Sometimes after creating a table, it becomes necessary to edit it: add or remove columns and rows, select cells, change the font … MS Word offers many ways to work with tables.
How to highlight table elements
For editing it is necessary to select the entire table or its individual elements. It is most convenient to select neighboring elements with the mouse. Place the cursor in the desired place, hold down the left button and drag the mouse horizontally or vertically. If you need to edit cells, columns or rows that do not border on each other, select one group of elements with the mouse, hold down the Ctrl key and select another group..
To select an individual column or row, place the cursor in one of its cells. In the "Table" menu in the "Select" section, click on the required item. In the same way, you can select an entire table or a single cell.
If you are using Word 2010, in the "Table Tools" group, go to the "Table Layout" tab and click the "Table" icon. In the Select section, choose Quick Selection of a Group of Cells.
How to add rows, columns and cells
In Word 2003, place the cursor in the cell next to which you want a new row, column, or cell to appear. In the "Table" menu in the "Insert" group, specify the desired element and the method of insertion.
In Word 2010, right-click on the desired cell and select the "Paste" command in the context menu.
How to delete a table and its elements
Select with the mouse the elements to be deleted or the entire table. If you are using Word 2003, in the "Table" menu in the "Delete" group, choose the command you want. To delete the entire table, you must click on "Select" in the "Table" menu.
In Word 2010, the Delete button is on the Layout tab under Table Tools. Specify the item and how to remove it.
If you want to delete the contents of the table, select it with the mouse and press Delete. Rows, columns and cells are cleared in the same way.
How to change column width and row height
Hover over the border of the column or row that you want to resize. When the pointer takes the form of two arrows pointing in different directions, hold down the left button and drag the border in the desired direction with the mouse.
Working with cells
If you want to split a single cell into columns and rows, right-click on it. In Word 2003, use the Split Cells command and specify the number of columns and rows you want. In Word 2010, the Split Cells command performs this task.
If you need to merge several cells into one, select the adjacent cells with the mouse, right-click on them and select the “Merge Cells” command from the context menu.
You can choose the horizontal or vertical position of the text in the cell. Right-click on the cell, then on Text Direction from the drop-down menu. In the Orientation section of the direction window, specify the desired location.
