Microsoft Word 2003
Formatting Tables
After you create a table, you may want to add some finishing touches to enhance its appearance.
Applying AutoFormat
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.
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Place the insertion point within the table
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From the Table menu, select Table AutoFormat...
The Table AutoFormat dialog box appears.
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From the Table styles 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
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Click APPLY
The formatting is applied to your table.
Working with Custom Table Styles
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.
Creating a Custom Table Style
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Place the insertion point within the table
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From the Table menu, select Table AutoFormat...
The Table AutoFormat dialog box appears. -
Click NEW...
The New Style dialog box appears.
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In the Name text box, type a name for the new custom table style
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Under Formatting, from the Apply formatting to pull-down list, select all or part of the table
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Select the desired formatting options
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Repeat steps 5-6 until you achieve the desired results
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Click OK
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To apply this new style to the selected table in your document, click APPLY
Applying a Custom Table Style
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Select the table you want to apply the new table style to
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From the Table menu, select Table AutoFormat...
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From the Category pull-down list, select User-defined table styles
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Under Table styles, select the desired table style to be applied
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To apply formatting only to portions of your table, under Apply special formats to, select the desired parts of the table
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Click APPLY
