In general you can select and format tables and cells just as you would in a normal word processor. However, there are a couple of differences. Also, you need to remember that tables in Help+Manual behave more like dynamic HTML tables than the static tables you may be used to if you have only worked with word processors up to now.
Key Information
Changing the widths of table columns with the mouse always locks the width of both affected columns. Always use the Lock Column tool after changing widths to make columns dynamic again!
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Select entire table:
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Position the mouse just to left of table and click, or click and drag through the entire table.
OR
Click in a cell and press Ctrl+A. Pressing once selects the current cell, pressing again selects the entire table.
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Select single cell:
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Just click in the cell. Even though it is not highlighted, it is still selected for formatting the cell properties (see below). This does not select any text that the cell contains, however – this must be selected, formatted and edited just like any other text in the editor.
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Select multiple cells:
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Click and drag.
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Select row:
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Position mouse over left border of table ( mouse pointer) and click. Or click and drag through row. Using the click method takes a little practice, the mouse pointer only appears in a very narrow area.
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Select column:
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Position mouse over top border of table ( mouse pointer) and click. Or click and drag through column. Using the click method takes a little practice, the mouse pointer only appears in a very narrow area.
You cannot select a column if the cursor is currently in the top cell of the column. Click in a cell to the left or right of the top cell before selecting using this method!
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Resize table:
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Open the table properties and adjust the width settings. You cannot normally adjust the overall table width with the mouse. Its width will either be defined by the width of its content/columns (autosize) or it will have a fixed or relative width in pixels or percent.
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Resize cell width:
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Drag the cell borders. Note that this "locks" the width of both affected columns. If you only want to have one of the columns with a fixed width you must then use the lock/unlock tool in the tab to unlock the column that needs to be fluid.
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In addition to normal horizontal text you can also rotate the text in individual cells by 90° or 270° to display vertical text oriented to the right or left.
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How to rotate text
1.Click in the cell where you want to rotate the text.
2.In the tab select and then 90° or 270° rotation.
The options can also restore normal horizontal orientation.
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Note that most of the settings you can enter are not absolute. All widths except pixel values are relative to the output page, which can vary depending on how the user sizes the viewer window (electronic formats) and the size of the printout page (PDF etc). You can only set a minimum height for cells; the actual height is controlled by the cell contents.
1.Select the table or the cells you want to resize (see above).
2.Select or right-click and select .
•To resize the entire table use the settings in the Table Layout tab.
•Select the Selected Cells tab to adjust the size settings for individual cells.
For details see Table Properties in the Reference section.
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Formatting entire table:
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Right-click in the table and select Table > Properties.
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Formatting single cells:
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Right-click in the cell and select Table > Properties, then click on the Selected Cells tab.
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Formatting multiple cells:
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Select the cells, right-click on the selection and select Table > Properties, then click on the Selected Cells tab.
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See also:
Table Properties (Reference)
How table sizing works (Reference)