Tables are a handy way to format all kinds of documents that you might create for your classroom from syllabi to tests to grade reports. You can quickly create a simple table by using the Insert Table command or you can use the Draw Table tool to quickly create a more complex table—for example, one that contains cells of different heights or a varying number of columns per row. Using Draw Table is similar to drawing a rectangle on graph paper—first, draw a line from one corner of the table to the corner diagonally opposite in order to define the boundary of the entire table, and then draw the column and row lines inside.

You can also use tables to perform some of the tasks you might use a spreadsheet for. For example, you can sort table entries in alphabetical, numeric, or date order. You can also total a row or column of numbers in a table, as well as perform other calculations, such as averaging. For more information about these advanced functions of tables, ask the Office Assistant.

TO INSERT AND FORMAT A TABLE

For this worksheet or test, insert a table to format the space for student answers.

1. Place your pointer in the text where you want to insert the table.

2. From the Table menu, point to Insert and then click Table. The Insert Table dialog box appears.

3. Select a number of columns and rows and AutoFit features. For example, you might only want 2 columns, one for test or worksheet questions, and one for answers. If you have 10 questions, you might want at least 10 rows.

4. Enter a question into each row. You can enter text, pictures, or even other tables into the cells in this table. Use the arrow keys to move around in the table.

5. You can resize the rows and columns of the table. To adjust the size of the table, move the pointer over the vertical line that separates the columns in your table and double-click to automatically fit the text. Do the same to the vertical line on the right side of the column. Or, you can resize the columns by selecting Cell Height and Width from the Table menu and then selecting Autofit.

6. To add a border to the table, click anywhere in the table and on the Format menu, click Borders and Shading.

7. Click the Borders tab.

8. Specify which borders you want to show or click None to hide the borders.

9. Click OK.

You can also change the size or position of the table with the following:

In-table row resizer  Lets you adjust any row's height directly in the table by dragging the row border up or down. You can also adjust column widths with the column resizer. If you hold down ALT while you drag, the vertical ruler shows you the exact row height.

Table move handle  Click to move the table to another position on the page.

Table resize handle Click and drag to change the size of the entire table while maintaining the same row and column proportions.

TO DRAW A TABLE

You can also use Draw Table to create nested tables, tables inside other tables. Nested tables are particularly useful when you use a table to lay out a page and then want to use another table to present information. For example, you could use a table to lay out a math test, and a nested table to present information for a particular story problem.

1. Click Tables and Borders  on the Standard toolbar. The Tables and Borders toolbar appears.

2. When you move the pointer over the document, you should note that it has the shape of a pencil. If it does not, click Draw Table .

3. Click and drag diagonally down and to the right to create a rectangle.

4. With the pencil, draw a line that divides the rectangle in two.

5. Use the pencil to divide one of the halves into two columns.

6. Now that you can see the flexibility of the Draw Table feature, use it to create and divide more boxes.

7. Click the Eraser tool.

8. Go back to the table and erase one of the lines you created by clicking and dragging along the line. Press ESC to cancel the eraser tool.