You have applied the special formatting to all (visible) columns [fields]? And subsequently you want to use Test Styles without a result?
There are two possible solutions.
Add a field [Insert Column...] that was not yet visible. Having applied your Text Styles, they will show in that field. Select all cells in that column [up to 1000 at a time in MS Project 2003] Hit the Format Painter and then the corresponding first cell(s) in the row(s) that you want to have the same Text Style formating. However, any new row added will keep the "old" special formating in the "old" columns, requiring this trick with the Format Painter, again and again.
Another and probably better solution would be to select all rows [at the row indicators left] copy and paste in a new empty project. You masy have to set up that empty project before the pasting, i.e. Project type [and usually Project Start Date] + copying all relevant items [calendars, Views, Filters, etc.] from the old to the new project with the Organizer...
[When you open organizer one side will normally refer to global. mpt but any open project can be choosen]
There is an additional advantage. If you have deleted and added many tasks your project file will grow and grow. This is expecially the case when people use an existing project where they delete the existing tasks before starting the new project. By copying the current rows a new Unique ID will be generated and most rubbish be removed. Just insert the column Unique ID in a project. I have seen projects of a few hunderd tasks with Unique IDs well over 10000.
