How to Create a Custom Style Guide for Paradino

Watch the walkthrough below, then follow the step-by-step guide to create a custom style guide in Microsoft Word that you can upload to Paradino. Once applied, Paradino will automatically format all your exported documents—such as file notes, meeting summaries, and advice documents—to match your company's unique branding and styles.

Paradino maps your document styles by reading Word's native style settings specifically for Headings, Paragraphs, and Tables.

Step 1: Document Setup

Open a blank Microsoft Word document. It is helpful to type out placeholder text to see your styles as you build them. Type out the following on separate lines:

• Heading 1 or 2
• Heading 3
• Heading 4
• Paragraph

Step 2: Styling Headings

To ensure Paradino recognises your heading styles, you must link your visual changes to Word's native Style Pane.

1. Highlight the "Heading 1 or 2" text.
2. Change the font, font size, and colour to match your brand.
3. (Optional) Right-click the text, select Paragraph, and adjust the spacing Before or After the heading.
4. With the text still highlighted, go to the Styles Pane at the top of Word. Right-click on Heading 1 and select Update Heading 1 to Match Selection.
5. Repeat Step 4 for Heading 2 so they match.
6. Repeat the entire process for your "Heading 3" and "Heading 4" placeholder text, updating Heading 3 and Heading 4 in the Styles Pane respectively.

Step 3: Styling Paragraphs (Normal Text)

1. Highlight your "Paragraph" text.
2. Change your font, font size, and colour.
3. Right-click the text and select Paragraph.
4. Under the Spacing section, add spacing After the paragraph (e.g., 10pt or 12pt). This ensures natural gaps between paragraphs in your final exports. Click OK.
5. With the text highlighted, go to the Styles Pane, right-click Normal, and select Update Normal to Match Selection.

Step 4: Styling Tables

Creating a table style requires a specific naming convention for Paradino to recognise it.

1. Go to Insert > Table and add a basic example table (e.g., 4×3) to your document.
2. Click anywhere inside the table, then go to the Table Design tab.
3. Click the dropdown arrow in the Table Styles box and select New Table Style...
4. In the Name field, you must name the style exactly: Table
5. Customise the table:
   • Borders: Apply your preferred border styles.
   • Headers: In the Apply formatting to dropdown, select Header row. Add background shading and change the header text colour (e.g., white text on a dark background).
6. Click OK to save the style.
7. Select your example table, go back to the Table Design tab, and apply your newly created Table style so it is visible in the document.

Step 5: Adding Your Company Logo

1. Double-click the very top of the page to open the Header (or the bottom for the Footer).
2. Go to Insert > Pictures and select your company logo.
3. Resize the logo to your liking.
4. Click the layout options icon next to the image and set the text wrapping to In Front of Text. Drag the logo to your desired position.
5. (Optional) Check the Different First Page box in the Header & Footer settings if you want a different header for the first page.

Step 6: Uploading to Paradino

Once your document looks exactly how you want it, save the Word file to your computer.

1. Open Paradino.
2. Click on your User Icon and navigate to User Settings.
3. Locate the option to upload a Reference Document.
4. Upload the Word file you just created.

All future file notes, meeting summaries, and advice documents exported from Paradino will now automatically map to the fonts, colours, spacing, tables, and headers you defined in this style guide.