InDesign for QuarkXPress Users [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

Editing a Table's Structure

Tables almost never spring into being perfectly; you'll likely need to change the overall size of the table or of the rows and columns, add or delete rows or columns, merge two or more cells into one, or split a cell into smaller cells. It's all possible, and it's all easy.

Scaling the Entire Table

InDesign allows you to scale an entire table by dragging. First, click anywhere in the table with the Type tool, and move the cursor over the lower-right corner of the table. When you see the diagonal double-headed arrow cursor (see Figure 75-5), drag to scale the table. Holding down the Shift key constrains the scaling proportionally. (You can't scale a table if the table spans more than one text frame.)

Unlike QuarkXPress 5, there is no modifier to scale the content along with the table. Of course, you can always scale the text frame that contains the table (using the Scale or Free Transform tool, or the Transform palette; see Chapters 17 and 18).

Adding Rows and Columns

There are several ways to add rows or columns to a table. First, you can use the Insert dialog box: Place the text cursor in a row or column next to where you want the new row or column to appear. Next, choose either Row or Column from the Insert submenu (in the Table menu or from the context menu). Then enter the number of rows or columns and whether you want them above, below, to the left, or the right of the current cell.

You can also add rows by dragging: Position the Type tool over a row or column boundary until you see the double-headed arrow cursor (see Figure 75-5). Hold down the mouse button, and then press the Option/Alt key while dragging downward (for rows) or to the right (for columns).

Finally, you can use the Table Options dialog box or the Table palette to add rows or columns. Increasing the number of rows or columns in the dialog box or the palette adds rows at the bottom of the table, or columns on the right side of the table.

Deleting Rows, and Columns, and Tables

You have similar flexibility when deleting rows and columns. Using the Type tool, you can click in a cell (or select multiple cells) and then choose Row or Column from the Delete submenu (under the Table menu). You can also use the dragging method to delete cells on the right or bottom side of the table: Position the Type tool over the bottom or right side of the table until you see the double-headed arrow cursor. Hold down the mouse, then press the Option/Alt key. If you drag upward or to the left, rows or columns are deleted.

Finally, you can reduce the dimensions of a table by changing the Rows or Columns fields in the Table Options dialog box or the Table palette.

If you want to delete the entire table, when there is an insertion point or a selection, choose Table from the Delete submenu (under the Table menu).

Merging and Splitting Cells

You can merge together cells in the same row or column by selecting them, then choosing Merge Cells from the Table menu (or context menu). If there is content in the cells, InDesign combines into one cell.

To split a cell into two smaller cells, use the Type tool to click inside the cell and then choose Split Cell Horizontally or Split Cell Vertically from the Table menu (or context menu).

Changing Row or Column Size

You can change a table's row or column size by dragging or numerically. If you like working interactively, just click and drag a row or column boundary (you'll see the double-headed arrow cursor if you're in the right place). Note that this changes your table's width or height; in fact, you can extend it beyond the right edge of the text frame. If you want to change a row or column boundary without resizing the whole table, hold down the Shift key while you drag. You can also resize all the rows or columns proportionately by holding down the Shift key while dragging the right edge (for rows) or bottom edge (for columns) of the table.

To change row width or column height numerically, first select the rows or columns to be resized (or just place the text cursor in any cell in the row or column). Then you can choose Rows and Columns from the Cell Options submenu (under the Table menu or context menu). Similarly, you can change the values in the Row Height and Column Width fields of the Table palette.

When you don't know exactly how high a row should be, choose At Least from the popup menu next to the Row Height field. This sets a minimum row height that autoexpands as text or graphics are added to the cells in the row. Alternatively, you can use the Exactly option to set the row height to be a particular value.

One last trick: You can give selected rows or columns the same height or width by selecting the rows or columns you want to change, and choosing Distribute Rows Evenly or Distribute Columns Evenly from the Table menu. Unfortunately, you cannot set this numerically, as you can in XPress.