WordPad is a word processing software available on Windows. This software has more functions than Notepad. However, if you need more complete features, we recommend using Microsoft Word or other word processing software. WordPad does not offer many features and options for creating tables in documents. You can use the "+" and "-" buttons to create simple tables automatically. You can also create tables using the spreadsheet editor. Microsoft Excel is a popular table creation software. However, you can also use OpenOffice or LibreOffice which are available for free.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Creating an HTML table
Step 1. Create a new WordPad document
You can use WordPad to create HTML tables that you can open and display in any browser.
Step 2. Add the "table" tag and the "/table" tag
The "table" tag must be inserted at the beginning of the table code and the "/table" tag must be inserted at the end of the table code.
Step 3. Add "tr" tag and "/tr" tag to create the first row in the table
The "tr" tag stands for table row which is used to create table rows. The first row of the table is used as a table header (table row that serves as a title that heads the column below it).
Step 4. Add the "th" tag and the /th tag on the first row of the table
The "th" tag stands for table header. You can use this tag to add columns to the table.
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
|---|
Step 5. Add "td" tag and "/td" tag
The "td" tag stands for table data. This tag is used to enter certain data or information in the cell row under the table header. After creating the header table, you can insert the data table. on the table.
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data 1 | Data 2 | Data 3 | Data 4 |
Step 6. Continue adding new rows to the table
You can use the "tr" tag to add a new row to the table. Make sure you end each tag with a “/tr” tag.
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data 1 | Data 2 | Data 3 | Data 4 |
| 5 | Data 6 | 7 | Data 8 |
Step 7. Click File and select " Save as
" This allows you to save the document as an HTML file. This document must be saved in HTML format in order for the browser to load the tables contained in the file.
Step 8. Select "Text" on the "Save as type" menu
This allows you to change the file extension.
Step 9. Change the extension written at the end of the file name to.html
This will change the document format to HTML format.
Step 10. Save the file
After changing the file extension, you can name and save the file in the desired location. Make sure the file name has an.html extension.
Step 11. Open the file in a browser
Double-click the created HTML file to open it in your browser. After that, the table will appear in the browser window.
Method 2 of 3: Using a Spreadsheet Program
Step 1. Make sure Microsoft Excel or OpenOffice is installed on the computer
If you want to use more and more complete table creation features, you can use a spreadsheet program. Basically this method requires you to insert a spreadsheet (a digital document containing data inserted in rows and columns) in a WordPad document. To perform this method, you will need a compatible spreadsheet editing program. WordPad supports Microsoft Excel and OpenDocument file formats.
OpenOffice and LibreOffice are free office software that support the OpenDocument file format
Step 2. Click the "Insert object" button in WordPad
In newer versions of WordPad, it's in the Insert section of the Home tab. To find the button in older versions of WordPad, click the " Insert " menu and select " Object ".
Step 3. Select the Worksheet option
A list of objects that can be inserted into the document will appear on the screen. If you have Microsoft Excel installed on your computer, you can select the "Excel Worksheet" option. If you have OpenOffice or LibreOffice installed on your computer, you can select the "OpenDocument Spreadsheet" option. Selecting one of these options will insert a blank spreadsheet in the WordPad document and the spreadsheet program will open a new window.
Step 4. Fill in the table with data or information
After inserting the table, Microsoft Excel or the OpenDocument spreadsheet editor will open. You can enter the desired text into cells in Microsoft Excel or the spreadsheet editor. After that, WordPad will display the table and its contents that you created in Microsoft Excel or another spreadsheet editor.
Although the size of the table that appears in WordPad is small at first, it will enlarge when you enter text into cells in Microsoft Excel or another spreadsheet editor. If the table you create in Microsoft Excel or another spreadsheet editor is smaller than the table you created in WordPad, WordPad will shrink the table to fit the number of cells you are using
Step 5. Format the text
You can use text formatting tools available in spreadsheet programs to change the appearance of text in cells. You can change the font, size, and color of the text. Apart from that, you can also bold and italicize the text and also insert a line under the text. Formatting text in Microsoft Excel or a spreadsheet program is similar to formatting text in word processing software, such as Microsoft Word. The formatting you apply will be immediately displayed in the WordPad table.
You can create a header (a table row that serves as a title that heads the column below it) by bolding the text that is in the first row of the table in a spreadsheet program
Step 6. Resize the cells
Resizing the rows and columns in the spreadsheet editor will resize the tables in the WordPad document. We recommend that you resize the cells so that the text they contain can be read easily.
Step 7. Close the spreadsheet editor
After that, the table you created in Microsoft Excel or another spreadsheet editor will be displayed in WordPad.
Step 8. Move and resize the table
You can drag the box around the edge of the table to resize it. The text contained in the table will be enlarged or reduced to fit the size of the table. You can also click and drag the table on the worksheet.
Step 9. Double-click the table to edit it
This will open a spreadsheet editor where you can change the text contained in the table. If you have previously reset the table size, the table size will be returned to its original size when editing it. Therefore, you must resize the table after editing it.
Method 3 of 3: Using the Keyboard (for Windows 8 or Newer versions of Windows)
Step 1. Find out which version of WordPad is compatible with this method
Creating tables using the keyboard is only possible in Windows 8 or later versions of WordPad. If you have Windows 7 or an earlier version of Windows, you should try using the other methods listed in this article.
Step 2. Place the cursor in the area where you want to create the table
If you use the keyboard to automatically insert a table, the table will be created on the row where the vertical line cursor is. You can create tables in any part of the document.
Step 3. Create the first row
Press the + and - keys to adjust the size of the cells in the first row. Start and end each cell with a + sign and use the - sign to specify the width of the cell. You don't need to set an accurate cell size because you can change the size after creating the first table row. Here's an example of the first table row:
+----------+-----+---------------+
Step 4. Press the button
Enter to create the first table row.
The arrangement of the plus and minus signs that you have created will change to the first row of the table. The + symbol will change to the edge of the table. After that, you can start entering text into each cell. The cell size will change automatically if the length of the entered text exceeds the width of the cell.
Step 5. Create additional rows
Move the cursor to the far right of the first row until the cursor is outside the edge of the table. After that, press Enter key to create a second table row. Repeat these steps to add more table rows.
Pressing the Tab key while the cursor is in the last cell will create a new table row. Additionally, pressing the Tab key moves the cursor to the next cell and creates a new row when the cursor is in the last table cell
Step 6. Resize rows and columns
After adding a few lines, you can use the mouse to resize them. To resize rows and columns, you must hover over the edge of the cell until the cursor changes its shape to two arrows facing left and right. After that, click and drag the edge of the cell to resize it.
Step 7. Add text
After creating the table, you can start entering text into it. You just need to select the desired cell and type the desired information. In addition, you can also highlight and format the text contained in the table.
Step 8. Save the file in " Rich Text Format "(.rtf) file format
This format will save the table you have created. If you save the file in the "text" (.txt) file format, the table format will be lost. "Rich Text Format" files can be opened in most word processing software.
