Introduction

Apache OpenOffice 4.1 Writer Guide

Chapter 9: Working With Tables

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• Introduction
• Creating a Table
  • Inserting a New Table
  • Creating Nested Tables
  • Using AutoCorrect to Create a Table
    • Create a Table from Formatted Text
    • Example
• Formatting the Table Layout
  • Default Parameters
  • Resizing and Positioning the Table
  • Resizing Rows and Columns
  • Inserting Rows and Columns
  • Merging and Splitting Cells
  • Specifying Table Borders
  • Selecting Background Colors and Graphics
  • Displaying or Hiding Table Boundaries
• Formatting the Table Text
  • Specifying Text Flow
  • Vertical Alignment
  • Number Formats
  • Rotating Text in a Table Cell
• Data Entry and Manipulation in Tables
  • Moving Between Cells
  • Using Spreadsheet Functions in a Table
• Additional Table Operations
  • Adding a Caption
  • Cross‑referencing a Table
  • Automatic Formatting of Tables
  • Creating a Heading Row in an Existing Table
  • Merging and Splitting Tables
  • Deleting a Table
  • Copying a Table
  • Moving a Table
  • Inserting a Paragraph Before or After a Table
  • Using Tables as a Page Layout Tool
• The Table menu and toolbar

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Introduction

Tables in Apache OpenOffice (AOO) are a useful way to organize and present large amounts of information, for example:

• Technical, financial, or statistical reports
• Product catalogs showing descriptions, prices, characteristics, and photographs of products
• Bills or invoices
• Lists of names with address, age, profession, and other information

Tables can often be used to organize materials, as an alternative to spreadsheets. A well-designed table can help readers understand better what you're trying to say. While you would normally use tables for text or numbers, you can also include other objects, such as pictures, in a table's cells.

Tables can also be used as a page-layout tool; instead of using several  Tab ⇆  characters to position text in areas of a document, tables can do the job. For example, the descriptions under Figure 13 were created in a table with invisible borders. Another, perhaps better, example would be using tables in this fashion in headers and footers to support independent positioning of elements like page number, document title etc. This use of tables is described in detail in Chapter 4 (Formatting Pages).