Operation Manual

368
Tables
Last updated 11/30/2015
Using the Create Table option
When you use the Create Table option to create a table, you do not need to first create a text frame in your document.
As soon as you draw the table on the document, InDesign creates a text frame the size of the table that you draw.
1 Choose Table > Create Table.
Note: If the cursor is currently within a text frame, the Insert Table option is available.
2 Specify the numbers of rows and columns.
3 If your table contents will continue on more than one column or frame, specify the number of header or footer rows
in which you want the information to be repeated.
4 (Optional) Specify a table style.
5 Click OK.
6 Use the Table cursor to draw the table that you require.
InDesign creates a text frame the size of the drawn area and places the table within the text frame.
The row height of a table is determined by the specified table style. For example, a table style may use cell styles to
format different parts of the table. If any of these cell styles include paragraph styles, the leading value of the paragraph
styles determines the row height of that area. If no paragraph style is used, the document’s default slug determines the
row height. (The slug is based on the leading value. In this context, a slug is the approximate height of the highlighting
in selected text.)
Create a table from existing text
Before you convert text to a table, make sure that you set up the text properly.
1 To prepare the text for conversion, insert tabs, commas, paragraph returns, or another character to separate
columns. Insert tabs, commas, paragraph returns, or another character to separate rows. (In many instances, text
can be converted to a table without having to be edited.)
2 Using the Type tool , select the text you want to convert to a table.
3 Choos e Table > C onve rt Text To Table.
4 For both Column Separator and Row Separator, indicate where new rows and columns should begin. Choose Tab,
Comma, or Paragraph, or type the character, such as a semicolon (;), in the Column Separator and Row Separator
field. (Any character you type appears in the menu the next time you create a table from text.)
5 If you specify the same separator for columns and rows, indicate the number of columns you want the table to
include.
6 (Optional) Specify a table style to format the table.
7 Click OK.
If any row has fewer items than the number of columns in a table, empty cells fill out the row.
Embed a table within a table
1 Do one of the following:
• Select the cells or table you want to embed, and then choose Edit > Cut or Copy. Place the insertion point in the
cell where you want the table to appear, and then choose Edit > Paste.
• Click inside a cell, choose Table > Insert Table, specify the number of rows and columns, and then click OK.
2 Adjust the cell inset as necessary. (See Format text within a table.)