Tiptop Tables


You can also create tables and spreadsheets. It's just another way to display information in PowerPoint.


A table. We'll need that to eat our apple pie on.


Jim, snap out of it. This is important. The show's not over yet...


Adding a table
Let's try adding a table to your slide.

    1. Click the Insert menu, then select Table.

    2. In the Insert Table dialog box, choose the number of rows and columns you want for your table.

Selecting columns and rows

    3. Click OK and the table work window will appear.

Work Table

The work window is where you enter and edit information, and where you format the table. 

Next, you will type information into the work table.

    1. Click inside the first column of the first row.

    2. Type the word January.

    3. Press the TAB key on your keyboard. The insertion point is now in the second column of the first row.

    4. Type the word February.

    5. Press the TAB key to move to the next column, and type the word March.

Navigation Tips: To move to a previous column in a row, press SHIFT + TAB. You can also move around the table by simply clicking where you want to move to, or by using the arrow keys on your keyboard.

After you've finished typing, click outside the work table to exit the work window.

Data in your table


And let me guess... I bet you can resize the cells as easy as resizing a text box.


Gee, do I have to give you a prize if you're right?


Adjusting the height and width of cells
A cell is the box that is formed in a table where a row and a column intersect. Each cell holds a unit of information.

Table Cell

In PowerPoint you can adjust the height and width of the cells. The following steps will show you how to adjust the height and width of cells in your table.

    1. Double-click the table to enter the table work window. A work table will appear.

    2. First, try making the cells in the first column narrower.

    (a) Place the pointer on the gridline between the first and second column. The pointer will change into a two-headed arrow.

Two Headed Arrow

    (b) Click and drag the gridline to the left. The cells become narrower.

    (c) Click and drag the gridline to the right to make the cells wider again.

Change the size of your cell
Change the size of your cell

    3. Now, make the cells in the first column taller.

    (a) Place the pointer on the gridline between the first and second rows. The pointer will change into a two-headed arrow.

    (b) Click and drag the gridline downwards. The cells become taller.

    (c) Click and drag the gridline upwards to make the cells shorter again.


And just like we did with our text boxes, is there a way to jazz up a table?


Sue, I think you're catching on to this. Pretty soon you'll know more about me than my mom.


Jazzing up your table
When you exit the work window, you see the table the way it will look in your presentation. Before you format the table, it looks pretty plain.

Plain old table

Try jazzing up your table as follows.

    1. Open the Tables and Borders toolbar. From the View menu, select Toolbars and then pick Tables and Borders. This toolbar has many functions such as changing the borders and adding color.

    If you want to make changes to your table later on and this toolbar is checked, you only need to click anywhere within the table to make the Tables and Borders toolbar reappear. 

    Selecting AutoFormat

    2. Other formatting features of a table are changed by using the Format Table dialog box. Click the Format menu, then select Table. 

Selecting AutoFormat

    3. In the Format Table dialog box, select a Line Style, Color, or Width to change the look of your table.

    4. Click OK.

Jazzed up table


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