# Modifying Rows and Columns by Keyboard

/text/swriter/guide/tablemode.xhp
table mode selection
proportional distribution of tables
relative distribution of table cells
tables; adapting the width by keyboard
cells; adapting the width by keyboard
keyboard;modifying the behavior of rows/columns
behavior of rows/columns
Modifying Rows and Columns by Keyboard
When you insert or delete cells, rows or columns in a table, the Behavior of rows/columns options determine how the neighboring elements are affected. For example, you can only insert new rows and columns into a table with fixed row and column dimensions if space permits.
Note that these properties are valid only for changes to the column width that are made using the keyboard. Using the mouse, you are free to make any column width changes.UFI: fixes bugtraq 4971582
To set the Behavior of rows/columns options for tables in text documents, choose %PRODUCTNAME - Preferences Tools - Options - %PRODUCTNAME Writer - Table, or use the Fixed, Fixed/Proportional, and Variable icons on the Table Bar. There are three display modes for tables:
- Fixed
  - changes only affect the adjacent cell, and not the entire table. For example, when you widen a cell, the adjacent cell becomes narrower, but the width of the table remains constant.
- Fixed, proportional
  - changes affect the entire table, and wide cells shrink more than narrow cells. For example, when you widen a cell, the adjacent cells become proportionally narrower, but the width of the table remains constant.
- Variable
  - changes affect the table size. For example, when you widen a cell, the width of the table increases.