AutoFormat Table Styles

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Foreword

"AutoFormat" dialog

Basis of this description and the video is the Online help function and the documentation of LibreOffice.

The video "AutoFormat Tabellenvorlagen - LibreOffice" links to this page here, which contains further information and details.

The procedure and menu navigation is partly different in Calc and Writer.

Warning: Use AutoFormat for tables only for simple tables where no cells are connected and you do not need additional formatting.

Link to the Video

Link to the Video (in German [DE]):

AutoFormat Tabellenvorlagen - LibreOffice

AutoFormat for tables (short form)

Automatically applies format settings to the current table, including fonts, background and borders.

To access the command:

• Place the cursor in the table
• Select Table ▸ AutoFormat Styles… from the menu.

To format a table automatically

1. Click in a table cell or select the cells to format.
2. Choose Table ▸ AutoFormat Styles… and then click on the format you want to assign.
3. Click OK.

Note: The AutoFormat may not give the desired result for complex tables.

Options in the "AutoFormat" dialog

"AutoFormat" dialog

Format

Displays a list of available Styles for tables.

Click the required format, and then click OK.

Add

Adds a new Table Style to the list.

1. Select the entire table, then choose Table ▸ AutoFormat Styles….
2. Click Add.
3. In the "Add AutoFormat" dialog, enter a name, then click OK.

Delete

Deletes the selected Table Styles.

You cannot delete the "Default Table Style".

Rename

Changes the name of the selected Table Style.

You cannot rename the "Default Table Style".

Formatting

Select the formatting attributes to be applied to the Table Style.

Number format

Includes number formats in the selected Table Style.

Font

Includes the font in the selected Table Style.

Alignment

Includes the alignment in the selected Table Style.

Outlines

Includes borders in the selected Table Style.

Pattern

Includes background patterns in the selected Table Style.

AutoFit width and height

Includes the function that automatically adjusts the width and height of the cells (only in Calc).

Apply AutoFormat Styles

Tables should often look representative.

Doing this manually each time, especially if you have to create tables frequently, is very time-consuming.

To simplify this work, you can use the "AutoFormat Styles" function to automatically apply desired formats to a table or a selected cell range.

Select cells in Calc

Select at least 4 x 4 cells, or larger - the size of the table as it will be later, including the required column and row headings and totals to be formatted automatically.

Then select Format ▸ AutoFormat Styles….

Select cells in Writer

Select the cells in the table, including the required column and row headings and totals, to be automatically formatted.

Then select Table ▸ AutoFormat Styles….

Definitions in the "AutoFormat" dialog

In the "AutoFormat" dialog you can now select which format - ("Number format", "Font", "Alignment", "Borders", "Pattern" and in Calc "AutoFit with and hight") - you wish to include in the AutoFormat.

Select the desired "Formatting" and click on OK.

Redefine an AutoFormat Styles

If you don't like any of the given formats, you can also create a format yourself.

To do this, format an area on the spreadsheet of at least 3 times 3 cells, or larger, as large as the spreadsheet is to be later, including the headings for rows and columns and the display of totals.

Now you define all details for the Style.

This includes the font and font size, alignment, border, number format and colours.

When the table is complete, select the entire table area and choose Format ▸ AutoFormat Styles… in Calc or Table ▸ AutoFormat Styles… in Writer.

In the "AutoFormat" dialog click Add.

In the "Add AutoFormat" dialog that opens, enter a Name (e.g. "Format_01") for a new format and click OK.

The newly created format, "Format_01", is now displayed in the "AutoFormat" dialog, on the left side of the list with the name.

You close the dialog with OK.

You can now use the new format "Format_01".

Value Highlightning

"Value Highlightning" in Calc shows the contents of the cells in different colours depending on the type.

Choose View ▸ Value Highlightning from the menu bar or press Ctrl+F8.

By default, text cells are formatted in black, formulas in green, number cells in blue.

Protected cells are displayed with a light grey background, no matter how their display is formatted.

Sidebar - Styles / Table Styles in Writer

The sidebar ( F11 ) displays the Table Styles that are also in the list in the "AutoFormat" dialog.

Once you have added a new AutoFormat Style, it is also selectable in the sidebar for Table Styles.

So you can also mark a table and assign the desired Table Style with a double click.

Note: AutoFormat Styles = Table Styles

Warning: Changes or new AutoFormat Styles should always be made via the Table ▸ AutoFormat… menu and not in the Table Styles.

Further information

File

Description of this Wiki page as a file (in German [DE]):

"AutoFormat Tabellenvorlagen.odt"

Related topics

Cell Styles in Calc

Documentation / Manuals

Here you will find the Documentation / Manuals:

Documentation / Manuals

Any more questions?

For questions on this topic go to:

Ask.LibreOffice

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