Adobe InDesign: Create and change a table - how it works

If you want to create a table in InDesign, you have several options. We explain the options and how you can also change the table.

InDesign: Create a table in an existing text frame

If you want to use InDesign to create a table within an existing text frame, proceed as follows:

• With the text tool, you first place the insertion point where you want to insert the table.
• Navigate in the menu to "Table> Insert table" and enter in the dialog box how many rows and columns the table should have. You can optionally specify a table format.
• If you confirm the specifications with "OK", the table is inserted into the text frame.

InDesign: Create a table without an existing text frame

Alternatively, you can create a table without a text frame.

1. In the "Table" menu, click "Create table".
2. In the dialog window, you specify the number of rows and columns, and optionally the table format.
3. Click "OK" to confirm the settings.
4. Now use the table cursor to draw the table at the desired location in the document. InDesign creates a text frame in the drawn size from it and inserts the table automatically.

InDesign: Change tables

If the table does not meet your requirements, you can change it with just a few clicks.

• With the menu item "Table> Insert" you can insert individual rows or columns.
• If you want to add several rows or columns at once, use the menu "Table> Table options> Set up table".
• You can easily delete individual rows and columns via "Table> Delete".
• You can delete several rows or columns at the same time with "Table> Table options> Set up table".

In the next practical tip, you will learn how to create a table of contents with just a few clicks in InDesign.