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Participant
November 20, 2024
Answered

Default Table style issues

  • November 20, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 421 views

I have a monster file that includes hundreds of linked tables (this is not my choice, but I have to make it work!) Every time the tables files are updated it breaks the formatting and I have to manually change the table style back.  Is there any way to set the default table style in preferences or to select and change the table style with find/replace?  I can't find a way around imported tables being set to [No Table Style] or a way to set up a default table style for the whole document. 

I don't understand why we can't edit the [No Table Style] option like you can with default paragraph styles - 

Is there a script that might help?  I have more than one table style, but the majority of them need to be the same and this feels like a basic thing I should be able to set up. I would love it if there was something simple I was missing that would fix the issue!

Correct answer brian_p_dts

app.activeDocument.stories.everyItem().tables.everyItem().appliedTableStyle = "your default style";

2 replies

Robert at ID-Tasker
Legend
November 21, 2024

@lorrit54738942

 

If you work on Windows you could use my ID-Tasker tool - not free, but can save you a lot of time. You can load all tables from your document, filter them - select ones that you want to process - then apply specific Table Style. You can also style specific Cells/Columns/Rows based on their contents - text, numerical value or formatting. And once you create a Task - you can use it again on multiple files. 

 

Participant
November 21, 2024

Thanks Robert - I'm on a Mac, but your tool looks really interesting!  I use plenty of actions in Photoshop and have often wished for a similar function in InDesign, I can use scripts but writing them is a bit beyond me I'm afraid. 

brian_p_dts
Community Expert
brian_p_dtsCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
November 20, 2024

app.activeDocument.stories.everyItem().tables.everyItem().appliedTableStyle = "your default style";

Participant
November 20, 2024

Thank you so much!  That worked really well!  I'll still have to check through to make sure nothing breaks, but this will save me so much time.