Adobe Community: What is the best way to create tables in Illustrator cs5

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1. Monika Gause,

Sep 20, 2011 4:56 PM in reply to CoGordo4

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The best way is not to use Illustrator for that kind of job.

Looks like Excel could be suited better. Or even InDesign, which can do real tables.

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2. CoGordo4,

Sep 20, 2011 5:14 PM in reply to Monika Gause

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Thanks Monika. I was thinking of using indesign however the company printing the sign has requested the file be a vector file prefferably .AI. Is there a way to some how export a INdesign table into a ai.?

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3. Monika Gause,

Sep 20, 2011 5:30 PM in reply to CoGordo4

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InDesign makes vector files. You can hand them an INDD-file if they need to edit it (and have InDesign) or you can export a PDF for viewing and printing.

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4. [scott w],

Sep 20, 2011 5:49 PM in reply to Monika Gause

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You can also export an Indesign file as an EPS.....

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5. Wade_Zimmerman,

Sep 21, 2011 4:15 AM in reply to CoGordo4

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You can also copy and paste the table from ID to AI but since they cannt be linked as a pdf or eps there ae limitations to how much you can edit

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6. JETalmage,

Sep 22, 2011 6:51 AM in reply to CoGordo4

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…however the company printing the sign…

It sounds like you are trying to describe a file for the production of an actual, physical board (a sign); not a data table containing data, and the respondents so far are assuming you are working on a data table that will be printed (on paper).

In other words, it sounds like you just need a vector file for production of a physical sign, the graphics of which is just a labeled grid. For example, the result would be a conference-room whiteboard with sign vinyl applied to it to provide the title, column heads, and a grid. The users would manually write the data values using dry-erase markers.

If that is, in fact, what you are trying to describe, then Illustrator would be an appropriate tool for creating the artwork file. Read about the Grid Tool in online help. Set the text for the column/row titles. Convert the text to paths; use the Object>Paths>OutlineStroke command on the grid. Use the Pathfinder Add command to union the outlined paths into a single compound path to eliminate unwanted cross-cuts in the vinyl results.

JET

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7. CoGordo4,

Sep 22, 2011 2:32 PM in reply to JETalmage

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Thanks Jet you hit the nail on the head. That is what I am attempting to do. I think this will work for me

For any one fallowing this discussion this is the correct answer. I missed marked the previous answer as correct.

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8. Wade_Zimmerman,

Sep 22, 2011 2:58 PM in reply to CoGordo4

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Unfortunately you cannot change that but you can mark James' post as helpful and perhaps someone will note it.

I think we all misread your post and James was the only one that read it correctly.

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9. gorillamilk93,

Jun 13, 2012 2:31 PM in reply to CoGordo4

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Surprisingly going from Excel to AI works great. Just set up the table as good as you can in Excel and just copy and paste into illustrator. Even the text stays editable... per line, but still editable.

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10. Jacob Bugge,

Jun 13, 2012 2:55 PM in reply to CoGordo4

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11. bicameral2,

Jul 29, 2012 6:04 PM in reply to CoGordo4

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Also,

I've used the grid tool in AI then used the form tool in Acrobat to create form fields for simple tables. Obviously PDF forms are more limited than OO Xcalc or Excel tables, but it's another way to use the PDF fomat to make distributable forms. i've created a couple of cool invoices this way for my business, and a few forms/internal memos for work (Art Direction) that include imagery that is regularly updated and easier to work with in AI.