Creating a Table

Tables consist of rows and columns . Rows are the horizontal divisions of the table; columns are the vertical divisions. A row and a column intersect to form a cell , which is where the content of the table goes. You can put either text or a graphic (or both) into a cell.

When you add a table to a slide, Keynote automatically creates a table with three rows and three columns. After the table is added, you can modify the table and its contents by changing the number of rows and columns, formatting the text, modifying table and cell borders, and changing the size of the table.

You're probably familiar with using tables in word processors, such as Microsoft Word or AppleWorks. Using tables in Keynote is similar, with one important caveat: tables in presentations should be simpler than tables that you would use in a printed document. Too much information in a table can overwhelm the viewer ( Figure 7.1 ).

Figure 7.1. Too much information in a table will make the table too hard for your audience to read (top). It's best to keep tables for presentations simple (bottom).

To create a table

1.	In the Slide Navigator, select the slide on which you wish to create a table, or create a new slide by clicking New in the toolbar.
2.	If you created a new slide, choose an appropriate slide master using the Masters pop-up menu in the toolbar. Because you want to leave enough room on the slide for the table, you'll probably want to choose a slide master such as Blank or Title - Top. Keynote attempts to place tables so that they will fit properly on the slide, so, for example, if you choose the Title & Bullets - Left master, adding a table will create a small table in the open area on the slide. If there isn't enough free space on a slide, such as with a master like Title & Bullets, Keynote simply drops a full-size table onto the slide, and lets you sort things out.
3.	Click the Table button in the toolbar. or Choose Insert > Table. The table appears on the slide ( Figure 7.2 ). The table will have three rows and three columns. To increase the number of rows and/or columns, see "Inserting Rows and Columns," later in this chapter. Figure 7.2. By default, Keynote tables have three rows and three columns.

Tip

• If you have an Inspector window open, when you insert a table the Inspector window switches to the Table Inspector ( Figure 7.3 ). We'll explore the Table Inspector more later in this chapter.

  Figure 7.3. The Table Inspector allows you to set the number of rows and columns for a table, set alignment for items in the table, and specify the cell borders and backgrounds.