Welcome to this step-by-step tutorial on how to create a grid in OpenOffice Calc. An easily accessible grid is often necessary for data tables and formatted content, as it provides a clear and concise view of your spreadsheets information.

This tutorial is split into a few simple, yet essential, steps to ensure a successful grid configuration in OpenOffice Calc. Read through each step and remember the instructions, should your data become improperly formatted.

Step 1: Creating the Basic Table

First, before configuring the grid settings, an appropriate document must be prepared. To do this, simply launch OpenOffice Calc, and enter the relevant data fields within.

After the main text is present, select the block of text with the mouse. Then, click the ‘Table’ icon on the upper toolbar. The table should then appear, as well as a few attributes, such as background/text color, and cells per row/column.

Step 2: Customizing the Grid

The next step is to customize the grid to suit your needs. To do so, start by selecting the ‘Format’ option from the toolbar at the top of the page. The drop-down menu should present 6 distinct options: Lines: Table, Columns, Rows, Cells, All and None.

If adjustments need to be made to the grid, choose the ‘Table’ option to access the settings menu. From here, manual customization of the cell size, line size, and line type can be adjusted as necessary.

Step 3: Formatting Cells

Now it’s time to format the individual cells of the table. This can be done by selecting the ‘Cells’ option from the ‘Format’ menu. This will then bring up 8 distinct dialogue boxes, each of which can be used to customize the table.

From the ‘Align’ dialogue box, text can be placed in the center, left, or right. The ‘Margins’ dialogue box can also be used to change the white space between the cells. Once these attributes are customized to your liking, click ‘OK’ and the table should appear correctly.

FAQ

How do I move data around in OpenOffice Calc?

To move data around in OpenOffice Calc, you must first highlight the desired data and navigate to the ‘Edit’ icon on the top toolbar. From here, you can then select ‘Cut’, ‘Copy’ or ‘Paste’. Then, place the cursor in the desired location and select the ‘Paste’ option. The pasted text will then appear in the specified location.

How do I adjust the cell size in OpenOffice Calc?

To adjust the cell size in OpenOffice Calc, you must first select the ‘Format’ option on the top toolbar. From there, choose the ‘Table’ option and enter the ‘Column Width’ or ‘Row Height’ dialogue boxes. Enter your desired measurement here and click ‘OK’. The cells should then be resized accordingly.

How do I add a margin between cells in OpenOffice Calc?

To add a margin between cells in OpenOffice Calc, you must first select the ‘Format’ option from the toolbar at the top of the page. Then, select the ‘Cells’ option from the menu and enter the ‘Margins’ dialogue box. Enter your desired margin measurement here and click ‘OK’. The margin between the cells should now be set.

How do I adjust the color of text in OpenOffice Calc?

To adjust the color of text in OpenOffice Calc, you must first select the text that you would like to change the color of. Then, navigate to the ‘Format’ icon on the top toolbar and choose ‘Font’. From here, you can then select the desired text color from the ‘Color’ dialogue box.

How do I align text within a cell in OpenOffice Calc?

To align text within a cell in OpenOffice Calc, you must first select the ‘Format’ option from the toolbar at the top of the page. Then, select the ‘Cells’ option from the menu and enter the ‘Align’ dialogue box. From here, you can select the desired text alignment: Left, Centre or Right.