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Illustrator Tip #17: 4 Methods of Drawing Tables in Illustrator

By Tony Soh Posted on November 21st, 2008

Tables are often used when you are designing brochures or company profiles. However, drawing a table can be quite tedious in Illustrator as there is no proper tool to draw tables. I will illustrate some workarounds to this problem and its pros and cons.

Method 1: The Old Method
The traditional method is to draw boxes and lines manually in illustrator. Next, you place your text inside the boxes. Aligning the text in the table fields is always very time consuming as you have to do all the spacing using your gut feeling.

Method 2: Using Area Type Options
Another way is to draw a text field and go Type>Area Type Options. You can setup your columns and rows there. Enter your value in the first table cell. Press Tab repeatedly until you reach until another table cell to enter the next value.

This method uses text flow, hence adjusting your table after you enter all your table data will make your text overflow into the next table cell. Not a good solution as it always drive you screaming…

Method 3: Using Microsoft Word
Yes, you can actually copy and paste tables to illustrator. Table lines will be converted to fills and text remains editable. Fast and easy way to draw simple tables.

Method 4: Using Indesign
By far the best method is to use indesign to draw you table and import it to illustrator. Simply copy and paste the table from indesign to illustrator. Your table lines, colors and text will still be editable. You can have total control of the padding, columns font and even create alternating colored background fields in indesign.

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About The Author: admin

Hi. I'm the founder of Vector Diary. Illustrator is my passion and I have written numerous tutorials on illustrator helping people learn illustrator. My most popular tutorial on learning illustrator in 30 days has been a hit. It makes learning illustrator so easy and has benefited more than 20,000 people worldwide. Also, I've revealed some of my secret techniques in the premium tutorials. So don't forget to check it out!

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+Add Comment8 Comments

1. 
   Kisan Bhat November 22nd, 2008

   I always use InDesign for Tables and I find it the best.
   Very versatile tool where one can customize every element of the table.

   I have’nt tried importing it in Illustrator (suggest you to write a tip).

2. 
   Khawla November 22nd, 2008

   Have you tried the new Adobe Illustrator CS4? Maybe there is a feature for table design? I have not looked at the new features of AICS4, yet. I am not thinking of upgrading to AICS4 right now.

3. 
   Cesar November 22nd, 2008

   I felt a little disappointed since your post doesn´t explain how to draw a table in Illustrator and I’m still wondering how to draw it, because I don’t have Word, and I’m not familiar with InDesign. Personally, I prefer to use the tab tool for spacing in rows and padding for columns. What about you?

4. 
   Vectordiary November 24th, 2008

   Hi Kisan, simply copy and paste from indesign to illustrator will do the trick.

5. 
   Vectordiary November 24th, 2008

   Hi Khawla, it seems that CS4 has implemented the table features.

6. 
   Vectordiary November 24th, 2008

   Hi Cesar, I have updated the tip. Same like you, I use the Tab key or spacebar to do the spacing. Seems like no easier way out…

7. 
   KRAZII March 10th, 2009

   YOU NEED TO SHOW HOW TO MAKE A CALENDARS

8. 
   Esteban Rao October 28th, 2009

   Hey Tony, thanks for this article, using method 4 saved my life.