I have a simple two column table, no header/footer rows. I select my
format for "whole table". No problem. I then change the format for
the leftmost colunm to be bolded. Click okay. Apply it to my table.
No bold.

Have you checked the check box to apply special formats for the left
column?

I don't even see anything like that...

The odd thing is, when I tried this with a 100% new, clean document, it
started working as advertised. When I went back to my real document, and
still had trouble. And, in this document, I've redefined Normal.

Additionally: is there any way to specify the line spacing from
within the table, or do I rely on the underlying paragraph style?

You can specify line spacing in "Format Paragraph" (while defining
the table style).

What's funny is that Format Paragraph shows "After: 0pt" (when
modifying the table style). However, this table is actually using
"After: 12pt" since that's what's in Normal.

But you'll need to be aware that all table styles get their default
character and paragraph formatting from the "Normal" paragraph style.
And if you changed your "Normal" paragraph style to, say, "Exactly
12 pt", this setting will override anything you specify in the table
style.

Yep. Explains the above.

This is by design, according to Microsoft, but means you shouldn't
modify "Normal" in any way from the factory default if you want to
use table styles.

I'd love to see the logic behind this. As is, these almost seem useless.

And another weirdness: If you want to change the font size in the
table style to "10 pt", the "Normal" style needs to be 10 pt.

I've played with this some more and have had some better luck with font
sizes within tables. I have two "Normal" styles. The first is the system
normal, which I have set at an 11pt font. Then I have a custom one
called "Normal Smaller" which is 10pt. I often like using the smaller
version in tables.

If I apply "Normal Smaller" to a paragraph, then click on the table
style: I'm okay. It retains the smaller. In fact, if I select the table,
click "Normal" to re-apply the default, it still works: it retains the
table formatting *and* increase the font size to 11pt. So I'm beginning
to get some understanding about this. Not that it's helped me with this
one particular table where I want the left column bolded (and
right-justified). Hrmph!

I don't think there's an article about table styles in the MVPs' FAQs.

There isn't. I looked there before posting. If I ever figure this out, I
may write something up and send it to them, and see what they think.

Many MVPs
seem to think that table styles are "not ready for prime time" yet.

I can see that.

Thanks for the reply,

--cd