Table formatting options set to default on empty cells

[rikvdk]

I have a problem with table options getting defaulted on empty table cells. Consider the following simple code which creates a table:

var pptx = new PptxGenJS();
var slide = pptx.addNewSlide();

var row = [42, 'foo', '', null];
var options = { font_size: 12 };
slide.addTable(row, options);

pptx.save();

I expect that all 4 cells get all the formatting options specified in options. However, the result defaults the styling of the last 2 cells ('' and null). Giving those font size 18.

This might happend for all formatting options. The only other option I was using was font_face which got defaulted to Arial.

[gitbrent]

Thanks for reporting this!

Turns out, this is feature from Microsoft (the Apple Slides app formats all cells uniformly). The exact same code is generated for each of the table cells, however, since I was using an empty string when the cell was null, blank, etc., PPT just used it's default (?) of Arial 18pt.

I've updated the addTable() code to insert a space (' ') instead and that seems to enable the cell font size to "stick" now, so new text inserted inherits from the space's formatting.

[rikvdk]

If I empty a cell in PowerPoint it does remove the styling, but with a table created and styled in PowerPoint itself it doesn't. I guess you format the tables in a different way than PowerPoint does it.

Adding a space while a little annoying is a fine solution I guess.

[Szymon-dziewonski]

I have the same problem, but still when i put empty space " " or "\u00A0" doesnt matter what coding for space styling on this cell is removed

[gitbrent]

Hi @Szymon-dziewonski ,

Can you tell me which version of PowerPoint you are using, what version of PptxGenJS you have, and the code being used? A screencap of the output would also be helpful.

[Szymon-dziewonski]

Hey, yeah sure sorry I didnt done it in first place

Powerpoint 2010 v14.0.7015.1000 (32-bit)
PPtx ver 1.2.2

Script for creating desirable tables

shape = {
table: function (pageName, table_size, table_array, x, y, w, colW) {
    var header_fz = 12,
      body_fz = 9,
      header_margin = [10, 5, 10, 5],
      body_margin = [4, 4, 4, 4];

    if (table_size === "small") {
      header_fz = 9;
      body_fz = 8;
      header_margin = [2, 2, 2, 2];
      body_margin = [1, 1, 1, 1];
    }

    var header_options = {
      fill: bright_blue,
      font_size: header_fz,
      font_face: 'Arial',
      color: "ffffff",
      margin: header_margin,
      bold: true
    };
    var left_column_options = {
      fill: bright_blue,
      font_size: body_fz,
      font_face: 'Arial',
      color: "ffffff",
      margin: body_margin,
      bold: true
    };

    for (var i = 0; i < table_array[0].length; i++) {
      table_array[0][i] = {text: table_array[0][i], options: header_options};
    }
    for (var i = 1; i < table_array.length; i++) {
      table_array[i][0] = {text: table_array[i][0], options: left_column_options};
    }

    pageName.addTable(table_array, {
      x: x,
      y: y,
      w: w,
      fill: 'F7F7F7',
      font_size: body_fz,
      font_face: 'Arial',
      color: '000000',
      align: 'l',
      valign: 'm',
      margin: body_margin,
      colW: colW,
      border: {pt: "1", color: "ffffff"}
    });
}

var table_arr= [
        [" ", "Description"],
        ["1", "first row"],
        ["2", "second row"]
      ];
      shape.table(process_scheme, "small", table_arr, 0.5, 1.9, 1.8, [0.2, 1.6]);

And how it looks here on pptx file

When i place some sign there in blank space lets say "*"