Creating a table in Writer
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Foreword
The video "Creating a table in Writer" links to this page here, which contains further information.
This description refers to the LibreOffice versions.
Supplementary to this page enter in the online help in the left side of the search bar: Table - and select the desired one from the table topics below.
Link to the Video
Link to the Video (in German [DE]):
Eine Tabelle erstellen in Writer
Create a table in Writer
The video shows two ways to create or insert a table in Writer.
One is to use the table function directly in Writer and the other is to link to a Calc table.
Simple table in Writer
Open Writer.
Press
once.You will now insert a table.
In the menu you select
▸ .In the "Insert table" dialog enter = '6 for "Columns".
For "Rows" enter = 25.
Click
.The table has now been inserted.
With right mouse click in the table, you select "Table Properties…".
Click on the "Columns" tab.
Adjust the column widths as follows:
Column 1 = 6,00 cm | Column 2 = 2,60 cm | Column 3 = 1,20 cm | Column 4 = 1,20 cm | Column 5 = 3,00 cm | Column 6 = 3,00 cm
Click
.As soon as the cursor is positioned in the table or the table is selected, the "Table" toolbar is automatically activated.
Mark the table with the "Select Table" symbol and select Font = Bahnschrift Condensed and font size = 10.
Now enter in the top line on the left: "Delivery note".
In the fifth column the word "Date:"
And in the sixth column, the actual date.
Select the line and choose font size = 15.
In the third line on the left start with the headlines.
"Article" | "Order no." | "Size" | "Quantity" | "Value of goods EURO" | "Final price EURO"
Mark line 3 and select "Align centered".
Starting in line 4, mark columns 2, 3 and 4 and select "Align centered".
From row 4 also mark columns 5 and 6 and select "Align right".
Immediately afterwards click on the "Number format" symbol .
In the "Format number" dialog that opens, select the "Decimal number" entry under "Category" and under "Options" we select "'2" Decimal places.
Click
.The formatting in the cells of the tables, can be done as you wish.
Get creative with your own tables.
The table has now been further formatted and then saved.
The name used for saving was "Lieferschein.odt".
We will now continue working with this document.
If you move the mouse pointer over the last cell at the bottom right, we see that a sum is entered there.
Save the document under the name: "Delivery note - filled in.odt".
Now enter some items with articles.
Format the order numbers.
For the final price per article enter a Formula.
Format the final price.
In the last position "Men's trousers", enter "2" for quantity and click in the cell for "Final price".
You can now look at the sum of all items.
Click
.Simple table in Writer - Layout
Table Properties
You can design the table for your purposes.
Right-click on the table and select "Table properties..." from the context menu.
In the "Table properties" dialog there are the tabs
In the "Table properties" dialog you can make your desired settings.
Table properties | Table
Set the distance of the table from the page margin
Tables extend from edge to edge by default (from left to right).
To indent the table from the margin, go to the
▸ menu, click the "Table" tab in the dialog there, and for "Alignment", click "Manual".This activates the input fields for the lateral distances to the edge.
You can now set the values for the lateral distances to the page margin.
Table Properties | Text flow
Tables longer than one page
If you have tables that are larger than one page, then be sure to look at the properties of the table, allow to split across page boundaries.
If it doesn't, the table will be "moved" to the next page. And if it doesn't quite fit on the page, it will be split as a last resort (to avoid being moved endlessly).
Table Properties | Borders
Tables with Padding
If you find the text in the table too close to the cell borders, increase the Padding.
You can set the Padding in the "Table Properties | Borders" dialog.
Table properties | Background
You can create a background for a cell, row or/and for the table.
Background - Color
Click on the
button and select a color in the dialog and click .Background - Image
Click on the
button and select an image in the dialog or click on the button.Select the other desired settings and click
.Existing problem and workaround:
https://listarchives.libreoffice.org/de/users/2023/msg01232.html
Insert/remove paragraphs above and below tables
1, 3 and 5
With the ↵ Enter key you can move the table down by one paragraph marker.
Place the cursor in the paragraph marker above the table and press Delete to drag the table into the paragraph marker.
2, 4 and 6
Press Alt + ↵ Enter to create a paragraph mark below the table.
4
There will always be a paragraph marker below the table.
2 and 6
With Ctrl + ⇧ Shift + Delete you remove the paragraph mark below the table.
Move / relocate a Table
Normally, a Table always occupies the entire space between the left and right margins.
To move the Table to another place, the Table is selected.
Choose
▸ ▸ from the menu.Cut or copy the Table, using
▸ ( Ctrl + X ) or with ▸ ( Ctrl + C ).Place the cursor where you want to paste the TTable in the document.
Select
▸ ( Ctrl + V ).A Table in a Frame - move / relocate together
If you do not want to use the entire width of the page for a Table, insert a Frame beforehand.
Insert Frame
To have a Table not up to the left and right edges, use Frames.
Choose
▸ ▸ from the menu.In the Frame dialog, click
.Create new Frame template
Now create a new Frame template.
In the sidebar ( Ctrl + F5 ), under Styles, select the Frame Styles icon.
Right click on the "Frame" template and choose
from the context menu.In the "Frame Template" dialog in the "Organiser" tab, enter as name, e.g. "Frame for Table".
In the "Type" tab enter (example values):
Size/Width = 10.00 cm | Minimum height = 0.50 cm | Automatic = Yes | Anchoring: To paragraph
In the "Wrap" tab, enter:
Wrap Off | Spacing/Bottom = 0.10 cm
In the "Borders" tab enter:
Inside spacing 0.10 cm (all)
Click
.Assign Frame template and insert Table
Select the inserted Frame.
Double-click the new Frame template "Frame for Table".
Deselect the Frame again.
Place the cursor in the Frame.
Choose
▸ from the menu and enter the number of columns and rows.Select a style and click
.Move / relocate Table in Frame together
Select the frame.
With the left mouse button click-hold-drag the Frame to the desired position.
Position the upper Frame line on the line where the Frame should be inserted.
Remember to save your document as a Document template if necessary.
Simple table in Writer - Calculating Complex Formulae
Calculating Complex Formulae in Text Documents
Calculating Complex Formulae in Text Documents
Calc table in Writer
Open Writer.
Now we insert an existing Calc table.
In the menu choose
▸ ▸ .In the dialog "Insert OLE-Object" select "LibreOffice 6.0 Workbook" and "Create from file".
In the next selection click on
.In the "Open" dialog select the "ODS.ods table" file and click .
You still set a check mark at "Link to file".
Click
.Now the Calc table has been inserted into the Writer document as an object.
A double click on the Calc table object opens the Calc edit view.
The table can now be edited exactly as in Calc.
Finally you should save the document.
We assign the name, "Delivery note with Calc table".
Click
.Further Informations
Work files
Work files for the Writer table
Work files for the Calc table in Writer
Delivery note with Calc table.odt
Documentation / Manuals
Here you will find the Documentation / Manuals:
Any questions?
For questions on this topic go to:
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