It will be very useful if certain table lines can be given a different style &/or colour. for example: 1. If the external border and/or the line dividing the headings in a table and contents row below have a different thickness and/or colour. Instead of all boring and undistinguishable single style and colour. 2. Similarly it would helpful if the grouped columns and rows with in a table have the same style/colour and the next group have different. 3. this colourful feature can be used in calc and impress.
2. Similarly it would helpful if the grouped columns "and/or" rows with in a table have the same style/colour and the next group have different. 3. this colourful feature can be used in "writer," calc and impress. 4. This feature helps to highlight certain portions even in grayscale. Useful for designing specific forms, reports, etc. . 5. Fill colour/shade enhances the effect , But keeping minimum cells/rows/columns is more beautiful. If lines can have different styles filling can be reduced to minimum cells/rows/columns for extra enhancement. So More Informative and beautiful table. 6. good for economical printing.
This feature is implemented with Table > AutoFormat Styles... (who is responsible for the camel cases?!). Start with a new table and define the line style of the border for the first row. When finished you go to Table > AutFormat and "Add" the format of the current table. This format can be applied to other tables. You may define properties for for the first/last, odd/even, row/col for highlighting, font, alignment, etc. While this auto format is not easy to understand, "table styles" will be available with 5.3. There are some reports floating around, if you are curious. WORKSFORME
The enhancement request was implemented in v5.3 with table styles. That WFM.