Table styles, new in 2007

[Chris Orr]

I am developing a new template in Word 2007, and am having some difficulty
with the new table styles.

1) I don't understand the Applies to list box in the style definition
dialog. You can have the table style apply to a header, a row, and there are
some other options. How can a complete table style apply to only some rows?
How can I use this field?

2) Am I supposed to define a style that applies to the whole table, or will
I need separate styles for headers and rows?

3) What is the interaction between table styles and paragraph styles? I
notice that, if I apply a paragraph style that is non-bold to a table that
has bold in it (defined where I don't know for sure), the text bolding is
reversed.

4) So are you supposed to apply paragraph formats to text in tables? Or does
the table style control the text in tables?

5) I've noticed that some options in the table properties dialog get reset
if you go to a different tab. For example, the Allow row to break across
page: I turn it off, and go to the next tab, then go back, and it's turned on
again.

6) Is there any doc that goes into more depth than the pathetic online help?

There are lots of little things like this that seem to not be working
correctly, or that I just don't understand. Table styles are a good idea; I
just wished they were more fully documented and working in a logical,
controllable way.

 

[Shauna Kelly]

Hi Chris

Table Styles were introduced into Word 2002. The idea is that one Table
Style is applied to the whole table. The properties of the Table Style
include separate formatting options for the first row, left column, bottom
right hand cell and so on.

So you would create one Table Style, identify the formatting you want for
different parts of a table, and apply it to a whole table.

4) So are you supposed to apply paragraph formats to text in tables? Or
does
the table style control the text in tables?

I suspect the idea is that the table style is supposed to control the text
in tables. This presupposes that all text in the table needs the same
formatting and that you don't, for example, want some bullets or indented
text.

I have not yet investigated table styles in Word 2007 in detail. And I know
that some changes have been made since Word 2003. However, the following
article may give you some pointers on what to look out for:

Why I don't use Custom Table Styles in Microsoft Word 2002 and 2003
http://www.ShaunaKelly.com/word/tablestyles/index.html

Table styles are a good idea; I
just wished they were more fully documented and working in a logical,
controllable way.

My thoughts exactly.

Hope this helps.

Shauna Kelly. Microsoft MVP.
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word