KWord has the built in ability to generate tables for the display of data.
These tables can consist of up to 128 rows and 128 columns, with text centered or justified differently in different cells. Text flows easily around in the table and cells are resized (if specified by the user) automatically to fit comfortably around the data.
Tables in KWord are for the display of data only. No calculations can be performed.
Remember, if you need the functions of a spreadsheet, you can embed a KSpread Table in your document.
This section of the document will cover the formatting of tables created in KWord only.
You can create a table in KWord in one of three ways:
Select Insert->Table... from the menubar.
You can use the keyboard shortcut: F5
or by clicking
on the tool-bar.
This will open a dialog box. The dialog box has two tabs: Geometry and Templates
This dialog box is divided into two halves.
The right half of the dialog box provides you a quick visual guide to how many rows and columns will be created in the table. This is useful for laying out your table. You can not edit your table layout here.
The left half of the dialog box consists of two drop down boxes, and two number selection boxes.
The spin box labeled Number of Rows:, allows you to specify from 1 to 128 rows in the table.
The spin box labeled Number of Columns:, allows you to specify from 1 to 128 columns in the table.
While adjusting either of these two options, the preview box adjusts to your new settings.
The drop down box labeled Cell Height, can be set to either of two options.
If this option is selected, KWord will set the cell height of each cell in the new table to a size appropriate based on the size of the current text. KWord will not automatically provide additional space in each cell, because you draw a table larger (or smaller) than necessary.
As an example, if you create a table with three rows, it does not matter if you “draw” the table as 1 inch tall, or 4 inches tall, the height of each cell will be based on the current text size.
When selected, calculate the cell height by dividing the user specified size of the table by the number of rows.
If this is selected, and you create a table with 3 rows and “draw” the table 3 inches tall, each cell will be 1 inch in height. If you draw the table 1.5 inches tall, each cell will be 0.5 inches tall.
The drop down box labeled Cell Widths, can be set to either of two options.
If this option is selected, KWord will determine the width of each cell, by dividing the total width of the frame by the number of columns. It is unaffected by the table size you have “drawn” on the document.
When selected, KWord determines the width of each cell, by dividing the width of the table you “draw” by the number of columns selected.
As an example, if you create a table with 3 columns, and “draw” it 3 inches wide, each cell will be 1 inch in width. If, however, you draw the same table 6 inches wide, each cell will be 2 inches wide.
Tables can be inserted into a document as either framed or inline tables.
Framed tables are tables that have a frame around them. The frame around a table functions exactly the same as a frame around text. It contains the table and determines the size and shape of the table.
An inline table has frame around it, but this frame is inserted within the current text frame. If text is inserted in front of the table, the table travels down the frame just like any text would. This means the table will stay in the same area of the page as the text that surrounds it.
Framed tables, on the other hand, need to be moved by hand on the page.
The check box labled The table is inline is used to determine which type of table is inserted. If there is a mark in the checkbox, the table is inserted inline. If not, the table is given a frame of its own.
If you click on the tab labeled Templates, you can use predefined table looks to format the look of your table. For more information see the section on Using formatting templates.
Click OK to insert the table.
Click Cancel to cancel this action and return to editing your document.
You can navigate between cells of the table by using the mouse (simply click in the cell you want to edit), or by using the keyboard (use the arrow keys to move up, down, left or right one cell at a time)..
To delete a table in KWord:
Place the mouse pointer over the frame of any cell of the table you want to delete. Hold down the Ctrl key and click once with the left mouse button.
Be sure you have selected the correct table before continuing. KWord will not ask for confirmation.
Select Table->Delete Table from the menubar
The table will be immediately deleted.
You can insert a row into any place in a table.
To insert a row into a table:
Place the mouse pointer over the border of any cell of the table you want to add a row to. Select either:
Table->Row->Insert Row... from the menubar
or by clicking on the
toolbar.
This will bring up a dialog box.
The spin box labeled Row:, allows you to select any row within the table. This number selection box limits you to the rows currently in the table.
Select the row you want to use as a reference.
Now select either Before or After as is appropriate.
Click OK to add the row or click Cancel to not add any rows.
To insert a column into a table:
Place the mouse pointer over the border of any cell of the table you want to add a column to. Select either:
Table->Column->Insert Column... from the menubar
or by clicking on the
toolbar.
This will bring up a dialog box.
The number selection box labeled Column:, allows you to select any column within the table. This number selection box limits you to the columns currently in the table.
Select the column you want to use as a reference.
Now select either Before or After as is appropriate.
Click OK to add the column or click Cancel to not add any columns.
To delete a row from a table:
Select the row(s) you want to delete Then:
select Table->Row->Delete Selected Rows... from the menubar
or click on the
toolbar.
This will bring up a dialog box confirming that your have selected the correct row(s).
Make sure you have selected the correct row before continuing.
KWord will delete any data contained within the selected rows.
Click OK to delete the row, or click Cancel to not delete any rows.
To delete a column from a table:
Select the columns(s) you want to delete Then:
select Table->Column->Delete Selected Columns... from the menubar
or click on the
toolbar.
This will bring up a dialog box confirming that your have selected the correct column(s).
Make sure you have selected the correct column(s) before continuing.
KWord will delete any data contained within these columns.
Click OK to delete the column(s), or click Cancel to not delete any columns.
When a table is created, all columns are equal in width. You can change the width of individual columns by using the mouse or the keyboard.
First select any cell in the column you want to change, by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking once with the left mouse button.
The cell is now surrounded by 8 black boxes. Place the mouse over the box in the middle of the right vertical border of the cell. The mouse pointer changes to a double-headed arrow. Click on the box and drag the right edge of the cell to the desired width. When you release the left mouse button, the entire column will assume the width of this cell.
First, select any cell in the column you want to change, by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking once with the left mouse button.
Select Table->Column->Resize Column... from the menubar.
A dialog box will appear. In the spin box labeled Column, you can chose a different column to set. In the text box labeled Width, enter the desired width of the column.
Click OK to change the width, or click Cancel to leave the column width unchanged.
A table is traditionally made of a grid of rows and columns, with equal sized cells throughout the table.
Sometimes you would like to spread text out over several cells in a table. This is especially common with titles.
KWord allows you to do this by Joining two (or more) adjacent cells of a table together.
This is an example of three cells joined together in the middle of a table.
You can join cells vertically, as well as horizontally.
To join several cells you must first select the cells. To select the cells, click once with the left mouse button on the frame border of a cell. Now hold down the Ctrl key and click on the next cell with the left mouse button. Continue this until you have selected all the cells you want to join together.
If you have a number of cells in a row that you want to select, you can select them in two quick steps:
First click on one of the end cells.
Now hold down the Shift key and click on the cell at the other end of the row or column you want to join.
All cells between these two cells will be selected.
Once you have selected all the cells you want to join, select Table->Cell->Join Cells from the menubar
The cells will now be joined.
Any text in the right most frame will now be located in the joined frame. Any text from any other frames will be hidden from view.
In addition to combining two or more cells into a single cell, it is easy to split one cell into may cells.
If you decide that you do not want the previously joined cells to be joined any longer, you can "split" them back into individual cells again.
To split a cell, select the cell you want to split by holding the Ctrl button down and clicking on it with the left mouse button. Select Table->Cell->Split Cells... from the menubar.
This will bring up a small dialog box which allows you to set the number of rows and the number of columns you want to split this cell into.
Once you have set the correct number of rows and columns in the spin boxes, click OK to split the cells. Click Cancel to abort.
If you select Table->Ungroup Table from the menubar, KWord will convert each cell in your table into an individual frame. You can then move these frames around independently on the page.
You can protect any or all cells in a table from accidental modification or deletion.
Simply select the cell(s) you want to protect, then:
Select Table->Cell->Protect Cells from the menubar or click on the cell border once with the right mouse button and select Cells->Protect Cells from the submenu.
You will not be able to change the contents or formatting of that cell.
To disable the protection, simply repeat the steps above, and the cells will no longer be protected.
There are many aspects of a table that can be formatted.
For information of formatting text with a table see Format characters.
For information on formatting borders between frames in individual cells, see Borders
For information on formatting background color of individual cells, see Frame background
For information on changing the width of columns, see Resizing Columns
KWord also provides the user with a set of tools to help speed up the formatting of tables.
Previously in the manual, we have discussed how to individually add or delete columns. KWord also provides the user the ability to make major changes to the number of rows and columns in a table.
Select Table->Properties... from the menubar. A dialog will appear.
You can use this dialog to change the number of rows in your table by using the spin box labeled Number of Rows:.
If you reduce the number of rows using this dialog box, KWord will delete the bottom row(s) including the data within the rows.
Be sure you do not have any data in these rows. that you need to preserve.
You can use this dialog to change the number of columns in your table by using the spin box labeled Number of Columns:.
If you reduce the number of columns using this dialog box, KWord will delete the right most column(s) including the data within the columns.
Be sure you do not have any data in these columns that you need to preserve.
Placing a mark in the checkbox labeled Reapply template to table, will cause KWord to re-apply the template to the table after adding or deleting the specified number of rows and/or columns.
Click OK to make changes permenant, or click Cancel to abort all changes.
To select an entire column for formatting, move the mouse pointer to the white space directly above the desired column. The mouse pointer will turn from an arrow to a hand. If you click with the left mouse button, the entire column will be selected.
To select an entire row for formatting, move the mouse pointer to the white space directly to the left of the desired row. The mouse pointer will turn from an arrow to a hand. If you click with the left mouse button, the entire row will be selected.
KWord has templates for many commonly used table formatting options. Table templates provide the same formatting functionality for tables that document templates provide you for formating your documents.
Select Table->Properties... from the menubar. A dialog will appear. Click on the tab labeled Templates.
Along the left of the dialog box, is a list of table templates.
On the right is a preview box that gives an example of what a table template will look like when applied to your table.
Below the preview box, are 5 checkboxes.
This checkbox will toggle formatting of all cells in the first row.
This checkbox will toggle formatting of all cells in the last row.
This checkbox will toggle formatting of all cells in the body. The body of the table is any cells which are not formatted by any of the other four options.
This checkbox will toggle formatting of all cells in the first column.
This checkbox will toggle formatting of all cells in the last column.
Placing a mark in the checkbox labeled Reapply template to table, will cause KWord to re-apply the template to the table after adding or deleting the specified number of rows and/or columns.
Click OK to make changes permenant, or click Cancel to abort all changes.
Table styles are a rapid way for you to format individual cells of your table to common formats. You can add or remove table styles, and change predefined table styles to suit your needs. A table style, consists of a frame style and a text style which are grouped together and named.
To format a cell using a predefined table style simply:
Select the cell(s) by holding down Ctrl and clicking within the cell with the left mouse button. You can also select columns and rows.
Select Table->Tablestyle from the menubar. A submenu will appear, listing all the currently defined table styles. Select the name of the table style you want and all selected cells will automatically be formatting using the options of that table style.
To change the options of a table style, you will use the Table Style Manager.
Select Table->Table Style Manager... from the menubar. A dialog box will appear.
All of the currently defined table styles are listed in the listbox on the left. The currently selected table style is highlighted, and the name of the currently selected table style is listed in the text box labeled Name. (In this example, the currently selected table style is Plain.)
Select the name of the table style you want to change by clicking on the name of the table styles in the listbox on the left.
There is a dropdown box labeled Framestyle which is used to select the desired frame style. If you want to add or alter a frame style, click the Change... button, and you will be taken to the Framestylist to make those changes.
Below that, is a dropdown box labeled Textstyle which is used to select the desired text style for this table style. If you want to add or alter a text style, click on the Change... button, and you will be taken directly to the Stylelist to make those changes.
Once all changes have been made, click OK to save your changes. All of the affected table styles will be changed to reflect the new options.
To create a new table style, select Frames->Table Style Manager... from the menubar. A dialog box will appear.
Select a table style from the list at the left which most closely matches your new desired table style. The selected table style will be used as a template for the new table style. Select the table style by clicking once with the left mouse button in the list on the left.
Click on the New button. KWord will generate a new table style, which is a copy of the previously selected table style.
Choose a name for your new table style, and type it in the text box labeled Name.
You can now change your table style options to customize your newly created table style. For details, see Editing a table style.
To delete table style, select Frames->Table Style Manager... from the menubar. A dialog box will appear.
Select the table style you want to delete from the list at the left. Select the table style by clicking once with the left mouse button in the list on the left.
Click on the Delete button.
KWord will not allow you to delete the Plain table style.
To change the order that the table style are listed, select Frames->Table Style Manager... from the menubar. A dialog box will appear.
The order the table styles are listed in the menu is determined by the order of the table styles in the list on the left.
Select the table style you want to move from the list at the left by clicking once with the left mouse button.
Now click on the up and down arrows located at the bottom of the list of table styles. This will move the selected table style up or down in the list of table styles.
When you are satisfied with the order of the list, select OK.
To import a table style from another KWord file, select Frames->Table Style Manager... from the menubar. A dialog box will appear.
Click the button labeled Import From File. A dialog box will appear allowing you to select the KWord file using the file selection dialog. Choose your file, and select OK.
A new dialog box will appear listing all available table styles for importing.
If KWord encounters a duplicate table style name in the selected file, it will append a number to the end of the table style name to identify the imported style.
As an example, if you import the Plain table style from another KWord file, KWord will change the name to Plain-1.
Select all the table styles you want to import. Then click OK.
The table styles will now appear at the bottom of your list of table styles. Click OK to save the table styles in the new document.