When you create a new table in MS Word you have two choices: You can either have Word draw the table for you or you can draw it yourself.
When Word draws the table for you, you specify the number of columns (a maximum of 63 in 2003) and rows (up to 32, 767 in 2003). You also define how the table fits on your page, using one of three options:
The table can fill the page; or each column can have the same width; or each column can automatically expand to accommodate the contents of the widest cell.
Rows start out one line tall, but automatically get taller, if necessary, to contain text or graphics.
If you are ok with those restrictions, Word will make your table for you very quickly. If, however, you want more control over the initial table design, you can draw your table free hand.
To have MS Word create a table for you, follow the steps below:
- Click in an empty paragraph where you want the upper-left cell of the new table to be located.
- Click on Table | Insert | Table.
- The Insert Table dialog box will appear.
- In the Table Size section, enter the number of columns and rows. If you are not sure how many columns or rows you will need, you can always increase either number later on.
- In the AutoFit Behavior section, tell Word how to determine the width of the table and its columns.
- By default, every new table uses the generic Table Grid style.
- Click the AutoFormat button to choose from dozens of prefab formats for your table.
- Click OK and Word creates the table for you.
You can also click on the Table icon on your toolbar to insert a table into your document. 
If you find that you usually create tables of a certain size, shape and format, you can save those settings to be used at another time.
Once you have defined your preferred table settings in the Insert Table dialog box, including the AutoFormat option, click the Remember Dimensions for New Tables check box.
Now you can use the Insert Table button ont he STandard toolbar to add a table with those settings using just one click!
There is a lot more to be said about tables in MS Word and I will definitely say them in my next article. Stay tuned!
Carol Bratt is the Office Applications Editor at Daves Computer Tips. She has authored several informative Microsoft Office books and writes the monthly Word Bytes Newsletter with more tips and tricks in each issue. Visit Carol's website for more great Microsoft Office tips and tricks! Click here to see her latest books! You can read more about Carol here.