# table coloring w/multirow&multicoloum

Im trying to have get a backgroundcolor at my tables consising of both multirows and multicoloums. Without any color, the table works fine. But what i want to color expands over variable amounts of rows. Ive triyng to color 4 rows with the same color, with 1 cell stretching over 4 rows and 1 cell stretching over 2 rows.

But if i do that the second coloring, applies the color on top of the multirow text.

As you can see, the 2nd line of rowcolor removes the upper part of 'Grade' from cell 1 and 3rd row color removed the lower part of 'Grade' and lower part of Thickness. Any solution ideas?

my tex:

\begin{table}[ht]
\begin{tabular}{|c|c|lll|}
\hline
\rowcolor{blue!20}
\rowcolor{blue!20}
&Strength&\multirow{2}{*}{Thickness}&Test& Impact\\
\rowcolor{blue!20}
&$\mathbf{R_e[N/mm^2]}$&                                &{\bf temperature}     & {\bf work}\\
\rowcolor{blue!20}
&\bf{transv.min.}      &\bf{ transv.}                   &$\mathbf{[\grader]}$  & {\bf [J]} \\\hline
\multirow{ 1}{*}{{\bf DH36}}   &     & {\bf 5.5 – 7.0} & {\bf         -40} & {\bf       24} \\

\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{table}

• the - in \multirow{-2}{*}{ } doesnt work for me.. it just moves the text outside the table – onmikkelsen Nov 14 '16 at 18:43
• Please, extend your code sniped to complete document starting with \documentclass{...}, with necessary packages and your new commands definitions and ending with end{document}. In present state it is not possible to compile. Welcome to site! – Zarko Nov 14 '16 at 19:09

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{siunitx}
\usepackage{makecell,multirow}
\usepackage[table]{xcolor}

\begin{document}
\begin{table}[htb]
\sisetup{detect-weight=true}
\renewcommand\arraystretch{1.3}
\begin{tabular}{|*{2}{>{\bfseries}c|}
*{3}{>{\bfseries}c}|}
\hline
\rowcolor{blue!20}
&   &   \multicolumn{3}{c|}{\textbf{Impact bending test}}    \\
\rowcolor{blue!20}
&   \multirow{-3}*[-1ex]{\makecell{Yield\\  Strength\\
{$\mathbf{R_e[\si{N\per\milli\meter^2}]}$} \\transv. min.}}
&   \makecell{Thickness\\  transv.}
&   \makecell{Test\\ temperature\\ \si{\celsius}}
&   \makecell{Impact\\ work\\ \si{J} }          \\
\hline
DH36   &       & 5.5 – 7.0 & -40   & 24    \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{table}
\end{document}


Edit: macro makecell have options ˙bfor bottom position,tfor top position,lfor left aligned cell content andr for right aligned. Use of it without options the cell content is vertically and horizontally centered.

If in above MWE replace the second row of table with

\multirow{-3}*{Grades}
&   \multirow{-3}*[3pt]{\makecell{Yield\\  Strength\\
{$\mathbf{R_e[\si{N\per\milli\meter^2}]}$} \\transv. min.}}
&   \makecell[b]{Thickness\\  transv.}
&   \makecell[b]{Test\\ temperature\\ \si{\celsius}}
&   \makecell[b]{Impact\\ work\\ \si{J} }          \\


than the table is as follows:

• Probably, you should use [detect-weight=true]. – Bernard Nov 14 '16 at 20:30
• @Bernard, yes, this is right key for siunitx`, I consider this in edited answer – Zarko Nov 14 '16 at 20:38