InDesign: Tables

Course details

What if you could create graphics-based tables or tables that don't even look like tables? Tables are powerful design tools, but they're not always used to their full potential. In this course, Diane Burns shows how to create and format tables in new ways. Learn how to create special alternating fills and interesting stroke patterns; use graphic cells to integrate images into your tables; change the shape of a table with anchored shapes; and highlight columns to draw the eye to important data. Plus, find out how to use tables in unique ways such as creating infographics and complex page layouts.

Learning objectives
Navigating and selecting tables
Formatting text in tables
Working with fills
Inserting and deleting rows and columns
Rotating text
Dealing with overset text
Applying cell and table styles
Updating table data
Working with graphic cells
Creating infographics with tables
Creating pull quotes and design objects using tables
Exporting tables to EPUB

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Welcome
02 - What you should know before watching this course
03 - Using the exercise files

1. Understanding Table Fundamentals

04 - Understanding the golden rules
05 - Accessing table commands
06 - Navigating and selecting tables
07 - Where do tables come from

2. Basic Table Formatting

08 - Positioning tables in a text frame
09 - Setting table borders
10 - Setting header and footer rows
11 - Working with alternating fills
12 - Working with alternating strokes

3. Basic Cell Formatting

13 - Setting row height and column width
14 - Formatting text in a cell
15 - Positioning text in a cell
16 - Mastering row and column strokes
17 - Working with cell fills
18 - Setting diagonal lines in tables

4. Other Table Formatting Techniques

19 - Inserting and deleting rows and columns
20 - Moving rows and columns
21 - Merging and splitting cells
22 - Creating tables with rounded-corner borders
23 - Rotating text at 90-degree angles
24 - Rotating text at 45-degree angles
25 - Using gradients in tables
26 - Converting lists to tables
27 - Dealing with overset text in table cells

5. Working with Graphics in Tables

28 - Understanding graphic cells
29 - Resizing graphics in tables
30 - Modifying graphic cell frames
31 - Converting cells to graphic frames and back

6. Table and Cell Styles

32 - Understanding the limitations of table and cell styles
33 - Setting up and applying text cell styles
34 - Working with cell style overrides
35 - Setting up and applying table styles
36 - Using cell styles to clean up table styles
37 - Sharing and re-using table and cell styles

7. Updating Tables

38 - Working with linked Word and Excel documents
39 - Using Cut and Paste to update table data

8. Special Table Effects

40 - Using anchored shapes to change cell corners
41 - Creating infographics with tables
42 - Highlighting a column
43 - Setting up standalone columns

9. Tables That Don't Look Like Tables

44 - Simplifying complex text frames with tables
45 - Setting up images and captions with tables
46 - Creating pull quotes and design objects using tables

10. Exporting Tables to EPUB and HTML

47 - Understanding best practices
48 - Converting tables to graphics for export

Conclusion

49 - Next steps