Learn about the different commands on the Layout tab.
1. Add or Remove Rows and Columns: You can insert or delete rows and columns in your table as needed.
2. Merge and Split Cells: Some tables require a layout that doesn't fit the standard grid. In these cases, you may need to merge or split cells.
3. Cell Size: Here, you can type a desired row height or column width for your cells. If you prefer, you can click the AutoFit command to automatically adjust the cells based on their content.
4. Text Alignment: By changing the text alignment, you can control where the text is located within cells.
5. Distribute Rows and Columns: To keep your table looking neat and organized, you may want to distribute the rows or columns equally, which makes them all the same size.
6. Text Direction: Changing the text direction can add style to your table. It can also help to save space if you need to fit more columns in your table.
Customizing tables
PowerPoint makes it easy to change the look and feel of your tables. For example, you can quickly apply different table styles and customize the table borders.
To apply a table style:
Select any cell in your table, then click the Design tab on the right side of the Ribbon.
Locate the Table Styles group, then click the More drop-down arrow to see available table styles.
Select the desired style.
The selected table style will be applied.
To change table style options:
You can turn various options on or off to change the appearance of the table. There are six options:
- Header Row
- Total Row
- Banded Rows
- First Column
- Last Column
- Banded Columns.
Select any cell in your table.
From the Design tab, check or uncheck the desired options in the Table Style Options group.
These options can affect your table style in various ways, depending on the type of content in your table. You may need to experiment with a few options to find the exact style you want.
To add borders to a table:
You can add borders to help define different sections of a table. Certain table styles may include borders automatically, but it's easy to add them manually or customize them. You can control the border weight, color, and line style for some or all of a table.
Select the cells where you want to add borders. In our example, we'll select every cell in our table.
From the Design tab, select the desired Line Style, Line Weight, and Pen Color.
Click the Borders drop-down arrow, then select the desired border type.
The border will be added to the selected cells.
To remove borders, select the desired cells, click the Borders command, and select No Border.