Word Tips 3

This set of Word tips focuses on working with tables.

Move a Row Within a Table

You've probably tried to move a row within a table in Word, and you've probably done it this way: add a row through the Table > Insert menu. Copy and paste the old row into its new location. Delete the old blank row. If that's how you've been doing this task, you'll be glad to know there is an easier way:

• Put your cursor in a cell of the row you want to move.
• Hold down the Alt-Shift keys (on Windows) or the Ctrl-Shift keys (on Mac) and use your up-down arrow keys to move the row.

Add a Line Before a Table

Anyone who has worked in Word knows that once you've started your document with a table, it seems impossible to get a line of text above that table. But there is a way:

• Put your cursor in a cell of the top row of the table.
• Hold down the Ctrl-Shift keys and press Enter (on Windows) or hold down the Option-Shift keys and press Return (on Mac).
• A line for text will appear above your table.

Split a Table

Once you have had two Word tables glued together, or if you decide to split a single Word table, how do you do it? Or have you decided it can't be done? It can, like this:

• Put your cursor in a cell of the row that you want to become the first line of the second table.
• Hold down the Ctrl-Shift keys and press Enter (on Windows) or hold down the Command (Apple)-Shift keys and press Return (on Mac).
• The table will split above your cursor..