How to Create a Column Table in InDesign

Creating a table with columns in Adobe InDesign is a straightforward process initiated through the main menu.

Getting Started: The Create Table Command

To begin, you need to tell InDesign you want to insert a table into your layout. This action will open a dialog box where you define the table's structure, including its columns.

Here are the steps based on the standard InDesign workflow:

1. First, place your cursor in a text frame where you want the top-left corner of your table to appear.
2. Choose Table > Create Table. This opens the Create Table dialog box.

Defining Your Table's Structure

Once the Create Table dialog appears, you specify the fundamental dimensions of your table:

• Specify the numbers of rows and columns. This is where you define how many vertical divisions (columns) and horizontal divisions (rows) your table will have. The number you enter for "Columns" directly determines the number of columns in your table.
• If your table contents will continue on more than one column or frame, specify the number of header or footer rows in which you want the information to be repeated. This step is crucial for long tables that might span multiple linked text frames or columns within a layout, ensuring essential information like column headers appears on every part of the table.

Customizing Your Table (Optional)

You have an opportunity to apply pre-defined styling during creation:

• (Optional) Specify a table style. InDesign allows you to create and save table styles that define formatting for strokes, fills, text appearance, and more. Applying a style here gives your table a consistent look right from the start.

Finalizing Creation

• Click OK. After you have set the desired number of rows and columns and configured any optional settings, clicking OK generates the table in the text frame at the cursor insertion point.

Your table, complete with the specified number of columns and rows, will now appear in your InDesign document, ready for you to input or paste content.

What are Columns in an InDesign Table?

Within the context of an InDesign table, columns are the vertical sections. They work together with rows (the horizontal sections) to form individual cells where you place text or graphics. When you "create a column table," you are simply creating a standard table and defining how many vertical columns it should contain.

Think of it like a spreadsheet; a table is made up of cells organized into columns and rows. The "Create Table" feature is where you tell InDesign the initial grid size (X columns by Y rows).

In summary, creating a table with columns in InDesign involves using the Table > Create Table menu command and defining the desired number of vertical columns in the dialog box that appears.