Working with Tables and Illustrations

A table is a grid of cells arranged in horizontal rows and vertical columns. Tables can be customized and are useful for various tasks such as presenting text information and numerical data for financial reports, catalogs, etc. 
An illustration like Pictures, Shapes, ClipArts, Charts, etc make documents visually more appealing and adds clarity and readability to the document. 

Creating a New Table

  • Place the cursor where you want table to appear
  • Select the Insert Tab 
  • Click Table command
  • Drag your mouse over the diagram squares to select the number of rows and columns in the table. Click to create the table with selected number of cells.

Modifying the Table.

When you select a table in the document, Design and Layout tabs appear under 
Table Tools on the Ribbon. 
  • Using commands on the Layout Tab, you can make a variety of modifications to the table such as adding or deleting columns and rows, merge or split cells, change cell size, align cell text, change text direction, etc.




  • Using the Design Tab, you can choose a Table Style and modify table border or shading. 

You can also add your own table styles or modify the existing ones:
  • Click on the down arrow of table styles for More Styles.
  • Choose the option New Table Style… OR Modify Table Style… at the bottom of the menu.

Adding/ Deleting Row or Column with right mouse click

  • Place the cursor in the row below/above which you wish to add the row.
  • Right click the mouse for a menu to appear. 
  • Select Insert insert rows below OR insert rows above OR insert columns to the left OR insert columns to the right option as per your requirement.
  • You can also use Delete option from the menu to delete the rows or columns. 

Convert Existing Text to a Table

  • Select the text you wish to convert.
  • Select the Insert tab.
  • Click the Table command.
  • Select Convert Text to Table form the menu. 
  • A Dialog box appears. Choose the correct option at Separate text at.

Inserting and Modifying Illustrations

  • Place your cursor where you want the illustration.
  • Click the Insert Tab on the Ribbon.
  • Click on Picture/ ClipArt/ Shapes/ SmartArt/ Chart depending on your requirement from the Illustrations group.
  • The dialog box will open and you can choose the illustration of your choice.
  • When you choose a shape, you have to draw it on the document after your selection. Other illustrations are automatically copied once you have chosen them.
  • You will notice that following contextual Tabs appear depending on the illustration:
  • Picture/ ClipArt :     Format under Picture Tools
  • Shapes :                   Format under Drawing Tools
  • SmartArt :               Design and Format under SmartArt Tools
  • Chart :                     Design, Layout and Format under Chart Tools
  • Using the above options on the Ribbon, you can change the style, size, colour, position, alignment, orientation, etc of the illustration.
  • You can also do your setting using the Right mouse click on the picture.
  • When you have text and shapes overlapping one another, you can use Bring to Front and Send to Back Ordering options so that they overlap, but still are visible. The Order option is available when right click on the object.