If you have typed out a list of data separated by commas, tabs, or paragraphs, and later decide it would look better in a table, you do not need to manually create a new table and copy-paste each item. Microsoft Word has a built-in tool that instantly converts formatted text directly into a structured table.
How to Convert Existing Text into a Table
Before converting your text, ensure that the data is separated by a consistent delimiter (such as a comma, a tab space, or a paragraph return). This delimiter tells Word exactly where to divide the text into different columns.
- Highlight the text you want to convert into a table.
- Click on the Insert tab located in the top ribbon menu.
- In the “Tables” group, click on the Table icon to open the dropdown menu.
- Select Convert Text to Table. A dialogue box will appear on the screen.
Configuring the Table Settings
The “Convert Text to Table” dialogue box allows you to customize how your new table will be generated.
- Table size: Word will automatically guess the number of columns and rows based on your text. You can adjust the number of columns manually if Word guessed incorrectly.
- AutoFit behavior: Choose whether the table should have fixed column widths, automatically fit to the contents of the cells, or automatically stretch to fit the margins of the window.
- Separate text at: This is the most important setting. Select the delimiter you used in your text (Paragraphs, Tabs, Commas, or Other). If you used a specific character like a hyphen or a pipe (|), select “Other” and type that character into the box.
Click OK. Word will instantly draw a table around your text, placing each item perfectly into its own cell. You can then use the “Table Design” tab to add shading, borders, and styles to your new table.