How to Fix First and Last Column Table Styles Not Showing in Office
Question details
A custom table style with special formatting for the first and last columns is applied, but the specific column formatting does not display.
- Product
- Office Word/Spreadsheets
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user is applying a custom table style and expects the predefined first and last column colors to appear automatically.
- Observed behavior
- Header and banded-row styles work correctly, but the custom formatting for the first and last columns fails to show up on the table.
Ensure you have correctly defined the formatting for the First Column and Last Column elements when creating or modifying your custom table style.
Enable Column Options in Table Design Settings
Activate the specific toggles within the Table Design tab to display your custom column formatting.
In Microsoft Office and similar word processing software, applying a custom table style does not automatically turn on all formatting elements. Features like special first and last columns, total rows, and banded rows are controlled by individual toggle boxes in the Table Style Options group. You must explicitly tell the application to display them.
Click anywhere inside your table. This will reveal the Table Design or Table Tools ribbon tab at the top of the window.
Click on the 'Table Design' tab and look for the 'Table Style Options' group, typically located on the far left side of the ribbon.
Check the boxes next to 'First Column' and 'Last Column'. This activates the special formatting defined in your custom table style for these specific columns.
Format Tables Professionally with WPS Writer
WPS Office provides an intuitive Table Style feature, allowing you to easily customize and apply styles to headers, banded rows, and specific columns with just a few clicks.
- 1. Insert or Select Table: Open your document in WPS Writer and click anywhere inside the target table.
- 2. Open Table Tools: Navigate to the 'Table Tools' tab that appears on the top ribbon menu.
- 3. Enable Column Styles: In the 'Table Style Options' section on the left, check the 'First Column' and 'Last Column' options to apply your custom styles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my banded rows not showing in the table style?
Similar to the first and last column settings, banded rows must be explicitly enabled. Check the 'Banded Rows' box in the Table Style Options group under the Table Design tab to activate alternating row colors.
Can I format the total row differently in a custom table style?
Yes, you can define specific formatting for the 'Total Row' in the Modify Style dialog. To display it on your document, simply check the 'Total Row' option in the Table Design tab.
How do I modify an existing custom table style?
Right-click the table style in the Table Styles gallery and select 'Modify Table Style'. From the dialog box, you can adjust formatting for the whole table or target specific elements like the first column or header row.
