Adobe FrameMaker 9: Table Rules

by Barbara Binder

Ever wondered how to edit the rules listed in FrameMaker's 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:



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. Choose 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.
   
   
   
   
3. Now, what you do on the Name line will impact how the styles lists are modified:
   
   
   • If you leave a default name you will update the existing style;
     
   • If you type a new name, you will leave the default styles alone, and will be adding a new style to the list.
     
4. In my example, I'm adding a new style called "Thickest". 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.
   
   
   
   
5. 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.
   
   
   
   
6. 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!
   
   
   

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If you are new to FrameMaker and want to get up to speed quickly, join IconLogic's instructor-led, online Introduction to Adobe FrameMaker class. Hope to "see" you there.

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About the author: Barbara Binder is the president and founder of Rocky Mountain Training. Barbara has been a trainer for nearly two decades and has been recognized by Adobe as one of the top trainers world-wide.