How to use Word table styles in the same way reference-doc can be used for text styles?

[sam-slamowicz]

Description

I've been using quarto to create reports in .docx format that integrate with much larger reports. This means I need styling to match word documents created by others (non-quarto users). The reference-doc option is great for this, as it means I can just reference all the very specific word styles that are required for the textual elements of the report. For example, with custom styles in the reference-doc:

::: {custom-style="Custom Body Test"}
TEXT HERE
::: 
::: {custom-style="Custom Bullets 1"}
BULLET POINT 1

BULLET POINT 2
::: 

I'm now trying to do the same with tables. We have custom-made word styles for tables, which I would like to be able to be include in the .docx render without having to open it up and select the style myself. I haven't worked out how to do this in quarto, as it seems that table styles are separate to text styles, and so referencing the table style name doesn't work. Any advice would be much appreciated.

[mcanouil]

Have you looked into Pandoc's GitHub (issues and discussions) for this, as Word document support comes from it, others might have already asked about this there.

• https://github.com/jgm/pandoc

[cderv]

We have custom-made word styles for tables, which I would like to be able to be include in the .docx render without having to open it up and select the style myself. I haven't worked out how to do this in quarto, as it seems that table styles are separate to text styles, and so referencing the table style name doesn't work.

With Pandoc reference-doc, I believe you need to modified the Table style in your reference. Pandoc DOCX writer will use this style.

Here is a good read on how Docx can be customized using Pandoc: https://rnwest.engineer/auto-generate-docx-with-pandoc/#how-to-edit-styles

This should work with Quarto too.

I don't think as of now Pandoc allows to select custom style for Table like for paragraph.

[Steinthal]

You're right, cderv, that Pandoc does not support custom table styles. I ended up using some Word macros to change Word's standard table style(s) to my custom style(s).