Format Table and Columns

Format Table - Overview

Located in the Format Menu and has the following options:-

· Frame..
· Grid Lines
· Delete Table
· Select All Cells
· Column & spacing
· Connecting Table
· Insert Row
· Delete Row

Note:-

· A table may be newly created using Insert Table or be loaded as part of a document formatted with the RTF, HTML or DOC(see note) file formats. Tables are treated as a number of cells organised in rows and columns.

· Each cell can have as many lines and paragraphs as required

· row height is adjusted automatically to accommodate additional cell contents.

· to create a new line/paragraph just press the Return key.

· Line/paragraph formatting is performed in relation to a cell's borders. When the caret is within a table, the ruler shows the positions of all the cells in a table's row and the formatting attributes of the cell at the caret's position.

· To resize/move a cell within a row use the cell border icon on the Ruler, cells to the right are adjusted proportionally.

· Text can be selected either within a single cell or in steps of complete cells or rows.

· When a selection is deleted inside a table only the text is deleted.

· Tables can be copied to the clipboard and pasted from the clipboard.

· To move from one column to the next use the tab key, return with shift+tab key, move up or down a row use the arrow keys.

Frame

Located in the Format plus Table Menu, to alter the attributes of a table or part of a table, cells must be selected else current cell only.

The Table frame dialogue has the following controls:-

· Line width - use the edit box to enter a new value or click on the down arrow and select from the drop down list.

· Frame - the graphic representation depends on the number of cells selected, click on the appropriate portion of the graphic to add or remove cell frame lines.

Use the Select All Cells option in the Table menu then use this option to format whole table, for example if you require your table to print out with a perimeter frame, click top, left, right and bottom of the graphic; to add column and row frame lines click centrally on the graphic; to remove a line click on it.

· Background - color may be chosen by click on the User defined down arrow and then selection from the drop down list; alternatively to gain access to a greater choice select the button titled Other to activate the Custom Color selector

· Text distances - to set the margin of cell contents to the cell frame border use the Left, Top, Right and Bottom edit boxes to enter new values or click the down arrow and select from the drop down list.

Note:-

· A table's attributes are its frame width, distance between frame and formatted text, and background color which are contained within cell borders.

· When the selection extends over multiple tables or tables mixed with text, attributes cannot be changed and a message box is shown.

Table Gridlines are visible in normal edit mode but are not visible at Preview or Print, if printed lines are required then refer to Table frame.

A table with a single row and without grid lines being visible would be considered a column table, selecting this option hides grid lines.

To show grid lines select View As Table option from Columns menu.

Delete Table removes the whole of the current Table structure and it's contents. A confirmation dialogue is shown prior to deleting the Table and as the action cannot be reversed with Undo function, you are reminded to Save first if changes have been made.

A quick/simple way to Select All Cells within a Table to perform whole Table operations such as Text or Frame formatting.

Column & Spacing

Located in the Format plus Table Menu with the following options:-

· Reset - if cell position and size has been adjusted using the Table icons on the Ruler then this option restores and aligns all cells in the table.

· Insert - a new column is inserted before the column containing the caret, plus the table is Reset.

· Delete - the current column is deleted, plus table is Reset.

· Append - new column added too right of Table, plus Reset.

Note:- These options are not reversed with the Undo function, so you are reminded to Save if changes have been made.

Connecting Table options - Insert at Top and Insert at Bottom of current table, both show the Insert Table dialogue. If the new table has the same number of columns the Tables are combined into a single table, else a separate Table is inserted at the chosen position.

Insert Row is located in the Format plus Table Menu and in the pointing device menu (usually right click). The row is insert within the Table after the row containing the caret.

Delete Row is located in the Format plus Table Menu and in the pointing device menu (usually right click). The row containing the caret of the current Table is deleted.

Format Columns - Overview

Located in the Format Menu and has the following options:-

· Delete

· Select All

· View as table

· Column & Spacing

· Connecting Columns

Note:-

· Columns are treated as a number of cells organised in a single row and are therefore a table type. Columns may be newly created using Insert Column or be loaded as part of a document formatted with the RTF, HTML or DOC(see note) file formats.

· Each column can have as many lines and paragraphs as required, to create a new line/paragraph just press the Return key.

· Line/paragraph formatting is performed in relation to a column's borders. When the caret is within a column, the ruler shows the position of all column's and the text formatting attributes at the caret's position.

· To resize/move a column use the border icon on the Ruler, columns to the right are adjusted proportionally.

· Text can be selected either within single or multiple columns.

· When a selection is deleted inside a column only the text is deleted.

· Columns can be copied to the clipboard and pasted from the clipboard.

· To move from one column to the next use the tab key, return with shift+tab key

Delete Column removes the whole of the current Columns structure and it's contents. A confirmation dialogue is shown prior to deletion and as the action cannot be reversed with Undo function, you are reminded to Save first if changes have been made.

A quick/simple way to Select All within a Columns structure to perform operations such as Text formatting.

Columns have a single row of cells and do not have grid lines, selecting this option changes to a Table and shows grid lines.

Column and Spacing

Located in the Format plus Columns Menu with the following options:-

· Reset - if column position and size has been adjusted using the border icons on the Ruler then this option restores column spacing.

· Insert - a new column is inserted before the column containing the caret, plus the structure is Reset.

· Delete - the current column is deleted, plus others Reset.

· Append - new column added too right, plus Reset.

Note:- These options are not reversed with the Undo function, so you are reminded to Save if changes have been made.

Connecting Columns options - Insert at Top and Insert at Bottom of current column structure, both show the Insert Column dialogue. If the new structure has the same number of columns the 'Columns' are combined into a single structure, else a separate structure is inserted at the chosen position.