Creating Tables

Decide what you want the table to do.

Tables on the Web can be divided into two categories: data display and page layout. Although the method for making both kinds of tables is the same, it helps to know what kind of table you want before you begin building it.

Tables are commonly used to display or organize data. Data tables act as discrete elements of a Web page, much like tables inserted into word processing programs.

Tables can also be used to direct page layout. Table columns and rows can be used to control where text and graphics are placed with more precision than is typical with simple HTML, which is limited in its ability to handle multiple spaces and tabs.

Create and insert a table.

Position your cursor where you want the table to appear and click once.

In the menu bar, click Table > Insert Table .

Decide what you want your table to look like.

The 'Insert Table' dialog box lets you tailor the table to your needs:

Rows: Specify the number of horizontal rows you would like your table to have.

Columns: Specify the number of vertical columns you would like your table to have.

Alignment: Choose whether you want your table centered, on the left side of the page, or on the right side of the page.

Border Size: Specify the thickness of your table's outside border.

Cell Padding: This is the space between the grid lines of the table (invisible or visible) and the contents of its cells.

Cell Spacing: This specifies how thick the grid lines of the table cells will be.

Width: Tables stretch to accommodate whatever you put in them (graphics, text, etc.). If you want your table to have a specific width, be sure to check the Specify Width box in this section.

Width in Pixels is absolute: the table will be, say, 400 pixels wide no matter what the monitor on the other end is like.

Width in Percent means a percentage of the width of the Web page as displayed on your browser.

Column Order: Determines if the table cells are distributed right-to-left or left-to-right

Extended Button: Adds additional attributes to the table.

A border size of 0 will give you a table with no visible gridlines. This kind of table can be used very effectively for page layout.

Different monitors have different pixel maximums and this will affect the amount of a table that can be viewed on a screen. An old monitor, for example, will not be able to display more than 640 pixels horizontally and 480 pixels vertically. Some of this space will be used by the browser itself. As a general rule, tables should not be more than 550 pixels wide.

Add your content.

When you are finished setting up your table, click 'OK' and add your content to the cells by clicking on a cell and typing or pasting text or images.

If you change your mind about how you want your table to look, try the following: click the mouse cursor somewhere inside the table, choose Table > Table Properties (or Cell Properties) and change the table or cell attributes.

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