How to resolve incorrect formatting getting applied within Word ta

[Jason Nichols]

I have experienced a formatting issue that only ever occurs within tables in
Word documents. I use Word templates with styles defined, and from time to
time in documents attached to those templates, styles within tables will
appear with incorrect formatting. When I check, the proper style is applied
to the text in the table, and that style is still defined correctly, so I
can't see why the table text appears incorrectly.

For example, in several documents, when I select a particular table in order
to sort its contents, the font in the table changes from Times New Roman to
Tahoma.

On other occasions, I will open a document that looked perfectly fine
before, but now shows table text that has the formatting properties of a
completely different style than is actually applied to that text.

Running the "Open and Repair" function on these documents does not resolve
the issue. Any guidance you can provide on how to avoid/resolve this issue is
appreciated.

I am using Word 2003. Thank you.

 

[Stefan Blom]

What you are seeing is caused by the table styles; see
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/tablestyles/index.html.

 

[MBod]

I am having the same problem and reading the article doesn't explain why it
happens.
For example I'll save a word document with a table having a specific table
style.

When I reopen the document the table appears in a style not related to it or
any of the paragraphs with the table, for example note text.

Its a great feature but if you can't rely it's worthless.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Your problem might be caused by either "Automatically update document
styles" being checked in Tools | Templates and Add-ins or (even more likely)
"Define styles based on your formatting" at Tools | AutoCorrect Options |
AutoFormat As You Type.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

 

[PamC via OfficeKB.com]

You_can_ resolve incorrect formatting caused by table styles in which font
formatting has been set:

When using W2003, by selecting the table and clearing the character and
paragraph formatting (Ctrl+spacebar and Ctrl+Q) and applying the unmodified
table grid style. The unmodified table grid description should be similar to
Table Normal + Box: (Single solid line, auto, 0.5 pt line width). If it is
not unmodified, deleting it will causer Word to return it to its default
state.Tables styles are a good and fast way of applying several decorative
elements (shading, banded rows and columns, fancy borders) and other useful
settings such as heading rows repeat and keep with next for the heading row.
Use paragraph styles to format the text. Four paragraph styles—table headings,
table text, and table bullet levels— should be enough.

When using W2007, by moving the fonts settings in the normal style to
document defaults, leaving the normal's description something like Font:
(Default) +Body, Left, Widow/Orphan control, Style: Quick Style. The font
settings in the table style should now work as intended. OR by using the
method described for W2003.

Pam