Draw in Layout mode

Layout mode allows you to draw cells and tables, including tables nested in other tables. The snapping grid helps you to align cells.

When you draw a layout cell that isn’t inside a layout table, Dreamweaver automatically creates a layout table as a container for the cell. A layout cell cannot exist outside of a layout table.

Note: In Layout mode, you can’t use the Insert Table and Draw AP Div tools that you can use in Standard mode. To use those tools, you must first switch to Standard mode.

When Dreamweaver automatically creates a layout table, the table initially appears to fill the entire Design view, even if you change the size of your Document window. This full-window default layout table allows you to draw layout cells anywhere in Design view. You can set the table to a specific size by clicking the table border, then dragging the table’s resize handles.

When you move the pointer over a layout cell, Dreamweaver highlights it. You can enable or disable highlighting or change the highlight color in preferences.

You can also create a nested table by drawing a layout table inside another layout table. The cells inside a nested table are isolated from changes made to the outer table; for example, when you change the size of a row or column in the outer table, the cells in the inner table don’t change size.

You can insert multiple levels of nested tables. A nested layout table cannot be larger than the table that contains it.

Note: If you draw a layout table in the middle of your page before drawing a layout cell, the table you draw is automatically nested inside a larger table.

Create a layout cell

Make sure you are in Layout mode (not Standard mode).
Select Insert > Layout Objects > Layout Cell.
Position the cross hair (+) pointer where you want to start the cell on the page, and then drag to create the layout cell.
To draw more than one layout cell without having to repeatedly select the menu item, Control-drag (Windows) or Command-drag (Macintosh) when you draw the layout cell. As long as you continue to hold Control or Command, you can draw layout cells one after the other.

If you draw the cell close to the edge of the layout table, cell edges automatically snap to the edges of the containing layout table. To temporarily disable snapping, hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Macintosh) while drawing the cell.

The cell appears outlined in blue on your page (you can change the outline color in preferences).

Draw a layout table

Make sure you are in Layout mode (not Standard mode).
Select Insert > Layout Objects > Layout Table.
Position the cross hair (+) pointer on the page, then drag to create the layout table.
To draw more than one layout table without having to repeatedly select the menu item, Control‑drag (Windows) or Command-drag (Macintosh) when you draw the layout table. As long as you continue to hold Control or Command, you can draw layout tables one after the other.

You can create a layout table in an empty area of your page layout, around existing layout cells and tables, or nested inside an existing layout table. If your page contains content, and you want to add a layout table in an empty area of your page layout, you can draw a new layout table only below the bottom of the existing content.

If you try to draw a layout table below existing content and the no-draw pointer appears, try resizing the Document window to create more blank space between the bottom of the existing content and the bottom of the window.

Note: Tables cannot overlap each other, but a table can be completely contained inside another table.

The Layout table appears outlined in green on your page (you can change the outline color in preferences).

Change highlighting preferences for layout cells

Select Edit > Preferences (Windows) or Dreamweaver > Preferences (Macintosh).
Select Highlighting from the category list.
Make either of the following changes and click OK.
- To change the highlighting color, click the Mouse-Over color box, then select a highlight color using the color picker (or enter the hexadecimal value for the highlight color in the text box).
- To enable or disable highlighting, select or deselect the Show option for Mouse-Over.
  
  Note: These options affect all objects, such as tables and absolutely-positioned elements (AP elements), that are highlighted when you move the pointer over them.

Draw a nested layout table

Make sure you are in Layout mode (not Standard mode).
Select Insert > Layout Objects > Layout Table.
Position the cross hair (+) in an empty (gray) area in an existing layout table, and then drag to create the nested layout table.
Note: You can’t create a layout table inside a layout cell. You can create a nested layout table only in an empty area of an existing layout table, or around existing cells.

Draw a layout table around existing layout cells or tables

Make sure you are in Layout mode (not Standard mode).
Select Insert > Layout Objects > Layout Table.
Drag the cross hair (+) to draw a rectangle around a set of existing layout cells or tables. A new nested layout table appears, enclosing the existing cells or tables.
To make an existing layout cell fit snugly into one corner of the new nested table, start dragging near the corner of the cell; the new table’s corner snaps to the cell’s corner. You can’t start dragging in the middle of a layout cell, because you can’t create a layout table entirely inside a layout cell.