Can't get outside border in table in PDF

[ksoltys]

I am trying to get a different format for my tables in the online (WebHelp) and PDF targets. In my WebHelp, I have a table style (Format_A), set up with a header row with a light blue background and rows with alternating white and light grey backgrounds. This seems to be working OK (although it doesn't always display correctly in the XML editor).

So now I'm working on getting my PDF output set up. I have copied the Format_A table style and renamed it Format_A-Print. What I want is the rows and colums to have a 1 point line between them, a 2 point line under the header row, and a 1 point outside border for the table.

In the TableStyle Editor, General tab, I have the outer borders set to a 1 point solid black line. This displays in the preview pane. I have borders set to "do not collapse all borders".

In my row and column settings, I have just one pattern (pattern 1, repeat=1), with a solid 1 point black separator. This displays properly, as does the two point separator under the header row.

I have the Format_A-Print table style set to be used as the Print Style in the table's Properties dialog box.

However, when I build the PDF, I don't get an outside border. I do get the proper row and column separators and the heavier line under the header row.

I've tried everythign I can think of and nothing makes any difference.

What am I missing?

[GregStenhouse]

This could be caused by any number of things (local or main stylesheet overrides, content of the cells, medium settings, or even a bug with Flare). And if it's only showing up in the build (not the preview) it is going to be hard to troubleshoot. Do you have a maintenance plan with Madcap? If so I would suggest raising a support ticket for them to look at your project.

Cheers
Greg

[Nita Beck]

Many months ago, I was was trying to accomplish the same thing for PDF and WebHelp output, having different table styles for each. One particular table was especially misbehaving in the PDF. I simply could not get its borders to behave, and they seemed to work in one row and not in another, without rhyme or reason. I turned my project over to tech support to find the solution. Result = they could not explain why the table was not working in the PDF and suggested that I not use table styles!

Despite being disheartened by that news, I did indeed ditch the table styles and instead styled the tables with table, td, and th classes that I added. I use separate stylesheets for my PDF and WebHelp styles (I dislike mediums; that's another story), so I just made sure that I had the same set of styles created in each, but defined them uniquely in each. Ever since going to this approach, my tables behave beautifully. Never a missing border.

Until I'm convinced that Flare's table styles work as advertised, I avoid them.

This probably isn't what you wanted to hear, but I hope it helps point you to a solution, even a different one than my solution.

Nita