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- How do you create tables in Acrobat DC?
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/t5/acrobat-discussions/how-do-you-create-tables-in-acrobat-dc/td-p/8517224 Aug 15, 2016 Aug 15, 2016
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I am trying to create a simple table that looks like this:
d8 Characteristics 1 Information in paragraph form throughout here 2 Information in paragraph form throughout here 3 Information in paragraph form throughout here 4 Information in paragraph form throughout here 5 Information in paragraph form throughout here 6 Information in paragraph form throughout here 7 Information in paragraph form throughout here 8 Information in paragraph form throughout here But I can't even find anything close to a table tool on Acrobat DC. I was trying to see if I could border text boxes and that doesn't even work. What are your suggestions for creating symmetrical, bordered, and even tables in Acrobat DC?
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1 Correct answer
Community Expert , Aug 15, 2016 Aug 15, 2016 try67 • Community Expert , Aug 15, 2016 Aug 15, 2016Acrobat is not an authoring tool, like Word, or a layout tool, like InDesign. This kind of editing should be done in the original file format and then a new PDF file should be generated from it. Trying to do it in Acrobat will be very difficult and time-consuming.
2 2 Upvotes 7 Replies 7 Community Expert ,/t5/acrobat-discussions/how-do-you-create-tables-in-acrobat-dc/m-p/8517225#M25977 Aug 15, 2016 Aug 15, 2016
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Acrobat is not an authoring tool, like Word, or a layout tool, like InDesign. This kind of editing should be done in the original file format and then a new PDF file should be generated from it. Trying to do it in Acrobat will be very difficult and time-consuming.
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/t5/acrobat-discussions/how-do-you-create-tables-in-acrobat-dc/m-p/12572569#M340859 Dec 05, 2021 Dec 05, 2021
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I am usually so in awe and such a raving fan of adobe software, but in this case I can't get any results when it comes to troubleshooting this issue of inserting a table into a PDF, which to me seems like a very simple/basic problem. As a result I haven't been able to insert my table, have spent half an hour troubleshooting it and am left feeling really disaapointed.
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Community Expert ,/t5/acrobat-discussions/how-do-you-create-tables-in-acrobat-dc/m-p/12572803#M340868 Dec 05, 2021 Dec 05, 2021
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@Kristine5FD4, read Try67's correct answer that's highlighted in green.
PDF programs like Adobe Acrobat are not designed to create (or author) content like tables, body text, etc.
Content is created in an authoring program like Word and then exported to PDF.
| Bevi Chagnon | Designer & Technologist for Accessible Documents |
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/t5/acrobat-discussions/how-do-you-create-tables-in-acrobat-dc/m-p/12574422#M340963 Dec 06, 2021 Dec 06, 2021
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Thanks Bevi, it's just a shame as it seems like such a basic feature ie by solving the issue which I do not believe is complex, it would be a big win from a user experience point of view.
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anyway basically I posted about this just so at the very least hopefully my comments will stop people spending lots of time troubleshooting something which is not possible.Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
/t5/acrobat-discussions/how-do-you-create-tables-in-acrobat-dc/m-p/12573269#M340881 Dec 06, 2021 Dec 06, 2021
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Word and InDesign are great for tables. Use them to prepare all your work, then convert to PDF. ACROBAT IS NOT THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THIS JOB. Unfortunately Adobe have a marketing department talking up Acrobat; it's a real pity they create an unrealistic expectation.
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/t5/acrobat-discussions/how-do-you-create-tables-in-acrobat-dc/m-p/13543045#M397122 Jan 31, 2023 Jan 31, 2023
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Hi, This might true but I did create a table in word and when I exported it to Adobe it did not create a table. It created a long list of fields that are arranged to look like a table. So, the questions remains. How do you make Adobe Pro think that that table that came from word is an actual table?
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Community Expert ,/t5/acrobat-discussions/how-do-you-create-tables-in-acrobat-dc/m-p/13543800#M397175 Jan 31, 2023 Jan 31, 2023
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@LCMS28192547xite, your screen captures show a form in a table layout.
There are basic tables, and then there are form fields that can reside inside individual table cells. There's a huge difference and I think there's some confusion in this thread.
If you create a basic data table in Word , it exports to PDF just fine and creates a table in the PDF like these samples:
But if you create a table in Word and populate it with form fields in Word , you'll only get a hot mess because all form fields made in Word do not export to PDF .
So if you want to create a table-based form as in your original screen capture, you'll need to take these steps:
- Create the basic table structure in Word. That is, only empty cells arranged in rows and columns that creates the visible skeleton of the table's borders and cells.
- Export the Word file to PDF. I suggest using either Adobe's PDF Maker (the Acrobat ribbon) or Microsoft's built-in PDF export (File / Save As / PDF).
- In Acrobat Pro, use its Form Tool to add the form fields to the table.
Hope this helps.
| Bevi Chagnon | Designer & Technologist for Accessible Documents |
| PubCom | Classes & Books for Accessible InDesign, PDFs & MS Office |