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Word or PowerPoint

• To add a table in Word or PowerPoint, select the Table option from the Insert menu. Select the number of columns and rows you need, making sure you include a row for your headers.

Excel

• To add a table in Excel, select the data range you want to transform into a table. Make sure your header row is the first row in your table.
• Choose Format as Table from the toolbar.
• Choose a table style. Note that not all table styles meet color contrast requirements. Choose a high-contrast option.
• Update the data range if needed, and be sure to check the box next to My table has headers.
• Use the Table menu to give your table a name. Screen reader users may be able to access tables by name. Table names may not have any spaces or special characters.

Designating rows and columns as headers allows a screen reader to associate the data in individual cells with the information in the header. The program you use to create your table may also add formatting to header rows and columns to make them easy to identify visually.

Word or PowerPoint

• Make sure your cursor is in your table, then select the Table design menu.
• Check to be sure that the box next to Header Row is checked to designate the first row as column headers. This should be set by default.
• If you have row headers in the first column, check the box next to First Column to designate the first column as row headers.

Excel

• When you create a table, check the box next to My table has headers
• After you have added your table, select the Table toolbar.
• Check to be sure that the box next to Header Row is checked to designate the first row as column headers. This should be set by default.
• If you have row headers in the first column, check the box next to First Column to designate the first column as row headers.

Tables contain a lot of data in a small space, and it may be hard for some people to process the data. You may want to change your table formatting to add color to alternate rows, to ensure that all of your data is visible, or to add more white space around your text.

Word or PowerPoint

• To change your table style, select the cells you want to adjust, and then select the Table Design menu. Choose a style from the Table Styles menu. Note that not all table styles meet color contrast requirements. Choose a high-contrast option.
• To change the spacing of the cells in your table, make sure your cursor is in your table and then select the Table Layout menu. Use the Height and Width options to change the size of your cells.

Excel

• To change your table style, make sure your cursor is in your table and then select the Table menu. Choose a style from the Table Styles menu. Note that not all table styles meet color contrast requirements. Choose a high-contrast option.
• To change the spacing of the cells in your table, hover your cursor over the Excel column or row headings. The cursor will appear as a double-sided arrow. Double click to expand your cells to fit the content, or click and drag to manually adjust the cell size.

A properly formatted table is accessible to people who use screen readers. However, if you use any formatting that may not be accessible to someone using a screen reader, you may also want to add alternative text for your table that describes that formatting.

• Add alternative text.

Google Docs or Google Slides

• Select Table from the Insert menu.
• Select the number of rows and columns you want your table to have.

Google Sheets

• Select the data range you want to transform into a table. Make sure your header row is the first row in your table.
• Choose the Convert to Table pop-up option.
• Alternatively, right click on your table and choose Convert to table from the menu.

There is no simple way to add color to alternate lines of tables in Google products. It is possible to change the size of columns and rows to improve legibility.

Google Docs

• Select the rows or columns you want to resize, and then choose Table properties from the menu.
• Change the minimum column width in the Column section, or the minimum row height in the Row section.
• Alternatively, select the divisions between the cells with your mouse, and drag to manually adjust column width or row height.

Google Slides

• Select the divisions between the cells with your mouse, and drag to manually adjust column width or row height.

Google Sheets

• Hover your mouse over the divisions between columns or rows in the Google Sheets interface until you see a double bar icon. Drag to manually adjust column width or row height.

• In any text area in Moodle, select the Table menu in the text editor, then select Table. Select the number of columns and rows you need, making sure you include a row for your headers.

Designating a header row and column allows a screen reader to associate the data in individual cells with the information in the header.

To add a header row

• Make sure your cursor is in the row you want to designate as a header, and then open the Table menu. From the Row options, choose Row properties.
• Change Row type from Body to Header, then click the save button.

To add a header column

• You will need to designate each cell in your header column as a header for the row it occupies.
• Make sure your cursor is in the cell you want to mark as a header, and then open the Table menu. From the Cell options, choose Cell properties.
• The Cell type area will be blank by default. Change the Cell type to header.
• Change the Scope from None to Row to designate the cell as a header for the row, then click the save button.
• Repeat this process for each cell in your header column.

Tables in Moodle adjust to the width of the screen the viewer is using. If you see a horizontal scrollbar after saving your table, adjust your table size.

• Edit the text area that contains your table, and make sure your cursor is in the table. Select Table properties from the Table menu.
• Adjust the width to be 100%.

To add extra white space between text in cells

• Make sure your cursor is in the table, then select Table properties from the Table menu.
• Increase cell padding until the table displays how you’d like it to.