Table Editor

[tgrosinger]

Editing tables in markdown is a somewhat frustrating experience. I recently found this editor-independent library that aids in that process by automatically formatting, and changing cells with the tab key as you would expect in a spreadsheet program.

GitHub - susisu/mte-kernel: text editor independent part of...

I’m not sure how much of that library could be leveraged by Obsidian, but it sure would be nice to have that functionality added.

The editing experience with this plugin reminds me of editing tables in org-mode.

[ryanjamurphy]

Mind if I move this to…

Better tables (than markdown tables)

I know this probably breaks markdown compatibility but never the less… Often it’s very powerful to be able to use a bit more advanced tables to structure and display more complex information. Markdown tables are very limited and not suitable for not very simple content that requires advanced formatting such as line breaks, checkboxes and so on. A more capable table plugin would be highly appreciated in order to also capture advanced content with obsidian. A confluence like table capability w…

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Or do you think this is different?

[tgrosinger]

I actually think it’s different. I interpret that thread as asking for a non-standard syntax to add more capabilities to tables. While I do not disagree that there might be something interesting there, this thread is not changing markdown syntax for tables. Instead it is adding a powerful aid in writing and editing the tables. It just takes the brunt work out of putting in all those pipes and reformatting it.

[justinyan]

Echo what @tgrosinger said, and want to add another vote to this feature. I currently use sublimetext for my knowledge repo (though I’m experimenting with obsidian and am rooting for its success) and I use this plugin (https://packagecontrol.io/packages/Table%20Editor) - it’s all standard markdown tables, but, for example, pressing tab will reformat alignment of all columns, alt+shift+down will insert a blank row - so on and so forth.

It just makes working with markdown tables substantially more convenient!

[tgrosinger]

I think this topic can be closed. A plugin to bring this to Obsidian is in the works!

Table Editor Plugin

Here’s the beginnings of a plugin to bring the fantastic mte-kernel for markdown table editing to Obsidian. This plugin will automatically format and resize your markdown tables, and make adding and removing columns and rows super simple. Not quite all of the features are there yet, but the core is in place. Check back soon

[ryanjamurphy]

We’ll hold off 'til it’s out, but thanks for the flag!

[Cedric]

Has the Table Editor Plugin been released?

When ot using the plugin, how do you insert a new row in-between 2 existing rows? Same questions for a column in-between 2 existing colums?

[tgrosinger]

Yes it has. It’s called Advanced Tables. Should be pretty close to the top of the list in the Community Plugins browser.

When using the plugin you can add columns and rows from the toolbar:

[ryanjamurphy]

Yep, it’s called Advanced Tables in the community plugins. Not sure about your other questions but I imagine they’re answered in the plugin’s docs: GitHub - tgrosinger/advanced-tables-obsidian: Improved table navigation, formatting, and manipulation in Obsidian.md

[Cedric]

What if I want to have a 2 column table with the left column having a light grey background, to make it very visual about the BEFORE (first column on grey or red background ) and AFTER (on light green background)?

[ryanjamurphy]

If that’s possible in markdown at all, would require some tricky inline custom CSS, or it may be impossible without pasting in an HTML table you’ve edited in another app.

[Cedric]

In other words, I should forget about it and stop thinking Obsidian can work on layout the same way OneNote can, right?
No worries.