We will use the Table Properties and Cell Properties dialog boxes extensively, the key parts of both dialogs are very similar. Cell Properties affects the cell you have selected, or which the text cursor is in, and Table Properties controls the whole table. I usually set the cell padding to 10 pixels. Set cell spacing to 0 for tables with different coloured backgrounds in cells. Alignment can be set to 'centre'.
Alignment controls the way text appears.
If any fixed size element within a cell, such as a graphic, exceeds the width you have set, the table will expand to fit the element. That is why the dialog boxes refer to ' minimum width'. Background colours can be set in Cell Properties for the current cell or selected row or column, or for the whole Table in Table Properties . If you re-size the browser window, then the text reformats to fill the new width. Macintosh computers limit the width of the page so that the text lines are a sensible width.