Working with Rows and Columns

Once you've created a table, you may want to change the number of rows and columns in the table.

Tip

In addition to the Table menu and dialog boxes, many adjustments to tables can be made using the Table palette or Control palette. (See the section "Using the Table or Control Palettes" at the end of this chapter for more information on modifying tables with those onscreen elements.)

To change the number of rows and columns:

1.	Select the entire table or any part of the table.
2.	Choose Table > Table Options > Table Setup to open the Table Setup dialog box . The Table Setup dialog box contains the basic options for a table's appearance.
3.	Set the Body Rows controls in the Table Dimensions area to increase or decrease the number of rows in the main section of the table . The Table Dimensions area lets you set the number of rows, columns, header rows, and footer rows.
4.	Set the Header Rows controls to increase or decrease the number of rows in the header section of the table . (See page 326 for more information on working with headers and footers.)
5.	Set the Columns controls to increase or decrease the number of columns in the table .
6.	Set the Footer Rows controls to increase or decrease the number of rows in the footer section of the table . Tip Use the Preview control at the bottom of the Table Setup dialog box to see the results of changing the controls. Tip The commands in the Table Dimensions section always add rows and columns at the end of the table sections. The next exercise explains how to insert rows and columns into a specific location in the table.

You can also insert columns and rows into a specific location in a table.

To insert columns into a table:

1.	Place an insertion point where you want to insert the columns.
2.	Choose Table > Insert > Column. The Insert Columns(s) dialog box appears . Use the Insert Column(s) dialog box to add columns at a specific location within a table. or Choose Insert > Column from the Table palette menu.
3.	Use the Number field to set the number of rows.
4.	Choose either Left or Right to specify where the new rows should be inserted . An example of how a column is added to the left of the selected cell.

To insert rows into a table:

1.	Place an insertion point where you want to insert the rows.
2.	Choose Table > Insert > Row. The Insert Row(s) dialog box appears . Use the Insert Row(s) dialog box to add rows at a specific location within a table. or Choose Insert > Row from the Table palette menu.
3.	Use the Number field to set the number of rows.
4.	Choose either Above or Below to specify where the new rows should be inserted. Tip The Insert Row(s) dialog box inserts rows into the header, footer, or main section of a table.

To insert rows as you type:

1.	Place the insertion point in the final cell of the last row of the table main body, header, or footer.
2.	Press the Tab key. A new row is automatically inserted.

To add columns as you drag the table edge:

Drag the last column of the table.

Press the Opt/Alt key as you drag. This expands the size of the table by adding columns .

Hold the Opt/Alt key as you drag across to add columns to a table.

To add rows as you drag the table edge:

Drag the last row of the table.

Press the Opt/Alt key as you drag. This expands the size of the table by adding rows .

Hold the Opt/Alt key as you drag down to add rows to a table.

To delete table columns:

1.	Select the columns you want to delete.
2.	Choose Table > Delete > Column.

To delete table rows:

1.	Select the rows you want to delete.
2.	Choose Table > Delete > Row.

To delete the entire table:

1.	Select the table.
2.	Choose Table > Delete > Table.

You may want to delete the content inside a cell without deleting the cell itself.

To delete the content in table cells:

Select the cells, columns, or rows.

Press the Delete/Backspace key or choose Edit > Clear.

Tip

The content is deleted but the cells themselves remain in place .

An example of how you can delete the content of selected cells.

You can't move cells from one place to another, but you can copy and paste cells and their content to new locations.

To copy and paste the content in table cells:

1.	Select the cells, columns, or rows that you want to move to a new position.
2.	Choose Edit > Copy or Edit > Cut. This puts the selected cells on the clipboard.
3.	Select the new cells, columns, or rows. Tip You should select at least the same number of cells, columns, or rows, that were selected in step 1.
4.	Choose Edit > Paste. The content on the clipboard is pasted into the selected cells . The three-step process to copy and move cells from one position to another. Tip If you selected more cells than were selected in step 1, the excess cells are not changed.

When you create a table, all the columns and rows are evenly spaced. However, you can modify the size of the rows and columns.

Tip

A red dot inside a table cell indicates there is an overflow of text . You can change the size of the cell to display the overflow text.

A red dot inside a table cell indicates that there is an overflow of text inside the cell.

To change a single row height visually:

With the Text tool selected, place the cursor along the border of the row you want to adjust. The cursor changes to an up/down arrow .

The Up/Down arrow indicates you can adjust the row height.

Drag to adjust the height of the row.

To change all the rows visually:

1.	Place the cursor along the bottom border of the table. The cursor changes to an up/ down arrow.
2.	Hold the Shift key as you drag to adjust the height of all the rows in the table.

To set the row height numerically:

1.	Select the rows you want to adjust.
2.	Choose Table > Cell Options > Rows and Columns to open the Cell Options dialog box to the Rows and Columns options . The Rows and Columns category of the Cell Options dialog box.
3.	Set the Row Height menu as follows: At Least sets a row height that can increase to hold text or an image. Exactly sets a row height that does not get larger.
4.	Enter an amount in the Row Height field.
5.	Use the Maximum field to prevent the row from becoming too tall.

To change the column width visually:

With the Text tool selected, place the cursor along the border of the column you want to adjust. The cursor changes to a left/right arrow .

The Left/Right arrow indicates you can adjust the column width.

Drag to adjust the width of the column.

To set the column width numerically:

Select the columns you want to adjust.

Enter an amount in the Column Width field .

The Column Width control of the Cell Options dialog box.

You can adjust columns or rows so their spacing is evenly distributed.

To automatically distribute columns:

Set the rightmost column to the position it should be after the adjustment.

Select the columns you want to adjust.

Choose Table > Distribute Columns Evenly. The column widths adjust .

The results of using the Distribute Columns Evenly command.

To automatically distribute rows:

Set the bottommost column to the position it should be after the adjustment.

Select the rows you want to adjust.

Choose Table > Distribute Rows Evenly. The row heights adjust so they are the same size .

The results of using the Distribute Rows Evenly command.

If you want, you can control when and how the rows of a table break across text frames. This is called the keep options for rows.

To set the keep options for rows:

1.	Select the rows you want to control.
2.	Choose Table > Cell Options > Rows and Columns.
3.	Choose from the Start Row menu as follows : Anywhere lets the row start anywhere in a text frame. In Next Text Column forces the row to the next column in the frame or the next text frame. In Next Frame forces the row to the next text frame. On Next Page forces the row to the next page. On Next Odd Page forces the row to the next odd-numbered page. On Next Even Page forces the row to the next even-numbered page. The Start Row menu lets you choose where that row starts.
4.	Check Keep with Next Row to make sure one row doesn't separate from another . Check Keep with Next Row to force one row to always stay with the next one.

The Table Setup dialog box contains the basic options for a table's appearance.

The Table Dimensions area lets you set the number of rows, columns, header rows, and footer rows.

Use the Insert Column(s) dialog box to add columns at a specific location within a table.

An example of how a column is added to the left of the selected cell.

Use the Insert Row(s) dialog box to add rows at a specific location within a table.

Hold the Opt/Alt key as you drag across to add columns to a table.

Hold the Opt/Alt key as you drag down to add rows to a table.

An example of how you can delete the content of selected cells.

The three-step process to copy and move cells from one position to another.

A red dot inside a table cell indicates that there is an overflow of text inside the cell.

The Up/Down arrow indicates you can adjust the row height.

The Rows and Columns category of the Cell Options dialog box.

The Left/Right arrow indicates you can adjust the column width.

The Column Width control of the Cell Options dialog box.

The results of using the Distribute Columns Evenly command.

The results of using the Distribute Rows Evenly command.

The Start Row menu lets you choose where that row starts.

Check Keep with Next Row to force one row to always stay with the next one.