Add Table in InDesign

Tables are an effective method of presenting information in an organized manner. Using Adobe InDesign, a desktop publishing program that allows you to create print documents in a variety of sizes and formats, you can place and format tables that present your information in a reader-friendly manner.

Steps

  1. Purchase Adobe InDesign if you do not already own it. Follow the on-screen instructions for installing InDesign on your computer and restart your computer if necessary.
  2. Familiarize yourself with InDesign's workspace and user resources that are available.
  3. Open Adobe InDesign.
  4. Open the InDesign document you want to work in by selecting File>Open from the Control panel at the top of your workspace.
    • If you do not have an existing InDesign document to work in, create a new document by selecting File>New>Document and specifying the settings for your new document.
  5. Select the Type tool from your Tools palette and click the location where you want to place your table.
  6. Select Table>Insert Table from the Control panel. Enter the number of rows and columns you want your table to contain.
  7. Enter the number of header and/or footer rows you want your table to contain. Header and footer rows are rows that repeat at the top of every frame or column. Use them if your table will take up multiple columns or frames.
  8. Click OK.

Adding Text and Graphics to Your Table

  1. Enter text in your header and/or footer row or rows using your Type tool. Do this by clicking the cell in which you want to enter text.
  2. Click the cell in which you want to begin entering information and type your text. You can also import text into a table by copying and pasting. To do this place your cursor where you want your text to appear, copy the text you wish to paste into your table and select Edit>Paste from the Control panel.
    • To import text from a file without copying and pasting, place your cursor where you want your text to appear, select File>Place from the Control panel, navigate to the file you wish to import and double click the file name.
  3. Place your cursor where you want your graphic to appear. Select File>Place from the Control panel, navigate to the file you wish to import and double click the file name.
  4. Format text within your table by highlighting the text you want to format and adjusting your font and font size using the drop-down menus in the Control panel.

Formatting your Table

  1. Resize columns and rows by selecting the columns and/or rows you want to resize and selecting Table>Cell Options>Rows and Columns and entering the appropriate size.
    • You can also do this using the Table panel, which can be accessed via the Window menu located in the Control panel.
    • Row and column heights may also be adjusted manually by positioning your cursor over the edge of a row or column and dragging up or down or left or right once the double-arrow icon appears.
    • Rows and columns can be distributed evenly throughout a table by clicking Table and selecting either Distribute Rows Evenly or Distribute Columns Evenly.
  2. Select Table>Table Options>Table Setup.
    • In the Table Border menu, enter settings for the weight, type, tint and color of your table's border.
  3. Select your Type tool and highlight the cells to which you would like to apply a background color. Select Table>Cell Options>Strokes and Fills. Enter your desired color and tint.
  4. Merge cells within your table by using the type tool to select the cells you wish to merge and clicking Table>Merge Cells.
  5. Split cells within your table by clicking the cell you wish to split and selecting Table>Split Cell Vertically or Split Cell Horizontally.

Tips

  • You can move to the next cell in a row by pressing the Tab key. You can move to the previous cell by pressing the Shift and Tab keys.

Things You'll Need

  • Computer

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