Adobe FrameMaker: Custom Table Rules

Posted on: August 3rd, 2010Author: barb.binderCategory: Adobe FrameMaker

By Barb Binder, Adobe Certified Instructor on FrameMaker
Updated: Jul 28, 2023

Ever wondered how to edit the rules listed in Table Designer? When you are designing a new table format, or refining an existing one, you need to make decisions about how the ruling lines should look in your tables. When you go to the Ruling properties of the Table Designer, you are presented with 10 lists of available ruling styles (all represented by the word “Thin” in the screen shot below).

In a new, default document, each list looks like this:

But what if you have other plans for your table rules? Let’s say you’d like a thicker line than Thick, or perhaps want to use any color other than the default black? Did you know that you can add/edit ruling styles through Custom Ruling & Shading? I didn’t think so. This is one of my regular polling questions in my FrameMaker classes, and most students simply stare blankly at me when I ask the question. Based on my many years in front of FrameMaker students, this particular feature is not one I’d label as “discoverable” (Adobe-speak for a feature you’ll easily find and figure out on your own).

Here’s how to modify the ruling line lists:

1. Open Table > Custom Ruling & Shading
   
   
2. Click on one of the ruling styles in the list (I picked “Thick”) and then click the Edit Ruling Style button. Now, what you do on the Name line will impact how the styles lists are modified:
   1. If you leave a default name you will update the existing style;
   2. If you type a new name, you will leave the default styles alone, and will be adding a new style to the list.
3. In my example, I’m adding a new style called “Thick Green”. Pick the color, pattern, width (which means height), and whether you want a single or double line. I’m going with a 6 pt Forest Green rule.
   
4. Click Set to add/modify the ruling style, but don’t click Apply! That would assign your new rule to whatever is selected in the table. Instead, just close or collapse the panel.
   
5. Return to Ruling properties in the Table Designer and drop down any of the lists, and presto! Your new (or improved) ruling style is ready to go.