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After you create a table, you may want to add some finishing touches to enhance its appearance.
AutoFormat can apply styles to existing tables. You may select from numerous predefined table formats. AutoFormat is a timesaving feature that automatically applies predefined combinations of borders, shading, fonts, colors, and AutoFit column widths.
Place the insertion point within the table
From the Table menu, select Table AutoFormat...
The Table AutoFormat dialog box appears.

From the Formats scroll box, select the desired predefined format
The Preview section displays an example of the selected format.
To apply formatting only to portions of your table, under Apply special formats to, select the desired parts of the table
Click OK
The formatting is applied to your table.
Word allows you to define custom table styles through the Table AutoFormat dialog box. Custom table styles may then be applied through the Table AutoFormat dialog box. Creating and using table styles is useful if you want to ensure consistent formatting with multiple tables within your document.
Place the insertion point within the table
In the Formatting Palette, under Styles, click NEW STYLE![]()
The New Style dialog box appears.

In the Name text box, type a name for the new custom table style
From the Style type pull-down list, select Table
Under Formatting, from the Apply formatting to pull-down list, select all or part of the table
Select the desired formatting options
Repeat steps 5-6 until you achieve the desired results
Select Add to template
Click OK
Select the table you want to apply the new table style to
In the Formatting Palette, under Styles, from the Pick style to apply scroll box, select the custom table style