MICROSOFT POWERPOINT

 Tiptop Tables

A table. We'll need that to eat our apple pie on.

Jim, snap out of it. This is important. The show's not over yet...

Adding a table You can add a table to a slide using the Insert Microsoft Word Table button on the Standard Toolbar. Let's try adding a table to your slide.   1. On the Standard Toolbar, click the Insert Microsoft Word Table button.   2. In the drop-down box, click and drag the pointer across the number of rows and columns you want for your table. For example, three rows and three columns.   3. Release the mouse button. The table work window will appear. The work window is where you enter and edit information, and where you format the table. If you click outside of the work table, the table will disappear. To make the work table reappear, place the pointer on the slide until it changes into a four-headed arrow, then double-click. The work table is easier to work with if you add gridlines. This way, you can see all the columns and rows. To add gridlines to your table:   1. Click anywhere in the table. 2. Click the Table menu, then click Show Gridlines. Next, you will type information into the work table.   1. Click inside the first column of the first row. 2. Type the word January. 3. Press the TAB key on your keyboard. The insertion point is now in the second column of the first row. 4. Type the word February. 5. Press the TAB key to move to the next column, and type the word March. Navigation Tips: To move to a previous column in a row, press SHIFT + TAB. You can also move around the table by simply clicking where you want to move to, or by using the arrow keys on your keyboard. After you've finished typing, click outside the work table to exit the work window.

And let me guess... I bet you can resize the cells as easy as resizing a text box.

Gee, do I have to give you a prize if you're right?

Adjusting the height and width of cells A cell is the box that is formed in a table where a row and a column intersect. Each cell holds a unit of information. In PowerPoint you can adjust the height and width of the cells. The following steps will show you how to adjust the height and width of cells in your table.   1. Double-click the table to enter the table work window. A work table will appear. 2. First, try making the cells in the first column narrower. (a) Place the pointer on the gridline between the first and second column. The pointer will change into a two-headed arrow.   (b) Click and drag the gridline to the left. The cells become narrower. (c) Click and drag the gridline to the right to make the cells wider again.   3. Now, make the cells in the first column taller. (a) Place the pointer on the gridline between the first and second rows. The pointer will change into a two-headed arrow. (b) Click and drag the gridline downwards. The cells become taller. (c) Click and drag the gridline upwards to make the cells shorter again.

And just like we did with our text boxes, is there a way to jazz up a table?

Sue, I think you're catching on to this. Pretty soon you'll know more about me than my mom.

Jazzing up your table When you exit the work window, you see the table the way it will look in your presentation. Before you format the table, it looks pretty plain. Try jazzing up your table using the Table AutoFormat command in the Table menu.   1. Double-click the table you want to format. A work table will appear on your slide. 2. Click the Table menu, then click Table AutoFormat. The Table AutoFormat dialog box appears.   3. In the Formats list, click on a style. A preview of the style will appear in the Preview box. 4. Click OK.