Table styles are predefined sets of formatting options that you can apply to tables quickly and consistently.
According to the reference, a table style is a collection of table formatting attributes, such as table borders and row and column strokes, that can be applied in a single step. This means you can define how borders look, the appearance of lines separating rows and columns (strokes), and other visual aspects of the table structure, and then apply all those settings simultaneously with a single click.
Key Characteristics of Table Styles
- Centralized Formatting: They group multiple formatting commands together.
- Efficiency: Applying a style is much faster than formatting each border and stroke individually.
- Consistency: Ensures all tables using the same style look uniform across a document or project.
- Focus on Structure: Primarily control the appearance of the table's grid and borders.
Table Styles vs. Cell Styles
It's important to distinguish table styles from cell styles. While table styles focus on the overall table structure, the reference notes that a cell style includes formatting specific to individual cells, such as:
- Cell insets (padding within the cell)
- Paragraph styles applied to text within the cell
- Strokes and fills specifically for the cell's background and borders
In essence, table styles handle the 'container' (the table grid), while cell styles handle the 'contents and padding' within each cell.
Practical Applications
Using table styles is beneficial for several reasons:
- Speed: Apply complex table designs instantly.
- Maintainability: Update the design of all tables using a style by simply modifying the style definition.
- Professionalism: Achieve a consistent and polished look throughout your documents or publications.
By leveraging table styles, you streamline the design process and ensure visual harmony across all your tabular data presentations.
