On this page, you will find instructions on how to create your own tables, insert table descriptions, change the page layout to accommodate wide tables, and how to update the list of tables.

In most academic texts, tables are used to illustrate and visualise, for example, data, work processes or models. Tables can look differently – choose a layout that clearly shows your data.

If you have many tables, it may be appropriate to have a list of tables of these at the beginning of the paper. Having a list of tables is not mandatory, and if you have three or fewer tables in the text, it may be good to consider whether the reader will benefit from the list of tables at all. In order for the list to be generated automatically, you need to insert table descriptions.

If you use others' tables, it is important that you ensure that you follow the copyright. You can read more about what applies on our webpage:

About copyright.

How to insert tables

Follow these instructions to insert a table into your document.

Select Insert, then Table, and select how many columns and rows you want to have.
Fill in your table by placing the cursor on the box you want to write in.
Then follow the instructions to make a table description.
Select the right style format in the paragraph after the table. In the thesis and report template, it is called "Text after list, illustration, quote" and in the PhD thesis template it is called "Normal under table/figure".

Table layout

In the templates, there are layout suggestions for tables. Follow these instructions to select the template suggestions.

Select the table.
Go to Table Tools Design in the menu bar.
Click on the drop-down menu in the group Table Styles.
On the top of the list is the group Custom where you will find the template's layout suggestion.

How to make a table description

When inserting a table you should also make a table description with numbering. It makes it easier for the reader and it becomes clear what the table describes and from where you have downloaded it (reference).

The table description is usually above the table. Follow these instructions to insert a table description. Word will automatically adjust the numbering of the tables when you add or remove tables.

Click on the tab References in the menu bar
Click on Insert caption
Choose Table under Label
Under Caption you can describe your table (do not forget the period after the table number). Done!

If you have not made the table yourself, the description must also contain reference information. Read more about how to cite tables on the library's website:

How to cite pictures, figures, tables and maps.

Film: How to insert a table description (02:20)
Written version of the film (.docx)

How to fit a wide table on one page

If your table is too wide to fit on one page you can choose to change the page layout to landscape orientation.

Windows:

Select the table and table description.
Go to the tab Layout in the menu bar and click on the arrow to open the Page Setup dialogue box.
Under Orientation choose Landscape and under Apply to: choose Selected text. Press OK.
The table with table description will now be placed on a page with a landscape layout.

Instructions for Mac (also works for Windows):

Place the cursor above the table description. Go to the tab Layout in the menu bar.
Under Breaks, choose Next page. The table description and the table is now placed on top of a new page.
Place the cursor below the table and insert the same page break Next page. Now the table description and the table is alone on one page.
Go back to the menu bar tab Layout. Under Orientation, choose landscape.
Now both your table description and table should be placed on a landscape-oriented page and will fit better!

How to update the list of tables

If you have many tables, it may be appropriate to have a list of tables. Having a list of tables is not mandatory, and if you have three or fewer tables in the text, it may be good to consider whether the reader will get important help from the list. In the SLU library's templates, there is a list of tables inserted that you can use by updating it. You can do it easily by following these steps:

Place your cursor in the list of tables
Right-click and choose Update Field

The list of tables should now be updated and show the table descriptions that you have entered in your document.

Create a new list of tables

If you need to create a new list of tables you can follow these instructions.

Windows:

Go to the tab References on the menu bar and click on Insert Table of Figures in the Captions group.
Under General you will find Caption label, choose Table in the drop-down menu. When you press OK, the list of tables is created automatically.

Mac:

Go to the tab References on the menu bar and click on Insert Table of Figures.
Under the Caption label box choose Table in the drop-down menu and press OK. The list of tables is now created automatically.