your column settings You can set columns for certain sections of a document. The entire document does not need to be set in columns
Tabs Format, Paragraph, Tabs Writer shows you the tab symbol These are the same symbols you see in Word No bar tab Leader tabs are available
Setting Tabs The default setting is.5 You will see the default tab stops in the ruler guide Type in the tab setting you want Select the type of tab Click New Your tab is now set You can use the Delete to delete individual tabs Or Delete All to remove all tabs Default tabs will stay at.5
You will see these symbols in the ruler near the top of your page Tab Symbols
There are 5 alignment types for tabs the default is left aligns text to the right of the tab (normal setting) Tab type Left Right Center Decimal Effect Aligns text to the right of the tab Aligns text to the left of the tab Centers text around the tab Aligns numbers along a common decimal position
Special character for Decimal Tab Writer allows you to choose a different character than the. For a decimal tab Set tab stop Select Decimal In the Character box, type in your selection Click New Your tab will now align with your character Just like it would have with the.
Leader tabs Leader tabs display a row of dots from the insertion point to the next tab stop. Leader tabs can be left, right, center or decimal-aligned as well You must set: Type Position Fill character Click Set
Using a special character for leader tabs Writer has a great feature that allows you to set your own character for a leader tab if you don t like the dots, dashes or underlines Just select Character Type your selection Click New