Although you can use various Microsoft Office programs to create tables, some programs are better suited for creating certain types of tables.
- For a table that includes complex graphics formatting— such as bulleted lists, custom tabs, numbering, hanging indents, individual cell (cell: A box formed by the intersection of a row and column in a worksheet or a table, in which you enter information.) formatting, and cells split diagonally— use Microsoft Word.
- For Web page layout, use either Microsoft FrontPage or Word, or create Data Access pages in Microsoft Access.
- For a table that includes complex calculations, statistical analysis, or charts, use Microsoft Excel.
- For powerful sorting and searching capabilities, use Access or Excel.
- For powerful relational database (relational database: A type of database that stores information in tables. Uses matching values from two tables to relate data in one table to data in the other table. In a relational database, you typically store a specific type of data just once.) and reporting capabilities, use Access.
- For a table that you can easily include in a presentation, use Microsoft PowerPoint.