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Tables Within Tables

If you like working with tables, and find yourself wanting to do something a little more complicated, you may find this quick tip helpful.

You can place a table within a cell in another table. First, make sure you are familiar with creating tables in the Bistro editor by reviewing Section 3.9.2.5. Adding and Editing Tables.

Once you are familiar with creating tables

  1. Create your main table and format it according to your preferences.

Rather than trying to place the second table directly into the main table (since the editor has a hard time understanding which of the two you are attempting to edit/format); you will want to create your scondary or sub-table as a separate item on the page and them combine the two. The easiest way to do that is as follows:

  1. Create your secondary table (the one that will go inside the main table's cell) a little further down your page.
  2. Format this secondary table to your preferences.
  3. If you are creating a table with no borders, you may want place some content in the sub-table to make it easier to select.
  4. Select or highlight the sub-table and cut (or copy) it.
  5. Click inside the cell in the main table where you want the sub table to go - make sure your cursor appears in the cell.
  6. Click "Paste" to put the sub-table into the desired cell in the main table.
  7. You will now have a table within a table.

Note: if you are using Firefox, it may prevent you from cutting and pasting directly. If so, use the copy function instead of cutting (later you can delete the unwanted copy of your sub-table from the lower part of your page).  Then use the Paste from Word button instead of the standard paste function. For more information about cutting, copying and pasting review Section 3.9.2.1. Cut, Copy and Paste Functions.

Example: in the example below, each of the four cells in the main table contains a 4-celled sub-table.