How do I change a table style?

[Joscelin]

Dear all,

I want to change the special formatting of the header row, first column and
so on of a build-in table style. So far it seems to me that my changes are
not stored properly and or that something goes wrong in applying the changed
table style.

Can anybody help me out?

Thanks,
Joscelin

 

[Stefan Blom]

What kind of changes are you trying to apply?

Also, note that table styles are somewhat unpredictable, in particular as
far as font formatting is concerned. See
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/tablestyles/index.html.

 

[Joscelin]

I use Word 2007 in 97-2003 compatibility mode.

I would like the table style to format the whole table to Arial 10 pt.
If special formatting for header row applied, then I would like the header
row to be 8 pt bold.

To do this I have tried to change the build-in style Table Grid 2.

I have failed so far.

Joscelin

 

[PamC via OfficeKB.com]

In W2002 & 2003, you are best off if you do not make any font settings in the
table style and instead use paragraph styles (such as table header and table
text). Table styles are great for the many other settings that you may only
have to make once per document.

--Apparently, as far as font settings are concerned the normal style and
table normal are the same. If you change one, the other will change, or
other behavior that seems odd if you don't know what why.

The programmers have apparently fixed this problem in W2007. Still, you have
to follow a few new steps. In W2007, set document defaults to the font
settings you want for regular text. Do not modify the normal style; it
should be the same as the default style.

If the document will be viewed or edited in W2003 and before, I'd use the
first method I described.

PamC

 

[Joscelin]

I am taking your advice Pam. Thanks for the effort.