Why is redefine table style always disabled?

[Thomas_Calvin]

It doesn't matter if I select rows in the table, or just have the insertion point in it. "Redefine style" is always greyed out in the Table panel.

Why?

[Robert at ID-Tasker · Accepted solution]

You need to have local overrides first - "+" after the name:

[Thomas_Calvin]

Thanks. Looks like it's neglecting to pick up quite a few changes, such as "cell insets."

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Are the cell insets part of a linked Cell Style?

[Thomas_Calvin]

There are no cell-specific styles shown in the cell-related sections of the Properties panel or if you press the "Cell Options" button.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

I'm referring to the Table Styles:

[Thomas_Calvin]

Thanks. Since I didn't have any cell styles (because those aren't shown in the UI anywhere), those drop-downs contained nothing of interest.

But there, buried inexplicably in a submenu of the Window menu, are "cell styles."

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

They Cell Styles in my screen capture would be from the Cell Styles under the Window menu. The benefit of adding the Cell Styles to the Table Style is the Cell Styles are applied automatically when the Table Style is applied. However, there is no requirement to use them in the Table Style. 

When you apply Cell Styles to a table, it will not show the Table Style as modified (the plus sign). It is the same principe of applying a Character Style to text with a Paragraph Style--it is not considered an override. 

[Thomas_Calvin]

Thanks. I do see how the default cell style specification in the table style is essential; so once I set up a cell style, I specified it in my table style.

But now I'm finding that even when you re-apply the table style to a table, it won't overwrite local changes to the cell formatting. You must laboriously apply the cell style by right-clicking all cells and using the "overwrite local changes" option. Anyway... I think have it in shape now.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Thanks. I do see how the default cell style specification in the table style is essential; so once I set up a cell style, I specified it in my table style.

But now I'm finding that even when you re-apply the table style to a table, it won't overwrite local changes to the cell formatting. You must laboriously apply the cell style by right-clicking all cells and using the "overwrite local changes" option. Anyway... I think have it in shape now.

By @Thomas_Calvin

No, you need first to clear overrides. 

But best, is to select whole Table, apply CellStyle [None] - then clear TableStyle overrides - then apply TableStyle. 

Pretty much the same as when clearing local overrides in text. 

[Thomas_Calvin]

Thanks. I just tested this, and it didn't clear a justification change I'd made to the text in one column.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Thanks. I just tested this, and it didn't clear a justification change I'd made to the text in one column.

By @Thomas_Calvin

Text formatting is only affected when ParaStyle is defined in the CellStyle. 

The same as with ObjectStyles - they can modify text inside the TextFrame - IF this option is activated in the ObjectStyle. 

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Can you upload the table without any critical/private info? You can also click on my name and message me. 

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

No--you need to select the table, set the Cell Styles to None, then clear any table overrides. However, this may not clear any manually applied Paragraph styles or formats. 

I usually like to

1. Create my Paragraph styles for the table (I don't reuse other styles but create ones just for the table).
2. Create my Cell Styles that link to the paragraph styles, usually without any other formatting.
3. Create the Table style and select the appropriate Cell styles. 

I never apply paragraph styles or formatting directly to the table. If I need a custom paragraph style, I create the Cell style linked to it, and apply the Cell style. This method also makes it very easy to link to Excel files for constantly changing tables. 

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

... Since I didn't have any cell styles (because those aren't shown in the UI anywhere),...

By @Thomas_Calvin

Cell styles are shown in the Cell Styles panel, so they are in the UI. 

Personally, I would avoid the Properties panel and use separate panels (e.g., Control panel, Paragraph Style, Character Style, Object Style, Table Style, Cell Styles, etc.). The Properties panel tends not to give you the complete picture as to your settings. I don't use it at all, but you can use it if you wish--just don't ignore the more important panels. 

[Thomas_Calvin]

The Cell Styles panel is hidden by default.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

The Cell Styles panel is hidden by default.

By @Thomas_Calvin

Set the workspace the way you want - and save it. 

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

As are most of the critical panels. It's the user's job to set them up. Unfortunately, it requires knowledge of the panels in the first place...

Here is an example of my typical workspace. The arrow points to the Table/Cell styles that I collapse when not needed. 

[Thomas_Calvin]

"It's the user's job to set them up".

When the designer is derelict.

"Unfortunately, it requires knowledge of the panels in the first place..."

Indeed, and the utter disorganization of InDesign's menus takes design dereliction beyond the up-front GUI into the organization of all the application's functions.

Anyway, my setup evolved akin to yours, except I have the panels docked into the vertical strip to the left of the Property-tab group on the right side of the screen. I don't have the screen real-estate to create a quilt of mostly-empty panes the way you have.