Working with Tables

18 min

Let's begin

The class captain must type the new timetable. In ordinary lines of text the days and times never line up. A table keeps everything in neat rows and columns, and it can be changed easily when a lesson moves.

Rows, columns and cells

A table is a grid. A row runs across the page, a column runs down it, and a cell is one box where a row and a column meet. A table with 4 columns and 3 rows has 4 × 3 = 12 cells.

Inserting a table

Click where the table should go.
Choose Table > Insert Table or press Ctrl+F12. (Word: Insert > Table.)
Enter the number of columns and rows, then click Insert. For a quick table, click the Insert Table button and drag across the grid instead.

Type in a cell, then press Tab to move to the next cell and Shift+Tab to go back. Pressing Tab in the last cell adds a new row.

Changing the structure

Task	LibreOffice Writer	Microsoft Word
Insert rows or columns	Table > Insert > Rows Above / Rows Below / Columns Before / Columns After	Table Layout > Insert Above / Below / Left / Right
Delete rows, columns or the table	Table > Delete > Rows / Columns / Table	Table Layout > Delete
Merge cells	Select the cells, then Table > Merge Cells	Table Layout > Merge Cells
Split a cell	Table > Split Cells, then choose how many parts and the direction	Table Layout > Split Cells

Merging joins two or more neighbouring cells into one. Splitting divides one cell into several. You can also drag a column's border to change its width, and use Table > Properties to set borders and background colours. Ready-made designs are under Table > AutoFormat Styles (Word: Table Design).

Worked example: the timetable

The timetable needs a Time column plus Monday to Friday, which makes 6 columns. It needs a heading row, two lesson rows, a break row and one more lesson row, which makes 5 rows.

Insert a table with 6 columns and 5 rows: 6 × 5 = 30 cells.
Type the headings, then the lessons, pressing Tab between cells.
The break is the same every day, so select the five cells from Monday to Friday in the break row and choose Table > Merge Cells. Type "Break" once.
Five cells became one, so the table now has 30 − 5 + 1 = 26 cells.
Give the heading row a coloured background with Table > Properties > Background.

Tip

Counting cells after merging: merging n cells takes away n − 1 cells. Splitting one cell into n parts adds n − 1.

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Practice

How many cells are there in a table with 3 columns and 7 rows?

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Solution: 3 × 7 = 21 cells.

A 4-column table has a heading row. You merge all 4 heading cells into one. How many cells does that row now have?

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Solution: 1 cell. Merging 4 cells removes 4 − 1 = 3 of them.

A table has 12 cells. One cell is split into 3 columns. How many cells are there now?

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Solution: 12 + (3 − 1) = 14 cells.

Keza has finished typing in the last cell of her price list and needs one more row. What is the quickest way?

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Solution: Press Tab in the last cell. A new row is added below.

Remember

Rows go across, columns go down, and cells are where they meet. Cells = columns × rows.
Table > Insert Table (Ctrl+F12); Word: Insert > Table. Tab moves to the next cell and adds a row at the end.
Merge joins cells; split divides them. Insert and delete rows and columns from the Table menu (Word: Table Layout).

Sources and credits

Getting Started Guide 26.2, Chapter 2: Getting Started with Writer, LibreOffice Documentation Team, The Document Foundation, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Adapted by Ganzaa.
The explanations, worked examples and practice items were written by Ganzaa.

1Rows, columns and cells

2Inserting a table

3Changing the structure

Worked example: the timetable

Practice

Rows, columns and cells

Inserting a table

Changing the structure