Microsoft Word 2007

Resizing Table Elements

As you create your table, Word will assign it default dimensions which may not suit your purposes. This document explains how to modify and resize various table elements.

Adding and Deleting Rows and Columns
Adjusting Column and Row Sizes

Adding and Deleting Rows and Columns

When working with tables, adding or deleting rows and columns is one of the most common tasks you will need to perform.

Adding Rows

To add a row at the bottom of a table:

Place your insertion point in the last cell (i.e., in the last row and last column)
Press [Tab]
A new row is inserted at the bottom of your table.

To add a row within the table:

Place your insertion point in a row directly above or below where you want to add a row
From the Ribbon, select the Layout command tab
In the Rows & Columns group, click either INSERT ABOVEor INSERT BELOW
A new row is inserted above or below your insertion point.

Deleting Rows

Place your insertion point in the row to be deleted
From the Ribbon, select the Layout command tab
In the Rows & Columns group, click DELETE» select Delete Rows
The row and all of its contents are deleted.

Adding Columns

To add a column at the end of the table:

Place your insertion point in the last column
From the Ribbon, select the Layout command tab
In the Rows & Columns group, click INSERT RIGHT
A new column is inserted at the end of your table.

To add a column within the table:

Place your insertion point in a column directly to the left or right of where you want to add a column
From the Ribbon, select the Layout command tab
In the Rows & Columns group, click INSERT LEFTor INSERT RIGHT
A new column is inserted in your table.

Deleting Columns

Place your insertion point in the column to be deleted
From the Ribbon, select the Layout command tab
In the Rows & Columns group, click DELETE» select Delete Columns
The column and all of its contents are deleted.
HINT: After deleting a column, you may want to resize your table to fit better within the document.

Adjusting Column and Row Sizes

When a table is first created, all columns have equal widths. If you need to adjust column widths, you can do so using the Ruler or the Ribbon.

Adjusting Column and Row Sizes: Ruler Option

To adjust column width:

Place your insertion point in the table you want to adjust
Above the scroll bar, click VIEW RULER
OR
From the View command tab, in the Show/Hide group, select Ruler
A horizontal ruler, with MOVE TABLE COLUMN handles for each column divider, appears under the Ribbon.
On the horizontal ruler, click and hold the MOVE TABLE COLUMN handle of the column you want to adjust
Drag the MOVE TABLE COLUMN handle to the appropriate position
NOTE: Each MOVE TABLE COLUMN handle adjusts only the column to its left, leaving the size of the other columns unaffected.
Release the mouse button
OPTIONAL: To simply move the divider within a table between adjoining columns (i.e., to make one column wider and the other narrower)
1. Within your table, click and hold the divider between the columns you want to adjust
2. Drag the divider to the appropriate position

To adjust row height:

Place the insertion point in the table you want to adjust
Above the scroll bar, click VIEW RULER
OR
From the View command tab, in the Show/Hide group, select Ruler
A vertical ruler, with MOVE TABLE ROW handles for each row divider, appears to the left of your document.

NOTES:
To view and use the vertical ruler, you must be in Print Layout document view.
To access the Print Layout view, from the View command tab, in the Document Views group, click PRINT LAYOUT

Place the insertion point within the table
On the vertical ruler, click and hold the MOVE TABLE ROW handle at the bottom of the row you want to adjust
OR
Within your table, click and hold the row divider at the bottom of the row you want to adjust
Drag the MOVE TABLE ROW handle or the table border to the desired location
Release the mouse button

Adjusting Column and Row Sizes: Ribbon Option

To adjust column width:

Place the insertion point within the column you want to adjust
From the Ribbon, select the Layout command tab
In the Cell Size group, type or use the Width nudge buttons to select the appropriate column width
OPTIONAL: To evenly distribute column width, in the Cell Size section, click DISTRIBUTE COLUMNS
OPTIONAL: To access advanced column-adjustment features
1. In the bottom right corner of the Cell Size group, click TABLE PROPERTIES
  The Table Properties dialog box appears.
2. Select the Column tab
3. Make the desired adjustments
4. Click OK

To adjust row height:

Place the insertion point within the row you want to adjust
From the Ribbon, select the Layout command tab
In the Cell Size group, type or use the Height nudge buttons to select the appropriate row height
OPTIONAL: To evenly distribute row width, in the Cell Size section, click DISTRIBUTE ROWS
OPTIONAL: To access advanced row-adjustment features
1. In the bottom right corner of the Cell Size group, click TABLE PROPERTIES
  The Table Properties dialog box appears
2. Select the Row tab
3. Make desired adjustments
4. Click OK