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#lang pollen
(define-meta title "tables")
hanging-topic[(topic-from-metas metas)]{The best tool for gridded or complex layouts}
The good news: em{tables} are one of the handiest tools in your word processor. A table is usually the right solution for layout problems where xref{white-space characters} arent up to the task.
The bad news: tables can be difficult to use. The user interface for editing them is complex and finicky. While I cant give you a full tutorial on using tablesrefer to your manual or help fileI can give you a few directional tips.
Ive already pointed out the ways in which xref{typewriter habits} have endured. But an unfortunate truth about word processors is that their basic model for page layout is similar to that of a typewriter of a hundred years ago: the document is treated as one big column of text. Thats great when all you need is one big column of text. Its not so great otherwise.
A table is useful if you have a spreadsheet-style grid of data. In the typewriter era, a grid like this would have been handled with xref{tabs and tab stops}. These days, youd use a table.
(omission)
em{Cell borders} are the dark lines around each cell in the table. Cell borders are helpful as guides when youre loading information into the table. Theyre less useful once the table is full. The text in the cells will create an implied grid. Cell borders can make the grid cluttered and difficult to read, especially in tables with many small cells.
(omission)
em{Cell margins} create space between the cell borders and the text of the cell. Increasing the cell margins is the best way to improve the legibility of a dense table. The default cell margins, especially in Word, are too tight.