Objective 3.1 Insert and format tables

  • 3.1.1 Create and import tables
  • 3.1.2 Change table structure
  • 3.1.3 Format tables

3.1 Contents

3.1.3 Format tables


You can format the text in a table in the same ways you would format regular text. You can also easily do the following:

  • Align text horizontally or vertically within a cell.
  • Set the text direction.
  • Set the cell margins.
  • Apply Quick Styles, fills, outlines, and text effects.

In addition to formatting the text in a table, you can format the table itself in the following ways:

  • Apply a ready-made table style.
  • Customize the style by setting various options.
  • Add shading, borders, and effects such as shadows and reflections to individual cells.

Quick Styles use the presentation theme colors and reflect the current table style option set


To align text

  • On the Layout tool tab, in the Alignment group, click one of the Align buttons.

To set text direction

  • In the Alignment group, click the Text Direction button, and then click one of the rotation options.

To set cell margins

  • In the Alignment group, click the Cell Margins button, and then click one of the preset options.
  • In the Cell Margins list, click Custom Margins, and then in the Cell Text Layout dialog box, set specific margins.

To apply a table style

  • On the Design tool tab, in the Table Styles gallery, click the style you want.

To format selected cells

  • In the Table Styles group, click the Shading, Border, or Effects button, and then click the options you want.

To create a custom table style

  • On the Design tool tab, in the Table Style Options group, select or clear the six check boxes to format the table cells to suit your data.

To apply Quick Styles and other fancy formatting

  • On the Design tool tab, in the WordArt Styles group, click the Quick Styles button, and then click the style you want.
  • In the WordArt Styles group, click the Text Fill, Text Outline, or Text Effects button, and then click the options you want in the corresponding galleries.