vertical strokes in table

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    • #103585

      No matter where I look I can not find the place where I could change the color of vertical strokes in a table. Any help would be great.

      Thanks in advance

    • #103590
      Graham Park
      Member

      Use Cell Options in the Table Menu.
      Shortcut is
      OPTION COMMAND B
      or ALT CONTROL B
      Then go to the Strokes and FIles tab and select the strokes you want to adjust, style, colour weight etc

    • #103598

      Thanks, Graham,

      I am on a Mac and option command B replicates the object I select. Even then I can only select 8/9 cells with the type tool. When I do that I can remove the column guides but not the rows.

    • #103599

      Here is what I would like to achieve. The sample was made using tabs and I’m trying to learn how to use tables to achieve the same effect.
      https://imgur.com/pQIym0S

      Thanks so much.

    • #103600
      Graham Park
      Member

      Have you set your keyboard shortcuts to a none standard set???

      To select the whole table move your cursor to the top right hand corner of the table until to changes to a 45º angle arrow, then click. DO the same to above a column or beside a row and the arrow will point down or right, click to select or click and drag to select multiple rows or columns.

      Once selected use the shortcut (it does work) or use the Cell Style from the Table Menu
      The you can apply the format you want.

      Or read the Adobe tutorial for Table Formatting.
      https://helpx.adobe.com/au/indesign/using/formatting-tables.html

    • #103614

      Graham is totally right!

      First, read the InDesign documentation! …

      Then, it could be time to learn Javascript to just style the 1,000 tables [or more] of your book … in 1 click!

      https://imgur.com/a/1h7RxjY

      Best,
      Michel, from FRIdNGE
      [email protected]

    • #103632

      To select the whole table, click in any cell and Command-Option-A. (Graham, hovering over the top LEFT hand corner worked for me.)

      Using the Table Grid (proxy preview in Control Bar): Triple-Click to toggle between Selecting All or No strokes. I usually start with No strokes, 0 pt, Cell Styles->None, then start formatting.

      Then a combination of Table and Cell Styles to get this:
      https://i.imgur.com/zsUw8bk.png

      This sort of a manual way to do it, which is ok for a small job, but it sounds like you might need something more automated. I’m still to trying to understand tables better, myself.

    • #103638

      Thanks Colleen,

      Thanks for the reply. You got it to work-thanks. I’m a bit stumped by the combination of table and cell styles. Does that come from the table menu in the control button?

      Yes, I am looking for an automated solution but learning how to control all strokes seems like a good thing to know, nonetheless. The original version was made using tabs which is fine for small jobs but for the big ones I need automation.

    • #103653

      If you want to style all the tables of your doc like you show us, you’ll just need … a basic “6-code-lines” script!

      Just need to wait for a scripter who could do it for you for free!

      Best,
      Michel

    • #103654
      Graham Park
      Member

      Nicole
      From the example you showed at the beginning I would tackle it this way.
      Create Paragraph Styles for your Header row format (eg Bold) and the Data rows format (eg Regular)
      Create a Header Cell Format, this will include the Font (eg bold), the cell format which has no strokes.
      The create a Body Cell format, Font (regular) and stokes top and bottom only in the style you want eg 0.5pt Solid 25% black.
      Then create a new table, Insert Table, set the Table Dimensions to be how ever many columns and rows you want and ONE HEADER ROW (you need this for the next step) and then select the New Table Style from the Drop Down at the bottom.
      Now Name your new table style
      Click OK

      Now you can create your table.
      You can also use this Table Style to update and control tables, click a table and then click the table style you want.
      Change the cell styles and the tables will update,
      Is that what you are after??

    • #103716

      Thanks again Graham.

      I got some success by using the table options. I need just the column stroke to go away. I’m still getting the hang of paragraph styles

      I also need to have the row stroke to be below the content.

      I’m struggling and your post is helpful.

    • #103718
      Graham Park
      Member

      Have a look at these images os how I set up a table like you want.
      https://imgur.com/a/y26RLih

      In the CELL STROKES dialogue box you can select some of the strokes set them to say 0pt then select other strokes and set them to say 0.5pt. Only the strokes selected will be affected, see the Adobe user guide
      https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/table-strokes-fills.html#table_strokes_and_fills

      Here is the tutorial for tables styles.
      https://helpx.adobe.com/au/indesign/using/table-cell-styles.html

    • #103922

      Thanks Graham.

      I’m still working through it (https://imgur.com/a/ZOOT8TJ) but I can’t figure out how to make just the header bold and the rest of the table not bold.

    • #103923
      Graham Park
      Member

      Created 3 Paragraph Styles, you may only need two and these are just examples. You can set any text formats you want
      Table Header – Bold
      Table Body – Normal
      Table Footer – Light Italic (Optional, not sure you are using a footer to your table)

      Then I create 3 Table Cell Styles
      Header – using Table Header para style
      Body – using Table Body para style
      Footer – using Table Footer para style

      Then create the Table Style using the 3 cell styles above.Under the General TAB in the Table Options dialogue box
      This is make the Header BOLD, Body NORMAL and Footer ITALIC

      Then if you edit the Paragraph Style all the related text will change, or edit a Cell Style and these cells will be affected.
      A good way to see if things are working correctly is to edit the style, eg edit the Header paragraph style and make the text colour magenta all the controlled text will change, then just undo or change it back.

      Good luck.

    • #103924

      … And don’t forget to convert the first row to “header” and the last one to “footer”!

      I hope for you you haven’t hundreds of tables to be played! =D

      Best,
      Michel

      PS: Remember my basic “6-code-lines” script proposal if big headache! ;-)

    • #103925
      Graham Park
      Member

      True
      If you need to add a Header or Footer row you can apply your Table Style then select the whole table and in the Cell Styles pallet right click [None}
      and select ‘Apply [None} Clear Overrides
      That should do it.

      If you have lots of tables all with Basic Table format you can either edit that or just select BASED ON and use the new table format you have created. All the tables will then update to the new format.

      Follow good procedures, plan before you setup a new document and the formatting will be easy and consistent.

      A script can be good if you have more complex requirements for correct/update an existing document.

    • #103926
      Graham Park
      Member

      Michel is right you may need to convert Header and Footer rows
      Highlight the row, Right Click and then select convert to Header etc.

    • #103972

      I’m getting close! I’m still putting things together just wanted to show you how far your help has taken me (https://imgur.com/a/uEXQ2a8). I have more questions-just wanted to say an interim thanks.

      Next step is getting data to fill the thing. Stay tuned..

    • #103973
      Graham Park
      Member

      Glade to hear you are making progress.
      What is your data source? Let us know and we should be able to help you to do this the easiest way.

    • #103975

      Just a comment 2 weeks after my first post:

      I suppose it’s not an urgent work to be achieved in a short delay? ;-)

      … and I don’t understand well what you mean about your mention “…getting data to fill the thing”.

      For me, it’s just a problem of layout! … So, I confirm my first comment! ;-)

      Best,
      Michel

    • #103976

      Michael and Graham,

      I am trying to teach myself how to make tables. The data source is an Excel document which I just got. The thing is that it comes in pre-formatted and I don’t understand how to control its format to make it look better and ready to receive the styles I’ve created for it in InDesign. I tried to set up a table with 26 columns and 88 rows and this is what happens https://imgur.com/a/8S2Rc50

      Thanks so much to both of you,
      Nicole

    • #103977

      … Because your import it as “tabulated text”!

      You need to import it as a “table”! Then apply a table Style (building the header/footer).

      You have to really understand how to play before becoming a “Tables Queen”! ;-)

      So, it’s a really good thing for you to learn more about tables!

      My eventual work for you: just give you the way to perfectly build hundreds of tables in just 1 click! … But this is just a detail and truly less important than your personal learning!

      Best,
      Michel

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