spurious paragraph styles appearing in tables

[HelenaB]

When I open a Word 2003 document the table formatting changes because a
paragraph style has been applied as a table style. This paragraph style has
not been used to format the text within the table cells, another style is
used for this. The paragraph style has not been used anywhere in the document
although it is one of the styles available within the document. The table is
formatted with Table Grid.

I can see the spurious style in Reveal Formatting. I can remove the style
and revert back to the correct table style by pressing Ctrl + Q (Reset Para).

I have tried removing the spurious paragraph style only for Word to pick up
another style. This is entirely random.

Could someone tell me why this could be happening.

Thanks
HelenaB

[Stefan Blom]

Text formatting is complicated within tables; see
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/tablestyles/index.html.
--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Post by HelenaB
When I open a Word 2003 document the table formatting changes because a
paragraph style has been applied as a table style. This paragraph style has
not been used to format the text within the table cells, another style is
used for this. The paragraph style has not been used anywhere in the document
although it is one of the styles available within the document. The table is
formatted with Table Grid.
I can see the spurious style in Reveal Formatting. I can remove the style
and revert back to the correct table style by pressing Ctrl + Q (Reset Para).
I have tried removing the spurious paragraph style only for Word to pick up
another style. This is entirely random.
Could someone tell me why this could be happening.
Thanks
HelenaB

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

In addition to what Stefan has said, make sure that "Define styles based on
your formatting" is not checked in Tools | AutoCorrect Options | AutoFormat
As You Type.
--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

Post by HelenaB
When I open a Word 2003 document the table formatting changes because a
paragraph style has been applied as a table style. This paragraph style has
not been used to format the text within the table cells, another style is
used for this. The paragraph style has not been used anywhere in the document
although it is one of the styles available within the document. The table is
formatted with Table Grid.
I can see the spurious style in Reveal Formatting. I can remove the style
and revert back to the correct table style by pressing Ctrl + Q (Reset Para).
I have tried removing the spurious paragraph style only for Word to pick up
another style. This is entirely random.
Could someone tell me why this could be happening.
Thanks
HelenaB

[Stefan Blom]

Good point.

Indeed, "Define styles..." actually means "Apply style more or less at
random." <sigh>
--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Post by Suzanne S. Barnhill
In addition to what Stefan has said, make sure that "Define styles based
on your formatting" is not checked in Tools | AutoCorrect Options |
AutoFormat As You Type.
--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

Post by HelenaB
When I open a Word 2003 document the table formatting changes because a
paragraph style has been applied as a table style. This paragraph style has
not been used to format the text within the table cells, another style is
used for this. The paragraph style has not been used anywhere in the document
although it is one of the styles available within the document. The table is
formatted with Table Grid.
I can see the spurious style in Reveal Formatting. I can remove the style
and revert back to the correct table style by pressing Ctrl + Q (Reset Para).
I have tried removing the spurious paragraph style only for Word to pick up
another style. This is entirely random.
Could someone tell me why this could be happening.
Thanks
HelenaB

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

In my (limited) experience, it may mean "Apply a style whose formatting more
or less matches the formatting you've applied." But when I had Footer-style
paragraphs turning up in tables, I *knew* it was not my doing!
--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

Post by Stefan Blom
Good point.
Indeed, "Define styles..." actually means "Apply style more or less at
random." <sigh>
--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Post by Suzanne S. Barnhill
In addition to what Stefan has said, make sure that "Define styles based
on your formatting" is not checked in Tools | AutoCorrect Options |
AutoFormat As You Type.
--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

Post by HelenaB
When I open a Word 2003 document the table formatting changes because a
paragraph style has been applied as a table style. This paragraph style has
not been used to format the text within the table cells, another style is
used for this. The paragraph style has not been used anywhere in the document
although it is one of the styles available within the document. The
table
is
formatted with Table Grid.
I can see the spurious style in Reveal Formatting. I can remove the style
and revert back to the correct table style by pressing Ctrl + Q (Reset Para).
I have tried removing the spurious paragraph style only for Word to pick up
another style. This is entirely random.
Could someone tell me why this could be happening.
Thanks
HelenaB

[Stefan Blom]

When I wrote "at random" I was actually thinking of the Footer style. I
sometimes see it applied to paragraphs outside of the footer area (body
text, footnotes) in documents I receive from students (and colleagues). I
could be wrong, but it does seem to be less of a problem with Word 2007 than
with previous versions.
--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Post by Suzanne S. Barnhill
In my (limited) experience, it may mean "Apply a style whose formatting
more or less matches the formatting you've applied." But when I had
Footer-style paragraphs turning up in tables, I *knew* it was not my
doing!
--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

Post by Stefan Blom
Good point.
Indeed, "Define styles..." actually means "Apply style more or less at
random." <sigh>
--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Post by Suzanne S. Barnhill
In addition to what Stefan has said, make sure that "Define styles based
on your formatting" is not checked in Tools | AutoCorrect Options |
AutoFormat As You Type.
--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

Post by HelenaB
When I open a Word 2003 document the table formatting changes because a
paragraph style has been applied as a table style. This paragraph style has
not been used to format the text within the table cells, another style is
used for this. The paragraph style has not been used anywhere in the document
although it is one of the styles available within the document. The
table
is
formatted with Table Grid.
I can see the spurious style in Reveal Formatting. I can remove the style
and revert back to the correct table style by pressing Ctrl + Q (Reset Para).
I have tried removing the spurious paragraph style only for Word to
pick
up
another style. This is entirely random.
Could someone tell me why this could be happening.
Thanks
HelenaB

[Pamelia Caswell via OfficeKB.com]

Actually I've seen the behavior you describe when there are convoluted char
styles in the file. They are pretty much unavoidable in Word 2003. And they
cause the weirdest behavior: The header or footer style suddenly becomes
TOC5 or the size of Body Text becomes 3 points every time I open the file.
Getting rid of char (broken) styles is the only sure fix for this. But it
has steadily gotten harder to do that because the MS programmers seem to
think that we are imagining these problems and have taken great pains to
hide the broken styles from users. Styles either don't break or are much
less likely to break in W2007. I work mainly in W2007 but many of the files
I get were done in 2003 and they almost always have char styles. So I will
be so glad when my clients abandon W2003.

I doubt that table styles are the cause of your symptoms but just in case,
make sure that no font characteristics have been set in the table style (if
they have, set them back to the settings in normal or if, that doesn't work,
delete the table style and start over) and that you are using paragraph
styles to format the text in the tables.

HTH,
Pam

Post by HelenaB
When I open a Word 2003 document the table formatting changes because a
paragraph style has been applied as a table style. This paragraph style has
not been used to format the text within the table cells, another style is
used for this. The paragraph style has not been used anywhere in the document
although it is one of the styles available within the document. The table is
formatted with Table Grid.
I can see the spurious style in Reveal Formatting. I can remove the style
and revert back to the correct table style by pressing Ctrl + Q (Reset Para).
I have tried removing the spurious paragraph style only for Word to pick up
another style. This is entirely random.
Could someone tell me why this could be happening.
Thanks
HelenaB

[Stefan Blom]

For what it's worth, here is how I discovered char styles in Word 2007: In
the Find and Replace dialog box, click More, and then click Format, Style.
Take a look at the style listings in the dialog box. :-(
--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Post by Pamelia Caswell via OfficeKB.com
Actually I've seen the behavior you describe when there are convoluted char
styles in the file. They are pretty much unavoidable in Word 2003. And they
cause the weirdest behavior: The header or footer style suddenly becomes
TOC5 or the size of Body Text becomes 3 points every time I open the file.
Getting rid of char (broken) styles is the only sure fix for this. But it
has steadily gotten harder to do that because the MS programmers seem to
think that we are imagining these problems and have taken great pains to
hide the broken styles from users. Styles either don't break or are much
less likely to break in W2007. I work mainly in W2007 but many of the files
I get were done in 2003 and they almost always have char styles. So I will
be so glad when my clients abandon W2003.
I doubt that table styles are the cause of your symptoms but just in case,
make sure that no font characteristics have been set in the table style (if
they have, set them back to the settings in normal or if, that doesn't work,
delete the table style and start over) and that you are using paragraph
styles to format the text in the tables.
HTH,
Pam

Post by HelenaB
When I open a Word 2003 document the table formatting changes because a
paragraph style has been applied as a table style. This paragraph style has
not been used to format the text within the table cells, another style is
used for this. The paragraph style has not been used anywhere in the document
although it is one of the styles available within the document. The table is
formatted with Table Grid.
I can see the spurious style in Reveal Formatting. I can remove the style
and revert back to the correct table style by pressing Ctrl + Q (Reset Para).
I have tried removing the spurious paragraph style only for Word to pick up
another style. This is entirely random.
Could someone tell me why this could be happening.
Thanks
HelenaB

--
Message posted via http://www.officekb.com
.

[Pamelia Caswell via OfficeKB.com]

Yes, I found them there too.

Post by Stefan Blom
For what it's worth, here is how I discovered char styles in Word 2007: In
the Find and Replace dialog box, click More, and then click Format, Style.
Take a look at the style listings in the dialog box. :-(

[DeanH]

Exactly, the only place where I found them too.
I use the following macro to remove them so they don't show up, even on the
F&R Styles listing.
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister/MyFavTip.htm#CharStyl

All the best
DeanH

Post by Pamelia Caswell via OfficeKB.com
Yes, I found them there too.

Post by Stefan Blom
For what it's worth, here is how I discovered char styles in Word 2007: In
the Find and Replace dialog box, click More, and then click Format, Style.
Take a look at the style listings in the dialog box. :-(

--
Message posted via OfficeKB.com
http://www.officekb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/word-tables/201002/1
.

[Stefan Blom]

Good to know that the old macro is still useful...

I do find it disturbing that the char styles get created even though I don't
make use of the "Keep track of formatting" feature.
--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Post by DeanH
Exactly, the only place where I found them too.
I use the following macro to remove them so they don't show up, even on the
F&R Styles listing.
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister/MyFavTip.htm#CharStyl
All the best
DeanH

Post by Pamelia Caswell via OfficeKB.com
Yes, I found them there too.

Post by Stefan Blom
For what it's worth, here is how I discovered char styles in Word 2007: In
the Find and Replace dialog box, click More, and then click Format, Style.
Take a look at the style listings in the dialog box. :-(

--
Message posted via OfficeKB.com
http://www.officekb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/word-tables/201002/1
.

[Pamelia Caswell via OfficeKB.com]

The keep track of formatting has nothing to do with the creation of unlinked
styles. It just tells you when any instance of a style has direct formatting.
It a report and doesn't affect the style itself.

Styles break in W2002 and 3 when you apply a style to just part of a in a
different style paragraph or when you paste text in one style into part of a
paragraph of another style. One or both of the styles would have to be
linked. We couldn't tell when a style was linked except for a brief time with
W2003. BTW, MS describes the cause of char styles here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902064. But I never thought their hot fix
fixed anything.

I suspect that MS hides the unlinked styles because, though the linked do not
represent a corrupt or damaged document, deleting an unlinked style can
cause minor damage to a document and cause Word to close. (I've done so many
a time, and gladly, just to get rid of the flaky styles behavior.) But to
MS.) So they must think that the best way to keep users from damaging
documents that are perfectly OK (as far as they are concerned) is to hide
things from them. Sigh.

From what I can tell, linked styles don't break in W2007.

Pam


Pam

Post by Stefan Blom
Good to know that the old macro is still useful...
I do find it disturbing that the char styles get created even though I don't
make use of the "Keep track of formatting" feature.

Post by DeanH
Exactly, the only place where I found them too.
I use the following macro to remove them so they don't show up, even on

[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]

Post by DeanH

Post by Stefan Blom
Style.
Take a look at the style listings in the dialog box. :-(

[Stefan Blom]

You are right: I confused two things here. :-(

However, in Word 2007, I never apply a paragraph style to a selection, and I
have also selected "Disable Linked Styles" in the Styles pane, and still (as
discussed earlier in this thread) I obviously get the char styles anyway.

So I'd say that what is causing char styles in Word 2007 remains a mystery.
--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Post by Pamelia Caswell via OfficeKB.com
The keep track of formatting has nothing to do with the creation of
unlinked
styles. It just tells you when any instance of a style has direct formatting.
It a report and doesn't affect the style itself.
Styles break in W2002 and 3 when you apply a style to just part of a in a
different style paragraph or when you paste text in one style into part of a
paragraph of another style. One or both of the styles would have to be
linked. We couldn't tell when a style was linked except for a brief time with
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902064. But I never thought their hot fix
fixed anything.
I suspect that MS hides the unlinked styles because, though the linked do not
represent a corrupt or damaged document, deleting an unlinked style can
cause minor damage to a document and cause Word to close. (I've done so many
a time, and gladly, just to get rid of the flaky styles behavior.) But to
MS.) So they must think that the best way to keep users from damaging
documents that are perfectly OK (as far as they are concerned) is to hide
things from them. Sigh.
From what I can tell, linked styles don't break in W2007.
Pam
Pam

Post by Stefan Blom
Good to know that the old macro is still useful...
I do find it disturbing that the char styles get created even though I don't
make use of the "Keep track of formatting" feature.

Post by DeanH
Exactly, the only place where I found them too.
I use the following macro to remove them so they don't show up, even on

[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]

Post by DeanH

Post by Stefan Blom
Style.
Take a look at the style listings in the dialog box. :-(

--
Message posted via OfficeKB.com
http://www.officekb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/word-tables/201002/1

[Pamelia Caswell via OfficeKB.com]

Interesting. Early on with W2007, I did everything I could think of to break
a style and couldn't. But because of all the often unannounced changes since
about 2005 and because I work mainly in compatibility mode, I was loath to
say that styles don't break in W2007, but I was pretty sure they didn't. I
do get them in files created in W2003 and when I paste from 2003 docs into
2007. It worries me that you've gotten them.

Pam

Post by Stefan Blom
You are right: I confused two things here. :-(
However, in Word 2007, I never apply a paragraph style to a selection, and I
have also selected "Disable Linked Styles" in the Styles pane, and still (as
discussed earlier in this thread) I obviously get the char styles anyway.
So I'd say that what is causing char styles in Word 2007 remains a mystery.

Post by Pamelia Caswell via OfficeKB.com
The keep track of formatting has nothing to do with the creation of
unlinked

[quoted text clipped - 39 lines]

Post by Pamelia Caswell via OfficeKB.com

Post by Stefan Blom
Style.
Take a look at the style listings in the dialog box. :-(