Click Allow Spacing Between Cells and then enter the amount of Table and go back to the Table Options dialog box (Table | Properties |Table
It’s certainly not an essential step forĬreating an attractive table, but it creates an eye-catching effect, especially Now, just enter the desired measurements in the Default Tab, click Options to open the dialog box shown in Figure C. Click within the table and choose Table | Properties. Itself–probably quicker, but your specifications will apply to all the text in Second method is to build the extra internal space into the table Granular control over text positioning in the table. Of adding space this way is that you can do it selectively, so you have Then, specify a Space Before and Space After setting.Įven 2 or 3 points will improve the appearance of the table text. The desired right and left margins (which will add space on each side of the Paragraphs) and choosing Format | Paragraph. Start byĬlicking within the paragraph you want to format (or selecting multiple You have aįirst approach is to manually format the text within the cell. Nothing looks more slapdash than text crammed intoĪ table, which is what you get unless you tweak it a little bit. Top and Bottom options to add space above and below your table.Īddition to providing space around the table perimeter, it’s a good idea to add Word is already providing a little space to the left and right of the table (0.13″),īut you can increase or decrease that amount if you want. See that the Around option is selected under Alignment.
Within the table and go to Table | Table Properties. A little breathing room willĮnhance readability and reduce that crowded look. Sitting too high or low, or creating any funky line breaks in the text), youĬan polish it up by adding some space around it. Table isn’t throwing things off balance by hanging awkwardly into a margin, You’ve dragged a table to a good spot on the page (“good” means the Page more interesting and less linear in design. Then, click on the handle andĭrag the table wherever you want it on the page.
The process is much easier now: Choose Print Layout from the View menu andĬlick on the table to display its move handle. The old days, you had to put a table inside a frame to have text wrap around The text inside those cells rather than to the table. If only certain cells are selected, these options will apply to Options, but this way is quicker.) The key here is to make sure the whole table (The Table Properties dialog box offers the same Just as you would do to align regular text. And the easiest way to manipulate theĪlignment is to select the table (Table | Select | Table) and click theĪppropriate button (Align Left, Center, Align Right) on the Formatting toolbar, The simplest positioning trick involves horizontalĪlignment: left, center, or right. If you keep the table formatting simple, its placement can make or break the Improve the appearance of their tables without going overboard or wasting time Here are a few simple techniques that will enable your users to quickly Steer clear of table formatting completely after a few failed attempts to put aīorder where they want it or change a column width without disrupting the tableĭimensions. But when you want to move beyond utility andĬreate an attractive element on the page, you need to know a few formattingĬomes well supplied with features for jazzing up tables–maybe too many, inįact, empowering users to produce some fairly hideous results. And if you’re after structure rather thanĭesign, that grid is all you need. Which is fine.Īt least Word isn’t second-guessing you and applying its own format or foisting
Note: This article is also available as a download.ĭefault, inserting a table into a Word document gets you a grid. But when a document calls for a little more polish and design appeal, put these tricks to work and turn those grids into sharp-looking tables. Sometimes all you want from a table is a bare-bones grid. 10 easy ways to turn a dull Word table into a design element