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Column Styling

Each column can be individually styled using the style() method. The Style class provides control over text colors, background colors, and text attributes. 
table[0][0].style().fg(Color::Red)
                  .bg(Color::White)
                  .attrs(Attr::Bold);

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Color Options

Tabular supports two color systems: terminal colors and RGB colors.

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Terminal Colors

Use predefined terminal color constants: 
table[0][0].style().fg(Color::BrightRed);
table[0][0].style().bg(Color::Blue);
Available terminal colors:
  • Color::Black
  • Color::Red
  • Color::Green
  • Color::Yellow
  • Color::Blue
  • Color::Magenta
  • Color::Cyan
  • Color::White
  • Color::BrightBlack (Gray)
  • Color::BrightRed
  • Color::BrightGreen
  • Color::BrightYellow
  • Color::BrightBlue
  • Color::BrightMagenta
  • Color::BrightCyan
  • Color::BrightWhite

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RGB Colors

For precise color control, use RGB values: 
// RGB struct: {red, green, blue}
table[0][0].style().fg(Rgb{255, 0, 0});    // Bright red
table[0][0].style().bg(Rgb{0, 255, 0});    // Bright green
RGB color support depends on your terminal emulator. Most modern terminals support RGB (true color), but some older ones may fall back to 256-color or 16-color palettes.

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Color Types

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Foreground Color (fg)

Sets the text color: 
// Using terminal color
table[0][0].style().fg(Color::Blue);

// Using RGB
table[0][0].style().fg(Rgb{100, 150, 200});

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Background Color (bg)

Sets the background color behind the text: 
// Using terminal color
table[0][0].style().bg(Color::Green);

// Using RGB
table[0][0].style().bg(Rgb{50, 50, 50});

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Base Color (base)

Sets the background color for the entire column cell, including padding: 
// Using terminal color
table[0][0].style().base(Color::Yellow);

// Using RGB
table[0][0].style().base(Rgb{255, 255, 200});
The base() color fills the entire column width, while bg() only colors behind the actual text content.

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Text Attributes

Text attributes modify the appearance of text beyond color.

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Available Attributes

Attr::Bold       // Bold/bright text
Attr::Dim        // Dimmed text
Attr::Italic     // Italic text
Attr::Underline  // Single underline
Attr::Dunderline // Double underline (rare support)
Attr::Blink      // Blinking text
Attr::Flink      // Fast blink (very rare support)
Attr::Reverse    // Swap foreground and background
Attr::Concealed  // Hidden text
Attr::Crossed    // Strikethrough text

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Setting Single Attribute

table[0][0].style().attrs(Attr::Bold);
table[0][1].style().attrs(Attr::Italic);
table[0][2].style().attrs(Attr::Underline);

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Combining Multiple Attributes

Use the bitwise OR operator (|) to combine attributes: 
// Bold and underlined
table[0][0].style().attrs(Attr::Bold | Attr::Underline);

// Bold, italic, and underlined
table[0][0].style().attrs(Attr::Bold | Attr::Italic | Attr::Underline);
Text attribute support varies by terminal emulator. Not all terminals support all attributes, especially Dunderline, Flink, and Concealed.

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Styling Examples

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Header Styling

Table table;
table.addRow({"Product", "Price", "Status"})
     .addRow({"Laptop", "$999", "Available"});

// Style header row
table[0][0].style().attrs(Attr::Bold)
                  .fg(Color::Blue);

table[0][1].style().attrs(Attr::Bold)
                  .fg(Color::Blue);

table[0][2].style().attrs(Attr::Bold)
                  .fg(Color::Blue);

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Status Indicators

// Green background for available
table[1][2].style().fg(Color::Black)
                  .bg(Color::Green)
                  .attrs(Attr::Bold);

// Red background for unavailable
table[2][2].style().fg(Color::White)
                  .bg(Color::Red)
                  .attrs(Attr::Bold);

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Price Highlighting

// Highlight price with custom RGB colors
table[1][1].style().fg(Rgb{0, 200, 0})      // Green text
                  .bg(Rgb{240, 240, 240})   // Light gray background
                  .attrs(Attr::Bold);

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Complete Styled Table Example

Table table;
table.addRow({"Product", "Price", "Status"})
     .addRow({"Laptop", "$999", "Available"});

// Header row - bold blue text
table[0][0].style().attrs(Attr::Bold)
                  .fg(Color::Blue);

// Price column - green with background
table[1][1].style().fg(Color::Black)
                  .bg(Color::Green)
                  .attrs(Attr::Bold);

// Multiple attributes
table[0][2].style().attrs(Attr::Bold | Attr::Underline);

// Base color fills entire cell
table[1][0].style().base(Color::BrightBlack);

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Resetting Styles

You can reset individual style components or all styles: 
// Reset individual colors
table[0][0].style().resetFg();
table[0][0].style().resetBg();
table[0][0].style().resetBase();
table[0][0].style().resetAttrs();

// Reset all styles
table[0][0].style().reset();

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Style Method Chaining

All style methods return a reference to the Style object, allowing for fluent chaining: 
table[0][0].style()
    .fg(Color::White)
    .bg(Color::Blue)
    .base(Color::BrightBlack)
    .attrs(Attr::Bold | Attr::Italic);

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Color Summary

MethodDescriptionParametersAffects
fg()Foreground (text) colorColor or RgbText only
bg()Background colorColor or RgbBehind text
base()Base colorColor or RgbEntire cell
attrs()Text attributesAttr or combined with |Text appearance

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