Challenges with Styling and Editing Tables in InDesign

[Swandive stream]

Maybe I'm just inexperienced but trying to style and add rows/columns to tables feels like pulling teeth vs Microsoft Word for example. I'm aware they have different approaches and target users so it's not going to be 1:1 identical but does it feel a bit half-baked to you?

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[BobLevine]

The table features have received virtually no attention since CS2 or so when Adobe bought Table and Cell Styles plugin from Teacup Software and integrated into InDesign.

So, yeah...could use a lotta love like so many other version one features that never got looked at again.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Swandive stream

What exactly is not working for you?

[Barb Binder]

Hi @Swandive stream:

Adding rows and columns feels pretty straightforward to me—and quite similar to Word—can you share a little detail about where you are struggling?

As for formatting, tables vary widely in how they are formatted. Can you share a screenshot of where you are trying to go? Some formats are easy to do in InDesign, others, not so much. But maybe you are looking for the equivalent of the Table Layout ribbon with all of the one-click presets? There is nothing like that in InDesign—we do need to set up our table styles ourselves. That said, if you create a table style that takes advantage of InDesign's nested cell and table styles, you can format additional tables with just one click. When I teach tables, I encourage my students to design tables that can be formatted automatically with styles, and minimal manual overrides. That's admittedly tough when you are new to tables and don't quite understand the possibilities (and limitations). 

~Barb

[Swandive stream]

Maybe a preset to remove all strokes so the table can be used for layout-only purposes? I need to go through two different windows just to hide the borders (table and cell options). It feels like those could be condensed into one for easier access unless I'm missing something.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Maybe a preset to remove all strokes so the table can be used for layout-only purposes? I need to go through two different windows just to hide the borders (table and cell options). It feels like those could be condensed into one for easier access unless I'm missing something.

By @Swandive stream

Because you are working in "local overrides / formatting mode".

You should create a dedicated Table style, where you'll set your formatting - no strokes - and use it to "clear" your table. 

But for the best results - you should click Clear Overrides icon on both Cell & Table Style pallets before applying your Table Style. 

[Conrad_C]

Just removing strokes involves only two main steps, shown in the demo below:

1. Select the entire table by choosing the command Table > Select > Table. (I like to memorize its keyboard shortcut, shown next to the command.)

2. Choose Table > Cell Options > Strokes and Fills, and for Type, choose None.

And yes, you could reduce all of that to a single click by creating a Cell Style or a Table Style.

[Barb Binder]

Maybe a preset to remove all strokes so the table can be used for layout-only purposes?

By @Swandive stream 

There are lots of easy ways to remove the rules (@Conrad_C showed you one good option) and here's another variation:

But as I said, InDesign doesn't have a presets—instead, you can save a sample table (with formatting, row and column structure) as either a snippet or a CC Library item, see https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/reusing-graphics-text.html. 

Or you can create a table style that will remove the rules for you but won't remember the table structure (meaning number of rows or columns). It's maybe 3 minutes to set up but once done, you can load the style into other documents and never have to create it again. See https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/table-cell-styles.html.

If you need more details, just ask. 

~Barb 

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

As @BobLevine mentioned, the tables features haven't had major updates in 19-odd years. In fact, most of the long-document features have been in long-term hibernation--with no indication they will ever be improved. 

Word table and cell STYLES are a nice feature IF one knows how to use them. For really long documents or documents with lots of graphics/graphs, one really needs a program like InDesign. While not a easy to use or possibly even as powerful as Word's, InDesign's table and cell styles do make life a lot easier once one gets the hang of them.