TABLES IN COMPOSER

 

Tables allow you to insert images and text on a page in a more controlled layout. Without tables you are more limited in layout options. Tables also tend to better control the spacing of text and graphics in different browsers and screen sizes.
  1. To create a table go to Insert > Table > choose the number of cells and rows you need. You can alter this later but it’s easier if you choose the correct table size at the beginning.
  2. The right, left or centre alignment you can choose now or later.
  3. Tables can be either:


    4.

    visible

    The borders are visible and can be thick or thin (like this table)

    Open Insert > Table > choose 1 or more pixels (more is thicker) for border line width

    invisible

    The border is invisible but the text/graphics are constrained within them. (like the table at the top of this page)

    Open Insert > Table > choose 0 pixels for border line width

     

  4. Cell spacing is the thickness of the border. 1 – 5 pixels is usually enough unless you are after a special effect. (3 is a good average)
  5. Cell padding gives you space between where the text will start and the borders. Again 1 – 5 is usually enough. (3 is a good average)
  6. Table width and height is in case you don’t want the table to take up the whole page (probable). It IS a good idea to specify table width (as a percentage), but for some reason table height is problematic in Composer. (There are limits to this simple program.)
  7. If you’d like a colour in a cell, select the colour you want in the cell. This is different from your general page background colour which you chose in Format > Page Colours and Properties.
  8. If you want an image in a cell: check ‘use image’ >choose image > find your image file > open > apply > close.
    9.

You don’t have to use tables. But they can give a more interesting layout than without. Just remember to aim modestly for your first page, and save regularly.

and good luck!