Creating custom tables

A table format works as a template, storing the underlying structure of the table but not its content. Table formats are used to save an existing table's structure (or format) and then reapply the same formatting to any new tables at any time later for consistency. You can customise saved table formats in the Table Formats panel and create table formats from scratch using the Edit Table Formats dialog.

Customising table formats allows you to:

Select table cell styles such as rows (odd/even), header rows, and rules for table modification.
Add or remove styles to make the format more basic or more advanced.
Set each style's cell properties such as fill, transparency, border, margins, and fonts.
Independently format odd and even rows for alternating styles between rows.
Automatically update the formatting of multiple tables.

If you're looking for design freedom, you can create your own format from scratch.

To access the Table Formats panel:

From the Window menu, select Table>Table Formats.

To create a new custom table format from scratch:

From the Table Formats panel, click on the Panel Preferences menu and choose Create New Format.

To save a table as a new custom table format:

With a table selected on the page, from the Table Formats panel, click on the Panel Preferences menu and choose Add Format from Selection.

To edit a custom table format:

Do one of the following:

To edit the custom table format directly, from the Table Formats panel, click on a table format's preferences menu and choose Edit "[Table format name]".
To create and edit a copy of the custom table format, from the Table Formats panel, click on a table format's preferences menu and choose Edit copy of "[Table format name]".

The Edit Table Format dialog displays a preview of the header and row cells that make up the table format on the left, a list of available formats which can be applied to the table in the centre, and formatting properties on the right.

Selecting table cells from the preview window will highlight the style for reformatting in the central Cell Formats pane.

To update a table format with settings from a table:

Select the table.
On the Table Formats panel, select Update From Selection on the table format's options menu.

To resize the preview table:

From the table preview window, click the small - and + buttons located at the top left and bottom right corners respectively to adjust the number of visible cells.

To create a new cell format:

From the Cell Formats pane, click the + button.

To delete an existing cell format:

From the Cell Formats pane, click the - button.

The table preview window contains row and column handles. These handles can be moved around to create header and footer areas, which determine theportions of the table considered to be non-repeating. The cells outside of the header and footer areas will have their cell formatting repeated as the table grows.

To add a table footer:

From the table preview window, click the footer row handle to move it up one row.
Create a new cell format from the Cell Formats pane. This style is to be created specifically for your footer cells.
Fill in the properties for the cell format using the options in the dialog.
Select the cell in the footer area.
Select the new cell format from the Cell Formats list. The cell properties of the footer can be edited to display a contrasting footer style.

To add a row header:

From the table preview window, click the header row handle to move it along one row. This creates a header area.
Create a new cell format from the Cell Formats pane. This style is to be created specifically for your header cells.
Fill in the properties for the cell format using the options in the dialog.
Select the cell in the header area.
Select the new cell format from the Cell Formats list. The cell properties of the header can be edited to display a different header style.

To add a repeating pattern:

From the table preview window, select individual cells within the body area of the table, then apply different cell formats to alternating cells.

To save a set of table formats as a default (for any new document):

Do one of the following:

From the Table Formats panel, click on the Panel Preferences menu and choose Save Formats as Default.

To apply custom table formatting:

Do one of the following:

To combine the applied formatting with existing table formatting: with a table selected on the page, from the Table Formats panel, click on a table format to apply it instantly, or alternatively, click on the table format's preferences menu and choose Apply "[Table format name]".
To apply formatting and override existing table formatting: with a table selected on the page, from the Table Formats panel, click on a table format's preferences menu and choose Apply "[Table format name]" (Override Local).

To import table formats:

From the Table Formats panel, click on the Panel Preferences menu and choose Import Formats.
Locate the Affinity file you want to import formats from and click Open.
A list of formats will appear, giving you the ability to select the format(s) you wish to import, rename incoming formats, or resolve any import conflicts.
When you are ready to import the selected format(s), click OK.

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