The table was ready, but another item has just appeared that needs to be entered. Or perhaps one of the columns turned out to be completely unnecessary. There is no reason to delete the table and create it again from scratch. LibreOffice Writer allows you to add and remove rows and columns at any time while working.
What’s more, you can decide exactly on which side the new elements should appear. Writer also allows you to insert several rows or columns at once. It is therefore worth learning not only the basic method but also a few ways to significantly speed up your work with larger tables.
How to Add a Row to a Table in LibreOffice Writer?
First, click a cell near the location where you need a new row.
Then select from the menu:
Table → Insert → Rows
A window will open where you can specify the number of new rows and their position.
You can decide whether the new rows should be placed before or after the current row.
In practice, this means you can add them above or below the location of the cursor.
After you confirm, Writer will automatically expand the table.
How to Quickly Add One Row Above?
You do not always need an additional window.
Click a cell in the row next to which you want to add a new element.
Then go to:
Table → Insert
Select the command for inserting a row above.
A new empty row will appear directly above the current one.
This method works particularly well when making corrections to existing tables.
How to Add a Row Below?
The process is almost identical.
Click any cell in the appropriate row.
Go to:
Table → Insert
Then select the command for inserting a row below.
Writer will create a new row below the current position.
This means you do not have to copy existing cells or rebuild the entire table.
How to Add Several Rows at Once?
Suppose you need to add five new products to the table. Adding each row separately does not make much sense.
Click the table.
Then select:
Table → Insert → Rows
In the field for the number of elements, enter:
5
Also specify the position of the new rows.
After you confirm, Writer will insert all the required rows in a single operation.
You can also select several existing rows and then use the insert command. In this case, the number of rows added may correspond to the number of selected elements.
How to Add a New Row at the End of a Table?
There is an especially convenient method for this.
Click the last cell in the table.
Then press:
Tab
If the cursor is in the last cell, Writer can automatically create another row.
This is very practical when you are gradually adding items to a list.
Imagine a table containing customer data. You fill in the last cell of the current row, press Tab, and can immediately start entering the next item.
There is no need to take your hands off the keyboard.
How to Add a Column to a Table?
Adding columns works similarly to inserting rows.
Click a cell next to the location where you need an additional column.
Then select:
Table → Insert → Columns
In the window, you can specify the number of new columns.
Writer also allows you to decide where they should be positioned.
Choosing a position before the current column adds the new columns on the left.
Setting them after the current column places them on the right.
How to Quickly Add a Column on the Left?
Click a cell in the appropriate column.
Go to:
Table → Insert
Then select the command for adding a column before the current one.
Writer will move the existing columns and make room for the new one.
You can now enter the header and fill in the data.
How to Add a Column on the Right?
Click any cell in the column after which you want the new field to appear.
Select:
Table → Insert
Then use the command for adding a column after the current one.
The new column will appear on the right.
This method is useful, for example, when an existing table contains:
Product | Price | Quantity
and you want to add another column:
Value
You do not have to recreate the entire table.
How to Add Several Columns at Once?
Writer allows you to insert several columns in a single operation.
Place the cursor in the table.
Select:
Table → Insert → Columns
Then specify the required number.
For example, you can enter:
3
Finally, choose whether the three new columns should appear before or after the current position.
This is particularly useful when expanding forms, schedules, and larger tables.
How to Add Rows and Columns Using the Right Mouse Button?
You do not have to use the program’s main menu every time.
Right-click inside the appropriate cell.
In the context menu, you will find commands for inserting table elements.
Select Insert, then choose the appropriate row or column operation.
This is one of the most convenient methods because all the commands you need are available directly next to the table you are editing.
How to Delete a Row from a Table?
Deleting a row is just as simple.
Click any cell in the row you want to delete.
Then select:
Table → Delete → Rows
Writer will delete the entire row together with its contents.
Therefore, before performing the operation, make sure that the information it contains is no longer needed.
How to Delete Several Rows at Once?
First, select all the rows you want to remove.
Then select:
Table → Delete → Rows
The entire selection will be deleted in a single operation.
This is much faster than deleting each element individually.
How to Delete a Column?
Click any cell in the column you want to delete.
Then go to:
Table → Delete → Columns
The selected column will be deleted together with its contents.
The remaining columns will automatically fill the available space.
How to Delete Several Columns?
Select the columns you want to delete.
Then select:
Table → Delete → Columns
Writer will delete all the selected elements.
Before performing this operation, it is worth checking the selection once again, especially if the table contains important data.
Deleting Text from a Cell Is Not the Same as Deleting a Row
This is a very common mistake.
If you select text in cells and press Delete, you can remove the content, but the table structure will remain.
The row will still exist.
The same applies to a column. Clearing all the data it contains does not mean that the column itself has been deleted.
If you want to remove a structural element of the table, use:
Table → Delete → Rows
or:
Table → Delete → Columns
This way, the table will actually be restructured.
How to Select an Entire Row Before Deleting It?
Click any cell in the appropriate row.
Then use:
Table → Select → Row
The entire row will be selected.
You can now delete it or apply different formatting to it.
This method is particularly useful in large tables where selecting with the mouse may be less convenient.
How to Select an Entire Column?
Click a cell in the column you are interested in.
Then select:
Table → Select → Column
Writer will select the entire column.
You can now delete it, change its width, or apply the appropriate formatting.
What Happens to Formatting After Adding a New Row?
New rows do not appear completely independently of the existing table.
Writer takes into account the structure and properties of neighboring elements. With selection-based insertion commands, new rows may also inherit the height of the selected rows.
Even so, it is worth checking the appearance of the table after adding new elements.
Pay particular attention to the background, borders, row height, and text formatting.
If the new row is at the end of the table and the previous one was, for example, a summary row with different formatting, the result may require manual adjustment.
What Happens to the Table Width After Adding a Column?
Adding another column does not mean that more space suddenly becomes available on the page.
Therefore, in a wide table, the existing columns may need to be readjusted.
After adding a column, check:
Table → Size
You can use, among other things, tools for optimizing the width or evenly distributing the columns.
However, if one column contains long descriptions and the others contain only short numbers, it is not worth setting them all to the same width.
It is better to adjust the space to the actual content.
What to Do If the Table Is Too Wide After Adding a Column?
First, try reducing the width of less important columns.
If the table still does not fit on the page, consider changing the orientation of the selected page to landscape.
You can also reduce the margins, but do so carefully, especially if the document will be printed.
However, it is not worth drastically reducing the font size just to fit an additional column.
Data readability is more important.
How to Add a Row Between Two Existing Items?
Suppose the table looks like this:
Monitor
Keyboard
Printer
You want to add a mouse between the keyboard and the printer.
Click the row containing Printer.
Then select the command for inserting a row above.
An empty row will appear between the existing items.
Now enter:
Mouse
There is no need to move the remaining data manually.
How to Add a Column Between Existing Columns?
Suppose you have:
Product | Quantity | Value
and you want to add the price between quantity and value.
Click a cell in the Value column.
Then insert a column before the current one.
You will get:
Product | Quantity | Price | Value
Writer will move the existing column while preserving its contents.
Can You Edit a Table Using Only the Keyboard?
Yes. Writer also provides key combinations designed for editing the structure of a table.
For inserting, use a combination beginning with:
Alt + Insert
After releasing it, the appropriate arrow key indicates the direction of the operation.
For deleting, use:
Alt + Delete
After releasing the keys, use the appropriate arrow key to specify the row or column.
This solution is useful for people who work extensively with documents and want to reduce their use of the mouse.
However, it is worth practicing these combinations on a test table first.
Why Is the Option to Add Rows or Columns Unavailable?
The commands for inserting rows and columns work when the cursor is inside the table.
If you click a regular paragraph outside the table, the relevant functions may be unavailable.
Click any cell and open the Table menu again.
Writer will recognize that you are working with a table and make the appropriate tools available.
How to Delete the Entire Table Instead of a Single Row?
If the table is no longer needed, there is no point in deleting each row separately.
Click any cell.
Then select:
Table → Delete → Table
The entire table will be deleted.
Remember that its contents will be deleted along with it.
Most Common Mistakes When Adding and Deleting Table Elements
One of the most common mistakes is deleting text instead of the entire row or column. As a result, empty cells remain.
Another problem occurs when adding columns without checking the width of the table. After several such operations, text may become squeezed into very narrow fields.
Also be careful with your selection. If you select several rows and choose the delete command, Writer will delete the entire selected range.
It is also worth remembering the formatting. After expanding a more complex table, check whether the new elements visually match the rest.
What Is the Fastest Way to Add or Remove a Row and Column in LibreOffice Writer?
If you only want to remember the basic commands, four menu paths are enough.
To add a row, use:
Table → Insert → Rows
To add a column:
Table → Insert → Columns
To delete a row, use:
Table → Delete → Rows
To delete a column, use:
Table → Delete → Columns
In practice, it is also worth using the right mouse button. When editing tables frequently, this is usually faster than constantly going to the top menu.
Adding and deleting rows and columns in LibreOffice Writer does not require rebuilding the table from scratch. The program allows you to insert individual elements, add several rows or columns at once, and specify their exact position.
The Tab key is particularly useful when used in the last cell while gradually expanding a table. For larger changes, it is best to use the commands available in the Table menu or the context menu.
Also remember the difference between clearing content and deleting a table element. If you actually want to change the table structure, use the row or column deletion functions. This will keep the table organized and make subsequent formatting much easier.
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