Comments on: Something’s missing in Table and Cell Styles? Or am I missing something?

By: Nicole H.

Nicole H. — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:32:23 +0000

In regards to the Woodwing plug-in, it looks like a great plug-in, I’m definitely interested in giving it a try. However, what happens when someone without the plug-in opens the file (say, when the file is sent to the printer)?

By: Roland

Roland — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:40:29 +0000

That’s the one thing I hate about Adobe: they already want my kidney when I upgrade simply because I live in Europe, and then they omit lots of features which we’ll then have to purchase as plug-ins costing a liver.

The Smart Styles plug-in would be perfect for a job I’m about to start on, but $200 is above budget at the time.

By: MH

MH — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:44:24 +0000

I kind of doubt Adobe will be fixing this problem in CS4, although it would be nice. If they haven’t addressed the problem since CS…I guess you just have to find a workaround.

By: Patrick Sandberg

Patrick Sandberg — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 21:03:47 +0000

I’d like to add to the discussion about table styles not working. I followed a video by Anne-Marie (so I know I’m doing it right!) and my new table style won’t apply to any other tables!

I’ve tried bringing over pre-made tables, which is what I usually work from, and tables that I’ve made from scratch. Applying the table style will either a) apply SOME formatting but not all or b) absolutely nothing.

I’m using InDesign 5.0.2 and OS X 10.5.2.

By: RS

RS — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 21:14:39 +0000

I too would really love a table/cell guide on how to use this feature it’s not working for me either!

By: Preston2k6

Preston2k6 — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 12:49:38 +0000

Sandee — Any chance one of the InDesignSecrets.com gurus could post a tip on how to properly use the new Table Styles and Cell Styles panels? It would be really helpful. Just when I think I understand how the panels interact, they don’t do what I think they will BTW — love this website — it is a great ID resource and I visit often.

By: wyophil

wyophil — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 19:12:10 +0000

I seem to remember hearing somewhere that the Table Styles / Cell Styles feature in CS3 is related to the IDCS2 plugin “Table Styles/Cell Styles Pro” from Teacup Software. Anyway, these comments ring familiar. With this program, I create a new table style, and when I want to use it, I alt+click on [No table style] to strip out any existing formatting and then click on the table style I want. It apparently doesn’t format any character or paragraph styles, nor does it format the geometry (table size, # of rows, column widths, etc.). Wish it did. I haven’t used the Woodwing plug-in.

By: Jason Cutler

Jason Cutler — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:02:32 +0000

Today a typesetter says to me, “Table Styles isn’t working”. So I go and check it out. You make a table, set it up just how you like it and then you select the whole table and click on the “New Table Style” icon in the panel. A new Table Style appears. You make a new table somewhere else and try to apply that Table Style, and nothing happens. This function does not behave in the same way as the text and object styles. Am I missing something here?

By: L. Thomas Martin

L. Thomas Martin — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 19:28:47 +0000

Smart Styles is a smart library, saving formatting rather than objects. It records the formatting of an example and it records, and can reapply, every detail. And, it can be used for text as well as tables.

By: Lawrence

Lawrence — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 18:50:00 +0000

Sandee said:

“Right now I have to define a cell style, then open the Basic Table Style and then apply the cell style to all the areas of the Table.”

You’re talking about the “Cell Styles” area in the Table Styles Options dialog General panel, right? You don’t have to assign the cell style to all the areas — only body rows. The other areas are set to “[Same as Body Rows]” by default.

Also, if you do this with no document open, then essentially you have what you’re looking for, and it’s a pretty quick workaround:

1. Close all docs
2. Create a new cell style, called “Default” or some such
3. Edit [Basic Table]. In the General panel, under the Cell Styles area, under the “Body Rows” dropdown, choose the cell style you created in step 2.

Now all new tables have that cell style applied on all cells. All strokes, interior and exterior take on the attributes in the cell style.