Compare and contrast for tables and text boxes
Tables Text boxes
- Precise Flexible
- Usually for large areas Can be applied to any size area
- Used for organizing larger amounts of data Can be used to create a look and feel for a doc
- Are the basis of most web pages Do not work as building blocks for web pages
- Include transparency, colors, lines Can include color, but lines are awkward, no transparency
- Can be extended by tab key Can be extended by resizing
- Excellent for shorter rows of copy Excellent for longer blocks of copy
- Tables can be nested for extra rows of text Nesting does not work
- Quick questions What’s best to use
- Do you want your layout to organize large amounts of data? >> Table
- Do you want to create a web page? >> Table
- Do you want to create a customized look? >> Text box
- Do you want to include transparency? >> Text box
- Do you want to use layers? >> Text box
- Do you want to use a text wrap? >> Text box
- Do you want to rotate images? >> Text box
- Do you want to create rows and columns of data? >> Table
- Do you want to create backgrounds and overlay shapes? >> Table
Notes
- If you are using a text box, I think it’s almost always a good practice to turn on text wrapping > square as soon as you size it.
I think it’s also a great idea to create a scratch page ( Control + N) to work on and then paste from there on to your original document for most elements.