Table style not saving in Numbers

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Level 1

8 points

Table style not saving in Numbers

When I open a table or add a new tab I want it completely blank with no table formatting. I've managed to save this as a template which is fine when I open a new document, but when I want to add a new tab to an existing table I get the formatted tables. When I try to save a blank table as a new template in the 'table' tab in the sidebar, it doesn't save. I have followed the instructions here https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/numbers/tan6698de8db/mac but it doesn't work.

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 12.7

Posted on Jul 17, 2024 11:45 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Badunit

Level 7

31,142 points

Jul 17, 2024 5:38 PM in response to Flipjango

The top left style is the one that is used for new tables. So,

Format a table the way you want it.
Select it
Redefine the top left table style to be that table (right click on the top left style and choose "Redefine Style from Selection"

Alternatively you can create a new table style from your table then drag that style to be the one in the top left.

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Answer 2

Badunit

Level 7

31,142 points

Jul 18, 2024 5:45 AM in response to Flipjango

Ahh. I see what you are talking about. I don't think table styles are going to do that for you, unfortunately. You can specify header cell color, data cell color, font, and a host of other things but it looks like they designed it so new tables are always 5 columns x 10 rows with one header row and one header column and I don't see a way to change that.

One workaround is to have a spare sheet that you duplicate to create new sheets. Or you can create a new sheet the regular way, delete the default table, then copy/paste the special table in its place. That might be quicker than reformatting every new table. For creating a new table on an existing sheet, you can copy/paste the table from that spare sheet or copy/paste a filled-in table then delete its contents and any formatting you might have applied in it. If you open another copy of your template you can copy/paste a blank table from it rather than having an extra sheet in your document. None of this is a perfect solution, just some ideas that might make it easier.

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Answer 3

Flipjango Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 17, 2024 10:51 PM in response to Badunit

Thank you for trying to help, but I'm afraid that doesn't work. When I make a new table style (which involves turning off the headers and adding more rows and columns so it looks more like the starting sheet from excel) and then save it, the saved table is always the basic starter table with a dark grey top row and first column. Redefining the top left table does nothing and it stays the same. The new table I save is the same as the top left table. Nothing I do makes any difference. What can I be doing wrong?

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Table style not saving in Numbers

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