Formatting Issues

How to Maintain Alternating Row Shading When Removing Rows in a Word Table

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to ensure that the alternating background colors of a table's rows remain aligned and continuous even after deleting, inserting, or moving rows.

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Modifying the structure of a table that features alternating white and gray row shading by removing or adding rows.
Observed behavior: When rows are deleted or moved, the manually applied shading is disrupted, causing two adjacent rows to share the same color and breaking the alternating pattern.

Before you start

Select your entire table and clear any manually applied cell background colors to ensure the new automatic table style can apply its shading correctly.

Solution 1Recommended

Apply a Table Style with Banded Rows Enabled

Using built-in table styles with the Banded Rows feature automatically adjusts and recalculates row shading whenever the table structure changes.

The most effective way to maintain an alternating row pattern is to let the word processor handle the shading dynamically. By applying a predefined Table Style, the software recognizes odd and even rows and colors them accordingly, regardless of how many rows you add or delete.

Select the Table

Click anywhere inside your table. A four-sided arrow icon will appear at the top-left corner; click it to select the entire table.

Access Table Design Tools

Navigate to the 'Table Design' tab that appears on the top ribbon menu once the table is selected.

Enable Banded Rows

In the 'Table Style Options' group on the left side of the ribbon, check the box labeled 'Banded Rows'.

Choose a Table Style

Browse the 'Table Styles' gallery and select a design that features the alternating row colors you prefer. The banding will now automatically update if you remove or add rows.

Avoid Direct Formatting: Always avoid manually using the Shading bucket tool on specific rows for alternating colors. Direct cell formatting overrides table styles and is the primary reason shading breaks during row deletion.

Advanced Table Formatting

Easily Manage Table Styles and Banding in WPS Writer

WPS Writer provides intuitive and powerful table design tools, allowing you to instantly apply auto-updating banded rows to your tables. It processes formatting flawlessly and is fully compatible with Microsoft Word documents.

1. Open your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document containing your table.
2. Select Table Tools: Click inside the table to bring up the 'Table Tools' tab on the ribbon.
3. Activate Banded Rows: Check the 'Banded Rows' option in the Table Style Options section.
4. Apply a Style: Choose your preferred alternating color template from the Table Styles gallery.

One-click table styles with dynamic, automatic banded rows.Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) table formats.Free, lightweight, and fast-loading office suite.Familiar interface for seamless document formatting without a learning curve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my table lose its alternating colors after I deleted a row?

If you manually applied background colors to specific rows using the standard shading tool, deleting a row removes that specific colored row entirely, disrupting the manual pattern. You must use Table Styles to keep the color pattern dynamic.

How do I remove manual shading before applying a table style?

Select your entire table, go to the Home tab or Table Design tab, click the Shading drop-down icon (paint bucket), and choose 'No Color'. This clears manual formatting so the new automatic table style can take effect.

Can I customize the specific colors used in the alternating rows?

Yes. Right-click any existing table style in the Table Design gallery and select 'Modify Table Style'. From the formatting dialog, apply formatting to 'Odd banded rows' or 'Even banded rows' to set your custom colors.

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