Dreamweaver 8: Experiment with Table Design

• Insert Rows and Columns • Split Cells • Merge Cells •

Once you have mastered the basic table and learned how to control the look of the data in the individual table cell, you will want to create more complex table designs.

Take a look at a web page that uses tables to control layout.

There are many ways to manipulate the design of a table. The easiest way to change elements of a table is to right-click on the table and access the Table submenu.

Insert Rows and Columns

To quickly insert a row in an existing table:

Position your cursor in the row below the location where you want to add a row.
Right click on your table to bring up the Table pop-up menu.
Choose Table, Insert Row.

The new row will appear above your cursor.

To quickly insert a column in an existing table:

Position your cursor in the column to the right of the location where you want to add a column.
Right click on your table to bring up the Table pop-up menu.
Choose Table, Insert Column.

The new column will appear to the left of your cursor.

To add more than one row or column to an existing table:

Place your cursor in the location where you want to add the additional rows or columns.
Right click on the table to bring up the Table pop-up menu.
Choose Table, Insert Rows or Columns from the pop-up menu.

The Insert Rows or Columns dialog box will appear.

If you choose Rows, specify the number of rows to add and specify whether they are to be added above or below the currently selected row.

If you choose Columns, specify the number of columns to add and specify whether they are to be added to the right or the left of the currently-selected column.

When you are finished, click on OK.

Split Cells

You can split a cell in a number of ways. First put your cursor in the cell you want to split.

Now you can use the Split cells into rows or columns button on the Cell Properties panel.

Or you can right click and choose Table, Split Cell from the pop-up menu.

In either case the Split Cell dialog box appears.

Specify whether you want to split the cell vertically into columns or horizontally into rows.

Specify the number of rows or columns you wish to split the cell into.

Click on OK.

Merge Cells

You can split a cell in a number of ways. First highlight the cells you want to merge.

Now you can use the Merges selected cells using spans button on the Cell Properties panel.

Or you can right click and choose Table, Merge Cells from the pop-up menu.

In either case Dreamweaver merges the cells.

Tables, especially borderless tables, can be used to great effect to force a particular layout design on a web page.

However, you will need to tinker with your table by adjusting the table and cell properties. It is a good idea to save and preview the file after every adjustment to your table.

VERY IMPORTANT: Always be sure to preview your tables in more than one browser. Browsers have a tendency to interpret table tags and attributes in different ways.

• Overview • Create a Table • Set Table Cell Properties • Experiment with Table Design • Create a Table Using Layout Mode •