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Configuring Shading

You can configure shading options for table objects that apply to the entire table and/or to one or more rows, columns, and cells.

ClosedTable Shading

You can configure shading for the entire table by using the table object's Borders and Shading property page.

After shading is applied to the entire table, you can further customize the shading of any rows, columns, or cells within the table.

ClosedTo configure table shading by using the Borders and Shading property page

  1. Open the Table Properties dialog. To do this, double-click the table object. Alternatively, use the secondary mouse button to click the table object, and then click Properties.

  2. In the navigation pane, click Borders and Shading to display the Borders and Shading property page.

  3. In the Shading section, click to select the shading option that you want: Normal (which applies the shading to all cells in the table), Alternating Rows, or Alternating Columns.

  4. Specify the fill and transparency properties that you want for the shading option that you selected.

ClosedRow Shading

You can configure row shading by using the table object's Borders and Shading property page or Rows property page.

ClosedTo configure row shading by using the Borders and Shading property page

  1. Use the secondary mouse button to click a cell in the row that you want, point to Select, and then click This Row. Alternatively, hold down the Shift key while you click the right-most or left-most cell in the row, and then drag the pointer across the row until the entire row is selected.

  2. Open the Table Properties dialog. To do this, double-click the table object. Alternatively, use the secondary mouse button to click the selected row, and then click Properties.

  3. In the navigation pane, click Borders and Shading to display the Borders and Shading property page.

  4. In the Shading section, specify the fill and transparency properties that you want.

To select two or more adjacent rows, hold down the Shift key while you click the right-most or left-most cell in the first or last row that you want, and then drag the pointer across the rows that you want until each of the rows is entirely selected.

ClosedTo configure row shading by using the Rows property page

  1. Open the Table Properties dialog. To do this, double-click the object. Alternatively, use the secondary mouse button to click the object, and then click Properties.

  2. In the navigation pane, click Rows to display the Rows property page.

  3. In the Rows pane, click to select the row that you want.

  4. In the Row Properties pane, specify the Shading Mode and Fill properties that you want.

In a static table (a table that does not import dynamic data), when you specify the alternating shading mode on the Rows property page, the existing subsequent rows in the table are not automatically shaded. Instead, the shading is applied to any row that you subsequently insert above or below the row to which you have applied this setting.

This option is especially helpful in a dynamic table when you specify the alternating shading mode for a row that has a Data table data template. In this case, the alternating shaded rows are dynamically created for the rows of data that are required. For more information about dynamic tables, refer to Creating Tables that Use Dynamic Data.

ClosedColumn Shading

You can configure column shading by using the table object's Borders and Shading property page or Columns property page.

ClosedTo configure column shading by using the Borders and Shading property page

  1. Use the secondary mouse button to click a cell in the column that you want, point to Select, and then click This Column. Alternatively, hold down the Shift key while you click the top or bottom cell in the column, and then drag the pointer through the column until the entire column is selected.

  2. Open the Table Properties dialog. To do this, double-click the table object. Alternatively, use the secondary mouse button to click the selected column, and then click Properties.

  3. In the navigation pane, click Borders and Shading to display the Borders and Shading property page.

  4. In the Shading section, specify the fill and transparency properties that you want.

To select two or more adjacent columns, hold down the Shift key while you click the top or bottom cell in the first or last column that you want, and then drag the pointer through the columns that you want until each of the columns is entirely selected.

ClosedTo configure column shading by using the Columns property page

  1. Open the Table Properties dialog. To do this, double-click the object. Alternatively, use the secondary mouse button to click the object, and then click Properties.

  2. In the navigation pane, click Columns to display the Columns property page.

  3. In the Columns pane, click to select the column that you want.

  4. In the Column Properties pane, specify the Shading Mode and Fill properties that you want.

In a static table (a table that does not import dynamic data), when you specify the alternating shading mode on the Columns property page, the existing subsequent columns in the table are not automatically shaded. Instead, the shading is applied to any column that you subsequently insert to the left or right of the column to which you have applied this setting.

This option is especially helpful in a dynamic table when you specify the alternating shading mode for a column that has a Data table data template. In this case, the alternating shaded columns are dynamically created for the columns of data that are required. For more information about dynamic tables, refer to Creating Tables that Use Dynamic Data.

ClosedCell Shading

ClosedTo configure shading for a cell

  1. Use the secondary mouse button to click the cell that you want, point to Select, and then click This Cell. Alternatively, hold down the Shift key while you click the cell that you want.

  2. Open the Table Properties dialog. To do this, double-click the table object. Alternatively, use the secondary mouse button to click the selected cell, and then click Properties.

  3. In the navigation pane, click Borders and Shading to display the Borders and Shading property page.

  4. In the Shading section, specify the fill and transparency properties that you want.

To select two or more adjacent cells, hold down the Shift key while you click a cell, and then drag the pointer through the adjacent cells that you want.

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