By Colin Wilcox

You can create tables quickly, and customize them easily, with the Tables and Borders toolbar in Word.

I don't know about you, but I'm a creature of habit. Once I learn how to do something a certain way, I almost never change that process. For example, whenever I use Microsoft Word to create a table, I use the commands on the Table menu. I specify the number of columns and rows, and I usually select a predefined style.

That isn't a bad way to create tables, but it isn't the fastest way, either. This column explains how to use the Tables and Borders toolbar to create and change tables quickly and easily.

Try it!

You can use Word 97 or later to follow the steps in this column, but I used Word 2002 to create the illustrations.

To create a table quickly

1. Start Word and open a new, blank document.
2. On the Standard toolbar, click Insert Table , drag your mouse to select a number of columns and rows for the table, and then click your left mouse button once to insert the table.
3. On the View menu, point to Toolbars, and then click Tables and Borders. The Tables and Borders toolbar appears: You can dock the toolbar, or leave it free.
4. At this point, if you're the type who likes to learn by experimenting, feel free to play with the commands that the toolbar provides. If you're the type who likes detailed explanations, the next sections provide a quick look at how to use the toolbar and a reference for the commands on the toolbar.

Tables and Borders toolbar quick reference

This table provides a quick reference for the commands that the Tables and Borders toolbar provides.

Toolbar Button	Command	Function
	Draw Table	Click and drag to draw a table manually. Dragging your mouse diagonally defines the outer borders of your table. Dragging horizontally or vertically defines the rows and columns in your table. You can use this command to create new tables or add cells to existing tables.
	Eraser	Click and drag to select part or all of a cell or table, and then release the mouse button to erase the chosen item. As you drag, Word highlights the individual line, cell, row, or column that will be erased.
	Line Style and Line Weight	Click to choose a line style, such as solid or dotted, and a weight (size) for new lines. After you select a line style and weight, the toolbar automatically selects the Draw Table command. You can not use this to change the line styles or weights applied to an existing table unless you first erase some or all of the table.
	Border Color	Click to start the color chooser and apply a color to the border of a new table or line. After you select a color, the toolbar automatically selects the Draw Table command. You can not apply a color to an existing table unless you first erase some or all of that table and redraw the lines.
	Outside Border	Click to apply or remove a border from part or all of a table. For example, if you select a cell and click Left Border, Word removes the border from the left side of that cell. If you run the command again, Word restores the border to that side of the cell. If you select the entire table and repeat the process, Word removes or restores the left border for the entire table. You can also use this command to place borders around part or all of a block of text. Place the insertion point in the text, and then apply one of the available commands.
	Shading Color	Click to start a color chooser and apply a fill color to part or all of a table.
	Insert Table	Click to start the Insert Table dialog box. Use the dialog box to set the number of columns and rows for a new table. You can also set column widths and autofit options and choose a predifined style for the new table.
	Merge Cells	Click to merge two or more cells. You must select the cells before this command becomes available.
	Split Cells	Click to start the Split Cells dialog box. Use the dialog box to set the number of rows and columns that you want to insert into a table.
	Align	Click to align the content in one or more cells, or in an entire table.
	Distribute Rows Evenly	Click to space each of the rows in a selected table evenly. Select at least one cell to enable this command.
	Distribute Columns Evenly	Click to space each of the columns in a selected table evenly. Select at least one cell to enable this command.
	Table AutoFormat	Click to start the Table AutoFormat dialog box. Use the dialog box to select a predefined format for your table.
	Change Text Direction	Click to select a text direction. Continue clicking to cycle through the various directions. You can change the direction of text in individual cells or an entire table.
	Sort Ascending	Click to sort data in ascending order (from A to Z).
	Sort Descending	Click to sort data in descending order (from Z to A).
	AutoSum	Click to sum a column of numbers.