A quick tour of the graphic table element

New Table dialog box

Once you insert a graphic table element, you can select a table format under Available formats on the New Table dialog box (Interactive, Item to Row, or Item to Column). An example of the selected format displays in the Preview window. A text description displays in the Description window.

Nota:

Once you create a table using the interactive format and have associated data with the table, it cannot be changed. You must create a new table element if you want a different table format. However, a table element created using the item to row or item to column format with the Auto Wrap Columns and Rows check box unchecked can be converted to an interactive format. But once it is converted to the interactive format, it cannot be converted back to an item to row or item to column format.

New Table Wizard

Clicking the Wizard button after you have selected a table format allows you to create a basic table quickly. The wizard allows you to define data sources, table properties, format, merge options, table fields, and filters.

Once the initial table is created, you have the option of further customizing the table by selecting the table in the layout view, right-clicking it, and choosing Properties from the shortcut menu. This displays the Table Properties dialog box.

Table Design dialog box

The Table Design dialog box is accessed by clicking Table Design on the Table Format tab of the Table Properties dialog box.

The Table Design dialog box is composed of the following components:

• Main menu
• Toolbars
• Table Layout area
• Elements pane
• Status bar

Main menu

The Table Design dialog box main menu allows you to edit the table, hide/display the dialog box toolbars, resize the table, switch element views, and access additional table design tools. It consists of the standard Edit menu as well as the following:

Toolbars

• Edit—Allows you to manage changes made to the table.
• View—Allows you to show or hide the Standard, Units, and Data toolbars; Elements pane; and status bar as well as change or customize the magnification view of the table.
• Table Layout—Allows you to set table autosizing; add, insert, or delete rows and columns; and modify cell properties. The Autosize Table option causes the table to resize the columns and rows to fit the elements within the cells when the element sizes are changed.
• Elements—Allows you to switch between a two-column tree and five-column grid view of the Elements pane, allowing for batch changes on common element types.
• Tools—Allows you to modify the table using the Synchronize Table, Data Source, and Table Fields options.

In addition to the standard editing tools on the Standard toolbar, a Units drop-down list allows you to choose the units for your table design.

Table Layout area

In the Table Layout area of the Table Design dialog box, right-clicking a cell displays the standard editing options of Cut, Copy, Paste, and Paste Special as well as a Zoom option that allows you to change the table magnification level. Right-clicking outside a cell in the Table Layout area also displays the Autosize Table, Add, and Zoom options. The Table Layout area can be resized by clicking and dragging the edge of the dialog box.

Elements pane

As you define and configure the graphic table element, the Elements pane on the Table Design dialog box displays a running list of the table cells' coordinates. The Elements pane can also be used to sort the list as well as perform batch calculations.

In the Elements pane, you can do the following:

• Add additional elements to the selected table cell.
• Delete an element from the selected table cell.
• Rename the inserted element.
• Change the order of elements in a cell.
• Set element text, alignment, margins, and flex margins.

In addition, when an element is inserted into a selected table cell, the associated cell coordinates that display in the Elements pane can be expanded to display additional element details.

Nota:

The Elements pane displays information only when a table cell has been clicked in the left-hand Table Layout area.