The Table Tool (version 3)
Getting started
The Table Tool (v3) is a module in the Table Tools utility of the Legal Productivity Suite for Microsoft Word by Craftware Solutions LLC. It automates the conversion and formatting of financial tables. It enables you to produce corruption-free, visually appealing tables in a fraction of the time compared to manual processing. The workflow is simplified into three sections: (1) Cleanup, (2) Structure and (3) Financial.
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Cleanup
Assists in creating an entirely new table for formatting.
Transfers table content to a new table structure underneath the current table. Empty columns will attempt to be deleted. The original table will remain intact.
Maintains soft and hard returns during the conversion process.
Copies the table. The new table appears under the original table separated by an empty paragraph. Content on your clipboard, if any, remains available to you.
Deletes all empty rows in the table. This feature will not work in tables with vertically merged cells. As a workaround, split the table where the cells are vertically merged and run the procedure on the portion of the table without the vertically merged cells. Reconnect the table afterward.
Specifies whether or not cells containing only a space, tab, hard or soft return, etc. should be considered empty.
Deletes all empty columns in the table. This feature will not work in tables with mixed cell widths or cells that have been merged across columns.
Specifies whether or not cells containing only a space, tab, hard or soft return, etc. should be considered empty.
Removes all cell borders from the table. Borders applied to paragraphs and text, if any, remain.
Structure
Consists of frequently used table properties when formatting financial tables. You can work efficiently by quickly accessing options at the same time you edit your document.
Changes the table width to the specified numerical value expressed as a percentage of the page (sans margins) or in inches. Press the percentage or inch buttons to the right to toggle between fields.
Indents the table to the specified numerical value.
Aligns the table according to the option selected in the accompanying drop-down list. Available options are listed below. These options may not be readily apparent when the table has a width that's the equivalent of the page (sans margins).
Aligns the table to the left of the page margin.
Centers the table between the page margins.
Aligns the table to the right of the page margin.
Formats the width of the table columns. Available options are listed below.
Distributes the width of all table columns evenly.
Resizes the table depending on whether cells contain content. The column widths are distributed evenly if the cells are empty. Otherwise, the column width is set so that information fits on a line (if possible). Tab stops, if any, are removed.
Distributes the width of all table columns in a ratio where the first column is wider than the columns to the right. The ratio is applied to the remaining columns according to their current width (i.e., if the columns to the right are uneven in width, the ratio will be applied in the same uneven manner).
Distributes the width of the table columns to the right of the first column as indicated by the "Specify columns (")" field to the right. This numerical input is not visible when either of the previous column spacing options are selected. In instances when this option is unable to format the table (e.g., in tables with merged columns), the Table Tool will automatically default to the "Ratio" option above and inform you of the reason in the notification area.
Changes the cell margins for the table.
Deselects MS Word's option to automatically resize the table to fit its contents. This feature prevents the column width from changing automatically as content is typed.
Prevents rows from breaking across pages (e.g., a two line cell will begin on the next page instead of breaking in the middle).
Financial
Automates tedious tasks involved with formatting tables found in filings, financial statements, prospectuses, offering memorandums, etc.
The ability to indicate the text column in a table is a foundational piece of the equation for several features. Further explained in their respective sections, it provides you with the flexibility to specify: (i) which column tabs are placed into; (ii) the column that text indents are applied to; (iii) the cells affected by the data alignment feature; and (iv) where cell bottom borders are placed. Leaving the text column as "1" is sufficient for most tables.
Applies MS Word's heading row feature to the number of rows specified in the accompanying drop-down list. These header rows are repeated if the table spans more than one page. Formatting options applicable to header rows are listed below.
Manually applies bold font formatting to the content in the header row(s).
Utilizes MS Word's "Keep with next" option to ensure that the header rows won't become orphans if the table begins at the bottom of a page.
Sets the font size for content in the header row(s).
Applies underline to the cell content via the paragraph option in MS Word's Borders and Shading dialog box (i.e., the underline applied is not a character underline via MS Word's Font dialog box).
Omit underlining in the text column(s) and/or the last header row using the accompanying checkboxes.
Aligns content of the header row cell(s) according to the column it's in.
Inserts tabs and right tab stops in the specified text column. Tabs can be omitted in cells by checking any of the checkbox options listed below. This feature takes into account the column width when determining the right tab stop position. Execute this feature again if the column width changes.
Tabs are omitted in all rows designated as header rows either through the Table Tool or manually through MS Word's native feature.
Tabs are omitted in cells with content that ends in a colon.
Tabs are omitted in cells without any content.
Tabs are omitted in cells that are all bold.
Tabs are omitted in cells with all capitalized letters.
Applies indents you select in the specified text column. Indents are applied beginning in the first cell after the last header row, if applicable.
Hanging indents are mandatory.
Check this option to apply a left indentation.
Check this option to apply a right indentation.
As shown below, indents provide several aesthetic benefits for cells with content that spans more than one line.
Before indentations
After hanging and right indentations of 0.1"Aligns content in data cells (i.e., cells that are in rows after the header row(s), if any, and to the right of the specified text column). Available alignment options are listed below.
The Table Tool determines how the data figures should be aligned when this option is selected. This features takes into account the column width, number of digits in the data figures and font size. Execute this option again if any of these factors change. Vertical cell alignment is changed to bottom.
Provide a specific decimal tab stop position in the accompanying "Specify decimal tab (")" field to the right. The specify numerical input is not visible when any of the other data alignment options are selected. Vertical cell alignment is changed to bottom.
Aligns content in data cells using the left paragraph alignment option. Tab stops in the data cells are deleted during this process. Vertical cell alignment is unchanged.
Aligns content in data cells using the centered paragraph alignment option. Tab stops in the data cells are deleted during this process. Vertical cell alignment is unchanged.
Aligns content in data cells using the right paragraph alignment option. Tab stops in the data cells are deleted during this process. Vertical cell alignment is unchanged.
Aligns content in data cells using the justified paragraph alignment option. Tab stops in the data cells are deleted during this process. Vertical cell alignment is unchanged.
Apply or remove bottom borders in the last four (4) rows of the table specified in the accompanying drop-down lists. Borders will be applied in cells to the right of the specified text column.
Affects the last row of the table.
Affects the second to last row of the table.
Affects the third to last row of the table.
Affects the fourth to last row of the table.
Shade alternating or header rows by using the accompanying menu and specifying either RGB or hex color values. When applying shading to alternate rows, indicate where the shading should begin by selecting an option from the "Starting row" menu.
Remove shading by selecting from one of the three options for removal (i.e., clear shading from (i) header, (ii) nonheader or (iii) all table rows).
FAQs
No, the Table Tool, formerly a standalone application, is now one of many table-related modules in the Table Tools utility in the Legal Productivity Suite for Microsoft Word.
With a slimmer, simplified workflow, the latest version of the Table Tool focuses on processes to efficiently tackle the conversion and formatting of financial tables.