The K Desktop Environment

8.9. Tables

Kword has the built in ability to generate simple tables.

!!!!Need to add more here -- Table formatting not implemented well!!!

If you need more complicated functionality or you want more control over the look of your table, you can Imbed a KSpread Table in your document.

This section of the document will cover the formatting of tables created in KWord

8.9.1. Adding a new Table

You can create a table in KWord in one of three ways:

This will open a dialog box."

This dialog box is divided into two halves.

The right half of the dialog box provides you a quick visual guide to how many rows and columns will be created in the table. This is usefull for "counting" out your table. You can not edit your table layout here.

The left half of the dialog box consists of two drop down boxes, and two number selection boxes.

The number selection box labled "Number of Rows", allows you to specify from 1 to 128 rows in the table.

The number selection box labled "Number of Columns", allows you to specify from 1 to 128 columns in the table.

While adjusting either of these two options, the preview box adjusts to your new settings.

The drop down box labled "Cell Height", can be set to either of two options.

Automatic

If this option is selected, KWord will set the cell height of each cell in the new table to a size appropriate based on the size of the current text. KWord will not automatically provide additional space in each cell, because you draw a table larger (or smaller) than necessary.

As an example, if you create a table with three rows, it does not matter if you "draw" the table as 1 inch tall, or 4 inches tall, the height of each cell will be based on the current text size.

Manual

When selected, calculate the cell height by dividing the user specified size of the table by the number of rows.

If this is selected, and you create a table with 3 rows and "draw" the table 3 inches tall, each cell will be 1 inch in height. If, you draw the table 1.5 inches tall, each cell will be 0.5 inches tall.

The drop down box labled "Cell Widths", can be set to either of two options.

Automatic

If this option is selected, KWord will determins the width of each cell, by dividing the total width of the frame by the number of columns. It is unaffected by the table size you have "drawn" on the document.

Manual

When selected, KWord determines the width of each cell, by dividing the width of the table you "draw" by the number of columns selected.

As an example, if you create a table with 3 columns, and "draw" it 3 inches wide, each cell will be 1 inch in width. If, however, you draw the same table 6 inches wide, each cell will be 2 inches wide.

To change the properties of the table, click on the tab labled "Properties".

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8.9.2. Deleting a Table

To delete a table in KWord:

  1. Place the text cursor within any cell of the table you want to delete.

    Warning

    Be sure you have selected the correct table before continuing. KWord will not ask for confirmation.

  2. Select Table->Delete Table from the Menu bar

The table will be immedately deleted.

8.9.3. Insert Row in Table

You can insert a row into any place in a table.

To insert a row into a table:

  1. Place the text cursor within any cell of the table you want to add a row to.

  2. Select either:

    • Table->Insert Row from the Menu bar

    • or by clicking on the toolbar.

    This will bring up a dialog box.

  3. The number selection box labled "Row", allows you to select any row within the table. This number selection box limits you to the rows currently in the table.

    Select the row you want to use as a reference.

  4. Now select either "Before" or "After" as is appropriate.

  5. Click "OK" to add the row or click "Cancel" to not add any rows.

8.9.4. Insert Column in Table

To insert a column into a table:

  1. Place the text cursor within any cell of the table you want to add a row to.

  2. Select either:

    • Table->Insert Column from the Menu bar

    • or by clicking on the toolbar.

    This will bring up a dialog box.

  3. The number selection box labled "Column", allows you to select any column within the table. This number selection box limits you to the columns currently in the table.

    Select the column you want to use as a reference.

  4. Now select either "Before" or "After" as is appropriate.

  5. Click "OK" to add the column or click "Cancel" to not add any columns.

8.9.5. Delete Row in Table

To delete a row from a table:

  1. Place the text cursor within any cell of the table you want to delete the row from.

  2. Select either:

    • Table->Delete row from the Menu bar

    • or by clicking on the toolbar.

    This will bring up a dialog box.

  3. Select the row you want to delete in the number selection dialog.

    Warning

    Make sure you have selected the correct row before continuing.

    KWord will not ask for verification before deleting the row.

  4. Click "OK" to delete the row, or click "Cancel" to not delete any rows.

8.9.6. Delete Column in Table

To delete a column from a table:

  1. Place the text cursor within any cell of the table you want to delete the column from.

  2. Select either:

    • Table->Delete Column from the Menu bar

    • or by clicking on the toolbar.

    This will bring up a dialog box.

  3. Select the column you want to delete in the number selection dialog.

    Warning

    Make sure you have selected the correct column before continuing.

    KWord will not ask for verification before deleting the column

  4. Click "OK" to delete the column, or click "Cancel" to not delete any column.

8.9.7. Join Cells in Table

A table is traditionally made of a grid of rows and columns, with equal sized cells throughout the table.

Sometimes you would like to spread text out over several cells in a table. This is especially common with titles.

KWord allows you to do this by "Joining" two (or more) adjacent cells of a table together.

This is an example of three cells joined together in the middle of a table.

Tip

You can join cells vertically, as well as horizontally.

To "join" several cells:

  1. You must be in Frame Edit Mode. To change to Frame Edit Mode, you can:

    • Select Tools->Edit Frames from the Menu bar

    • You can use the keyboard shortcut: F5

    • or by clicking on the toolbar.

  2. Now select one of the two (or more) cells you want to join into one. You can do this by clicking once in the cell with the left mouse button.

  3. Select another cell you want "joined", by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking with the left mouse button.

    Continue to select additional cells, until you have selected all the cells necessary.

    Tip

    If you have a number of cells in a row that you want to select, you can select them in two quick steps:

    First click on one of the end cells.

    Now hold down the Shift key and click on the cell at the other end of the row or column you want to join.

    All cells between these two cells will be selected.

  4. Select Table->Join Cells from the Menu bar

The cells will now be joined.

Any text in the right most frame will now be located in the joined frame. Any text from any other frames will be hidden from view.

8.9.8. Split Cells in Table

Joining several cells together into one larger cell, is not a one way action.

If you decide that you do not want the previously joined cells to be joined any longer, you can "split" them back into individual cells again.

To split previously joined cells: you must be in Frame Edit Mode.

  1. You must be in Frame Edit Mode. To change to Frame Edit Mode, you can:

    • Select Tools->Edit Frames from the Menu bar

    • You can use the keyboard shortcut: F5

    • or by clicking on the toolbar.

  2. Select the cell you want to split by clicking on it with the left mouse button.

  3. Select Table->Split Cells from the Menu bar

The cells will be restored to their previous state. Any text in the original cell will be relocated to the rightmost cell.

8.9.9. Ungroup a Table

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8.9.10. Format a Table

!!!Not implemented!!!