Introduction to Styles

What is a Style?

A Style is a predefined set of formatting instructions (font, size, alignment, borders, etc.) that can be applied to text, pages, frames, tables, and lists.

Example: A style called “Title Style” may include:

• Font Name: Bookman Old Style
• Font Size: 12
• Bold
• Left Aligned

This style can be applied to all titles. Later, if you want to change the font, just update the style — all titles will update automatically.

Why use styles ?

Problem with Manual Formatting:

• Every time you apply formatting, you must repeat it.
• Any formatting change later requires updating every part manually.
• Difficult to maintain a professional look in large documents.

Benefit of Styles:

• Define formatting once and reuse it throughout the document.
• Update a style, and all text using it updates instantly.
• Focus on content, not appearance.

Categories of Styles in LibreOffice Writer

LibreOffice provides six types (categories) of styles:

Accessing and Applying Styles

You can use styles through:

1. Menu Bar → Styles
2. Formatting Toolbar → Styles Dropdown
3. Sidebar → Styles Icon
4. Shortcut Key: F11

Applying a Style:

1. Select the content (text, paragraph, page, etc.).
2. Choose the style category.
3. Double-click the desired style to apply it.

Fill Format Mode (Paintbrush Tool)

• Use when you want to apply the same style to multiple, non-continuous parts of the document.
• Very helpful for scattered styling.

Steps:

1. Open the Styles window (F11).
2. Select the style you want.
3. Click Fill Format button (paintbrush icon).
4. Click on each area to apply the style.
5. Press Esc to exit Fill Format mode.

Creating Custom Styles

You can create your own styles when predefined ones don’t meet your needs.

Method 1: From Selection

1. Format any content manually.
2. Go to Styles sidebar → Choose Category (Paragraph, Character, etc.).
3. Click Style Action Button → New Style from Selection.
4. Name the new style and click OK.
5. Style appears in the style list.

Method 2: Drag and Drop

1. Format the content.
2. Open Styles sidebar.
3. Drag the selected content into the style category list.
4. Name the style and save.

 Note: Cannot use this for Page Styles.

Updating an Existing Style

Sometimes you want to change a style instead of creating a new one.

Steps:

1. Format the content as desired.
2. Select it.
3. In the Styles sidebar, go to the style category.
4. Click Style Action Button → Update Selected Style.

This updates all content using that style.

Loading Styles from Another File or Template

LibreOffice allows you to import styles from another document or template.

Steps:

1. Open the Styles sidebar.
2. Click Style Action Button → Load Styles.
3. Choose the source: From File or Template.
4. Select the type of styles to import (Paragraph, Character, Frame, etc.).
5. Click OK.
6. If importing from a file, browse and select it.

 You can overwrite existing styles with the same name by checking the “Overwrite” option.

Chapter Summary

• Styles help in consistent, professional formatting.
• Six style categories: Page, Paragraph, Character, Frame, List, Table.
• Use F11 or the Sidebar to access styles.
• Fill Format mode is for applying styles to scattered content.
• Custom styles can be created using selection or drag-and-drop.
• Styles can be updated or imported from other documents/templates.