Table within a table: Shortcut Key to insert new row above or below

The default shortcut to insert a new row below the current row is the rather complex

Alt+Ctrl+Shift+T,I

(the last keystroke is an upper-case i, not a lower-case ell). There is no default shortcut to insert a new row above the current row.

You can create your own shortcuts, in addition to or instead of existing ones. To do that, go to File > Options > Customize Ribbon and click the Keyboard shortcuts: Customize button at the bottom of the dialog.

In the Customize Keyboard dialog, first verify that "Save changes in" is set to Normal.dotm to enable the new shortcuts in all documents. In the Categories list, select "Table Tools | Layout Tab". In the Commands list, select TableInsertRowBelow.

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The Current Keys box shows the default shortcut. Leaving it there won't hurt anything -- you're certainly not likely to press it by mistake -- but you can click on it and click the Remove button if it bothers you.

Next, click in the "Press new shortcut key" box and press the combination you want to use. If that shortcut is already assigned to a different command, that will appear below the Current Keys box. If you want to leave that command unchanged, just backspace over your entry in the new shortcut key box and enter a different combination. If you decide to "steal" the shortcut from the other command, or if there was no other command, click the Assign button. The new shortcut then appears in the Current Keys box.

Repeat the process for the TableInsertRowAbove command, from selecting the command to clicking Assign.

Finally, click the Close button.

When you shut down Word, if you're prompted whether to save the Normal.dotm template, click Save.