1) Create a table (4 quick ways)

• Insert → Table → drag grid to choose rows×columns.

• Insert → Table → Insert Table… (type rows/columns).

• Draw Table: Freehand borders/cells (for irregular layouts).

• Convert Text → Table: Select text → Insert → Table → Convert Text to Table…

• Choose separator: Tabs / Commas / Paragraphs / Other.

Move inside table: Tab (next cell), Shift+Tab (previous), Alt+Home/End (row start/end), Up/Down (rows).

2) Add, remove, resize

• Insert/Delete rows/columns: Click in table → Table Layout → Insert Above/Below/Left/Right, Delete → Row/Column/Table.

• Resize columns/rows: Drag borders; or Layout → AutoFit →

• AutoFit to Contents (tight to text)

• AutoFit to Window (fit page width)

• Fixed Column Width (no auto-resize)

• Distribute evenly: Layout → Distribute Rows / Distribute Columns.

• Split/Merge: Layout → Merge Cells / Split Cells; Split Table (cursor at row → Layout → Split Table).

3) Styling & formatting

• Table Design (Table Styles): Header row banding, total row, banded rows/columns, style gallery.

• Borders & Shading: Pick which borders (Outside, Inside, None, Grid), line style/weight/color; cell shading for emphasis.

• Cell alignment & margins: Layout → Alignment (9 options) and Cell Margins (padding).

• Header row on every page: Select header row → Layout → Repeat Header Rows.

• Allow row to break across pages: Table Properties → Row (check/untick as needed).

• Show/Hide gridlines: Layout → View Gridlines (gridlines don’t print).

4) Sorting & simple calculations

• Sort: Click anywhere → Layout → Sort → by column, Text/Number/Date, ascending/descending (add levels if needed).

• Formula: Click cell → Layout → Formula…

• Common: =SUM(ABOVE), =AVERAGE(LEFT), =COUNT(ABOVE)

• Number format: choose e.g., #,##0.00

• Update after edits: right-click field → Update Field.

5) Conversions & captions

• Table ⇄ Text: Layout → Convert to Text… (choose separator), or Insert → Table → Convert Text to Table….

• Caption for tables (for list of tables): Select table → References → Insert Caption (Label: Table) → later References → Insert Table of Figures (choose Label: Table).

6) Best-practice patterns

• Use styles inside cells (Normal, Heading) for consistency.

• Prefer Paragraph spacing Before/After inside cells—not blank lines.

• Keep wide tables on one page: Section Break → Landscape for that section.

• Pair a heading with its table: set the heading to Keep with next.

• For forms: turn on Borders only where needed; use Cell Margins for breathing room.

7) Common fixes

• Columns keep changing width? Set AutoFit → Fixed Column Width.

• Header row prints only on first page? Use Repeat Header Rows (not manual copy).

• Same row splits badly over pages? Untick Allow row to break across pages for that row.

• Numbers won’t sum? Ensure they’re true numbers (no stray spaces/symbols); Update Field after edits.