Learn the specifics of importing tables from both Excel and Word documents, with detailed steps on how to fine-tune formatting for professional-looking tables. Master the skills to effectively manage and readjust the look of your imported tables in any professional or academic context.
Key Insights
- To import tables from an Excel document, place the text cursor where you want the table, go to File > Place, and select your Excel file.
- When importing from Excel, you can adjust your table through various options such as maintaining the Excel formatting ('Formatted Table'), removing the Excel formatting ('Unformatted Table'), or converting the table into Tabbed text ('Unformatted Tabbed Text').
- After adjusting your options, click OK and your table will be ready to style and edit.
- Importing tables from a Word document involves the same initial steps as importing from Excel, but the options differ slightly.
- When importing from Word, you can choose to either strip out the formatting ('Remove Styles and Formatting') or maintain the formatting ('Preserve Styles and Formatting').
- After making your choice, click OK and your table from the Word document will be ready to style and edit.
This exercise is excerpted from past InCopy training materials and is compatible with InCopy updates through 2021. To learn current skills in Adobe Creative Cloud and graphic design, check out our graphic design classes in NYC and live online.
InCopy Workflow Basics
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Editorial Separation
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Assignments
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Check In/Out
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Live Updates
Changes flow back to InDesign automatically.
Importing Tables
Importing Tables from an Excel Document
Put the text cursor
where you want to insert the table.
Go to File > Place.
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In the dialog that opens:
- At the bottom, check on Show Import Options (you may have to click the Options button to see it).
- Select an Excel file and click Open.
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As shown in the screenshot below, in the options that appear you can choose how you want the table to look:
Formatted Table: Maintains Excel’s formatting as close as possible Unformatted Table: Removes Excel’s formatting and makes a clean table Unformatted Tabbed Text: Converts the table into Tabbed text Click OK and the table should now be ready to style and edit.
Importing Tables from a Word Document
Put the text cursor
Go to File > Place.
Click once on a Word file to select it.
If you want to see options to control which Word formatting comes through, check Show Import Options at the bottom of the window (you may have to click the Options button to see it).
Click Open.
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If you checked Show Import Options earlier, an options window will be displayed. You must decide whether to keep or remove the formatting that was applied in Word. Follow the appropriate directions below.
To strip out the formatting: Select Remove Styles and Formatting. To maintain the formatting: Select Preserve Styles and Formatting. Click OK when done.
The table should now be ready to style and edit.
