Tip #4445 - Text to Table in Word
Printer Friendly Version | E-Mail This Tip
Text
to Table in Word
Here's the situation:
you have a list of items or names in MS Word that is in perfect condition.
There are no typos and it's exactly in the order you need it to be.
But of course,
there's always a catch. You now realize you need the list in a table.
So, now what?
You could draw/insert
a table and then copy and paste each item into a different row on
the table.
You're dreading
that one, aren't you? (I know I would!)
Next question: Is there
a better way?
Of course there
is! Why else would we be having this discussion?
Give this little
trick a try the next time you're looking to make your already typed
text into a table.
First, you should
highlight the list.
In older
versions of MS Word, you now need the Table menu,
Convert submenu, Text to Table choice.
In Word
2007, you're looking for the Insert ribbon,
Table button, Convert Text to Table choice.
The Convert
Text to Table dialogue box will open, displaying your choices.
In the
top section, you can set the table size. Word will try to
guess what you'll need based on the data you've highlighted, but you
know what you're trying to create, so make the changes as necessary.
I found that the number of rows was inaccessible to me. Word simply
used the amount that matched my highlighted data.
The middle
allows you to decide how the columns widths will
be created. Should they all be the same width? Should Word AutoFit
to the longest piece of data in the column? The AutoFit to window
choice is for Web browsers and it will "automatically resize
the table so that it fits within the window of a Web browser. When
the window size of the Web browser changes, the table size automatically
adjusts to fit within the window."
And finally, at
the bottom, you need to tell Word how the
data items are separated. That is, what separates each piece
of data to tell Word when to start the next column.
For example, with
the following list, I would choose the Other option
and enter a space in the box to get each of the first and last names
into their own columns.
Mickey Mouse
Donald Duck
Daisy Duck
Minnie Mouse
If I had set the
number of columns to 4, I would have a table like this:
With the extra
columns, I could enter extra data that pertains to each name.
Basically, to
start, you must have some idea of what you're looking to create as
the final product. Then you may have to do a little bit of trial and
error to find exactly what you need. Also, if you haven't already
"made friends" with the Undo button (Ctrl + Z),
I suggest you do during this experimentation process. But, once you
get the hang of it, you'll find it can be a true timesaver!
~ April
Want To Comment On This Tip? Click Here! We'd love to hear from you :-)
Like These Tips? Get 'Em Free In Your E-mail
