The program can auto-detect tables, both with and without
gridlines in the original pages. Your original
layout setting will encourage or prevent the program detecting table
zones during automatic processing. If it detects and places tables in
table zones, they will appear in grids in the Text Editor.
You can draw table zones
manually before recognizing or re-recognizing a page. If a table was
not detected during automatic processing, change
the zone type to table. You
can also place or modify table dividers in the zone, using tools in the
Image toolbar.
To handle a page-sized table:
Create zones automatically using the Spreadsheet setting
in the Layout Description drop-down list. OmniPage will create one, large
table zone around the page. Use this when exporting to a spreadsheet application,
or when you want a full-page table. An output formatting level Spreadsheet
is available for spreadsheet file types.
Editing tables after recognition
Tables are placed in the Text Editor in grids, regardless
of the Text Editor view. You can edit text in table cells. You can move
dividers using the cursor. When the cursor reaches a gridline, it changes
to a double-headed arrow. Drag the divider to a new location. You can
also use the rulers to move dividers.
Avoid placing a divider so it cuts through text.
A row of small gray arrows along one edge of a table cell
means some of the cell contents is not displayed. Enlarge the cell to
see it.
Merging / Splitting cells
You can merge selected table cells into a single cell. The
contents of the merged cells are placed vertically in the larger cell;
scroll as required. Edit > Undo Merge Cells lets you restore the original
cells and contents for a short time; after that use Split Cells.
You can split cells previously merged. Select the merged
cell to make this available. The contents of the merged cell are placed
vertically in the top left split cell; scroll as required. Edit > Undo
Split Cells may still be available; it restores cells and their contents.
Formatting tables
Use the Borders
and Shading dialog box from the Format menu to define line and shading
styles for the tables. You
can also define some border formatting before recognition, using a table
zone's shortcut menu.
Use the Cell Alignment
menu items from the Format menu or the shortcut menu to position the text
in selected cells at the top, in the middle, or at the bottom of the cell.
This is vertical alignment. For horizontal alignment, use the Formatting
toolbar buttons.
Saving tables
For some file types, you can decide at saving
time to export a table in grids or as tab-separated columns. In others,
you can choose from tab separated and space separated formatting. Choose
the appropriate option under Tables in a converter
option dialog box.
Tables can also be converted to spreadsheets when exporting
to Microsoft Excel. Choose the export formatting level Spreadsheet
when the table covers all or most of a page, because each page enters
a separate worksheet. Choose Automatic
for page layout before recognition, and set the formatting level at saving
time to Formatted Text to have each detected table in a document saved
to a separate worksheet. Other content is placed on the last worksheet
and functions as an index. The tables are replaced by hyperlinks to their
own worksheet.
