Formatting a Table

After you create a table or begin to enter text in one, you might want to add more rows or columns to accommodate the text you are entering in the table. PowerPoint makes it easy for you to format your table. You can change the alignment of the text in the cells (by default, text is aligned on the left of a cell ). You can also modify the appearance and size of the cells.

Insert and Delete Columns and Rows

Click in a table cell next to where you want the new column or row to appear.

Click the Table list arrow on the Tables And Borders toolbar.

To insert columns and rows, click one of the insert column or insert row commands.

To delete columns and rows, click Delete Columns or Delete Rows.

Align Text Within Cells

Select the text you want to align in the cells, rows, or columns.

Click one of the alignment buttons on the Formatting or Tables And Borders toolbar.

Did You Know?

You can use the pencil and eraser to add and remove cells . Click the Draw Table button on the Tables And Borders toolbar, and then drag the pencil pointer from one boundary to another to add cells. Click the Eraser button, and then click on a border to erase a cell.

Modify Cell Borders

Select the cells or text whose border(s) you want to modify.

Click the Border Style list arrow, and then select a border line style.

Click the Border Width list arrow, and then select a line thickness .

Click the Border Color button, and then select a border color .

Click the Borders list arrow, and then select a border style. The current border style appears selected.

TIMESAVER When you select a new border style, width, or color in the Tables And Borders toolbar, the pointer changes to a pencil. Click the borders you want to change.

Adjust Row Height and Column Width

Move the pointer over the boundary of the row or column you want to adjust until the pointer changes into a resizing pointer.

Drag the boundary to adjust the row or column to the size you want.

Did You Know?

You can merge or split cells . Select the cells you want to merge or the cell you want to split, and then click the Merge Cells or Split Cells button on the Tables And Borders toolbar.