How to Create and Format a Table in Apache OpenOffice Writer

Edited 2 months ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Apache OpenOffice Writer is a powerful word processing tool that can be used to create documents with rich formatting. One of the key features of Apache OpenOffice Writer is the ability to create tables and format them. Tables are a great way to organize information into rows and columns, making it easier to understand and analyze data. This guide will explain in detail how to create and format a table in Apache OpenOffice Writer.

Make the table

To create a table in Apache OpenOffice Writer, you need to follow these steps:

1. Open Apache OpenOffice Writer.
2. Place the cursor where you want to insert the table.
3. Click on the Table menu at the top of the screen.
4. Select Insert from the drop-down menu, and then choose Table… A dialog box will appear.
5. In the dialog box, specify the number of rows and columns in your table. You can adjust these numbers later if necessary.
6. Click OK to insert the table into your document.

Understanding table anatomy

A table in Apache OpenOffice Writer is made up of cells, rows, and columns:

• Cells are the individual boxes that hold data.
• Rows are horizontal lines of cells.
• Columns are vertical rows of cells.

Formatting the table

Once you insert a table into your document, you can format it to make it more attractive or to better convey the information within it. Formatting a table can include changing the border style, adjusting the size of rows and columns, merging cells, and more.

Changing table borders and backgrounds

Borders help separate information in a table, and you can customize them to suit your needs:

1. Click anywhere inside the table to activate the Table toolbar.
2. Click the Table Properties icon (or right-click and select Table... ).
3. In the Format Table dialog, go to the Borders tab.
4. Here you can change the style, color and width of the border line.
5. To change the background color of the table, go to the Background tab and choose a color.
6. Click OK to apply the changes.

Adjust row and column sizes

To adjust the size of the rows and columns in your table:

1. Place your cursor at the edge of the row or column heading.
2. When the cursor changes to a double arrow, click and drag to adjust the size.
3. Alternatively, right-click the row or column heading, select Row or Column, and then choose Height or Width to enter the size manually.

Fusion and division of cells

Sometimes, you might need to merge cells to combine spaces or split cells to divide spaces:

Merging of cells

1. Select the cells you want to merge.
2. Click the Table menu, then select Merge Cells.

Division of cells

1. Click on the cell you want to split.
2. Open the Table menu, then go to Split Cells...
3. Choose whether you want to split the cells horizontally or vertically.
4. Enter the number of cells you want to split into and click OK.

Aligning text in cells

To improve the readability of your table, you can align text within cells:

1. Select the cells you want to format.
2. Use the alignment buttons on the toolbar to align the text to the left, center, or right.
3. For vertical alignment, right-click the selected cells, choose Cells, then go to Align Vertical, and select from Top, Middle, or Bottom.

Using AutoFormat

To quickly format your table, consider using the AutoFormat feature:

1. Select your table.
2. Go to Table > AutoFormat.
3. Choose from a range of predefined table formats.
4. Click OK to apply the format.

Advanced table formatting options

For more control over the look of your table, Apache OpenOffice Writer provides the following advanced options:

Conditional formatting

Conditional formatting can be used to automatically apply formatting based on cell values. Despite being primarily a spreadsheet feature, some aspects can be mimicked in tables within a text document by manually applying specific styles or colors based on rules you define.

Using styles

You can apply styles to your table to ensure consistency throughout your document. Table styles in Apache OpenOffice Writer are not as flexible as paragraph or character styles, so you may have to adjust some formatting aspects manually.

Inserting calculations

Like a spreadsheet, a table in Apache OpenOffice Writer can perform simple calculations:

1. Place your cursor in the cell where you want the result to appear.
2. Choose Table > Formulas.
3. Enter your formula using basic mathematical operators (+, -, *, /). For example, to add the values in the first column of the first two rows, you could enter <A1> + <A2>.
4. Click OK to view the calculation result.

Editing an existing table

If you need to make changes to an already existing table, Apache OpenOffice Writer provides various tools to help you:

Add or delete rows and columns

If you need more space in your table or want to delete unused cells, follow these steps:

Add rows or columns

1. Place your cursor on the row or column where you want the new row or column.
2. Go to the Table menu and select Insert.
3. Select the row or column depending on what you want to add.
4. Specify how many rows or columns to add and their position (before or after).

Delete rows or columns

1. Click the row or column heading of the cells you want to delete.
2. Select Delete from the Table menu.
3. Select rows or columns to delete them.

Saving and sharing your document

Once you've created and formatted your table, you may want to save your document. Apache OpenOffice Writer saves documents with the ODT extension, but can also export to other formats, such as PDF, for sharing. To save your document:

1. Click the File menu.
2. Select Save As....
3. Choose a location on your computer to save the file.
4. Enter a name for your document.
5. Select the file format of your choice.
6. Click Save.

Conclusion

Tables in Apache OpenOffice Writer provide a great way to present information in a clear and organized way. Using the features explained in this guide, you can create and format tables that not only look professional but also meet your specific data presentation needs. With practice, you will become proficient at customizing tables to enhance the quality of your documents.

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