Insert a table
Choose Insert table from the writing toolbar. A new table starts as three rows by three columns with the first row set as a header.
Enter the content directly into the cells. Use a table for genuinely tabular information rather than as a way to position unrelated text on the page.
- Place the cursor where the table should appear.
- Choose Insert table.
- Replace the starter cell content with your own information.
Add or remove rows
Select a cell to open the table controls. You can add a row above or below the current row, or delete the row you no longer need.
Think about the header before adding large amounts of data. A clear first row makes both the document and exported table easier to understand.
Add or remove columns
From the same table controls, add a column to the left or right of the selected cell, or delete the current column.
Compose does not currently promise freeform drag resizing of table columns. Let the document and export layout handle the available width.
Use header rows and columns
Mark a row or column as a header when it labels the data around it. This is more useful than making the cells bold by hand because the table keeps their structural role.
Headers also give export formats more information about how the table should be represented.
Merge and split cells only when the structure needs it
Merge selected cells for a heading that genuinely spans several rows or columns. Split a merged cell when the information needs to return to the underlying grid.
Heavy merging can make a table harder to read and harder to adapt to narrow pages, so use it for structure rather than decoration.
What happens when tables are exported
PDF, DOCX and ODT can preserve rich table structure, including supported cell spans. Markdown and plain text have simpler table models, so complex layouts may be reduced when you move to those formats.
Keep the .compose file when the editable table is part of your working document.