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5. Select OK to close the dialog box, then press the Esc key to deselect the cell.
6. The formula in the cell has now changed to the required decimal precision.
Modify a Table Using the Ribbon Tab
So far in this lesson you have been using the right-click menus to add formulas to, or modify data in a cell, but AutoCAD also has the Table Cell Contextual Ribbon tab. The Table Cell tab has nearly all of the features that are available in the right-click menus.
To modify a Table or Cell using the Table Cell Ribbon tab:
1. Single left-click on any cell to enable the Table Cell Contextual Ribbon tab.
2. The Table Cell Contextual Ribbon tab will appear with various editing panels.
It is worth experimenting with all the tools on the ribbon tab. It is also your choice on whether you use the right-click menus or the contextual ribbon tab when adding or modifying data in a table, some people prefer to use right-click menus for speed and efficiency, others prefer the contextual ribbon tab. The choice is yours.
You may also modify tables using Grips. When editing with Grips, the left edge of the table remains stationary but the right edge can move. The upper left Grip is the Base Point for the table.
To use Grips, click on a table border line. The Grips should appear. Each Grip has a specific duty, shown below. To use a Grip, click on the Grip and it will change to red. Now click and drag it to the desired location.
Top of Column
There is a Grip located at the top of each column line. These Grips adjust the width of the column to the left of the Grip.
The column will change but the width of the entire Table remains unchanged.
If you hold the CTRL key down while moving a column Grip, the entire Table adjusts at the same time.
The AutoFill grip allows you to fill the cells automatically by increments of 1 by selecting 1 cell and dragging to the next cell.
Make sure the cell data format is set correctly. (Refer to 5-17)
1. Place data in a cell. (Important: Data format should be “whole number”. Refer to page 5-17)
2. Click on the AutoFill Grip.
3. Drag the cursor down to the desired cells.
4. The cell data advances by 1 unit.
If you select 2 cells AutoFill will follow the incremental advance between the 2 cells. For example, if the date advances by 1 week rather than 1 day.
1. Fill two cells with the required dates and then select them both by holding down the Shift key and left-clicking each one. (Important: Set data format to “Date” Refer to page 5-17.)
2. Select the AutoFill Grip
3. Drag the cursor down to the desired cells.
4. Cell data advances by 1 week.
You can specify how you want the cells formatted.
1. Left click on the AutoFill Grip.
2. Right click on the AutoFill Grip.
3. Select an Option from the List. (Description of each is shown below.)
Fill Series: Fills the subsequent cells with the data from the selected cell and advances at a rate of 1 unit. The format of the selected cell is maintained.
Fill Series Without Formatting: Same as Fill Series except the formatting is not the same as the selected cell.
Copy Cells: Duplicates the values and the formatting of the selected cells.
Copy Cells Without Formatting: Same as Copy Cells except the formatting is not the same as the selected cell.
Fill Formatting Only: Fills only cell formatting for the selected cells. Cell values are ignored.
To change the data formatting within a cell.
1. Left click inside the cell.
2. Right click and select Data Format....
3. Select from the Data type list.
A long table can be broken into 2 or more separate tables using the Table Breaking Grip.
1. Click on the table border line.
2. Click on the Table Breaking Grip.
3. Move the cursor up to the cell location for the Table Break and left click.
You will notice that the main and sub headings are not repeated on the second part of the broken table, you can change this in the Properties dialog box.
