Changes

This mode is based on Michael Wichura's TaBlE package for PlainTeX. The official manual for it is commercial (about 40 USD), see [http://www.pctex.com/books.html PCTeX] -- but note that the TaBlE manual only talks about the original syntax, which does not use <{{cmd>|NC}}, <{{cmd>|HL}} cum suis.

* You get vertical lines (rules), if you use <{{cmd>|VL}} instead of <{{cmd>|NC}}.* Better use <{{cmd>|SR}}, <{{cmd>|FR}}, <{{cmd>|MR}}, <{{cmd>|LR}} instead of <{{cmd>|NR}}.* You can also use <{{cmd>|AR}} instead of <{{cmd>|SR}}, <{{cmd>|FR}}, <{{cmd>|MR}} and <{{cmd>|LR}} (AR for automatic row).* You can leave out the <{{cmd>|NC}} before the "row" command, but not if you use <{{cmd>|AR}} in a last or single row (see example).* You can influence the table with <{{cmd>|setuptables}}.

The table is defined by the template enclosed in square brackets after <{{cmd>|starttable}}. The template has the form

<context>\switchtobodyfont[ss, 8pt]\starttable[{|l|lp(.5\textwidth)|]class="wikitable"\HL ! Key\NC \bf Key \VL \bf ! Meaning \SR\HL |-\NC \NC ! colspan="2" | Primitive Keys \SR\HL |-\NC \type{| <code>a{<em>tokens</em>}}\VL </code> | Adds \type{<code><em>tokens} {\</em></code> <em >after} </em> the column content\AR\NC \type{|- |- | <code>b{<em>tokens</em>}}\VL </code> | Adds \type{<code><em>tokens} '''</em></code> <em>before''' </em> the column content\AR\NC {\tt \backslash|- | <code>\{ } \VL </code> | Enclose the column in braces (grouping)\AR\NC \type{|- | <code>*{<em>n</em>}{<em>keys</em>}}\VL </code> | Equivalent to repeating the formatting keys \type{<code><i>keys} \type{</i></code> <code><i>n} </i></code> times\NC\LR\HL |-\NC \NC ! colspan="2" | Positioning Keys\SR\HL |-\NC \type{| <code>\LeftGlue} \VL </code> | Specifies the left glue to be used before the column\AR\NC \type{|- | <code>\RightGlue} \VL </code> | Specifies the right glue to be used after the column\AR\NC \type{|- | <code>l} \VL </code> | left-aligned column\AR\NC \type{|- | <code>c} \VL </code> | centered column\AR\NC \type{|- | <code>r} \VL </code> | right-aligned column\AR\NC \type{|- | <code>p(<em>width</em>)} \VL </code> | Set each cell as a paragraph\AR\NC \type{|- | <code>s(<em>width</em>)} \VL </code> | Specify the inter-column width\AR\NC \type{|- | <code>w} \VL </code> | Set minimum column width\AR\NC \type{|- | <code>k} \VL </code> | Insert a kern both left and right of the column\AR\NC \type{|- | <code>i} \VL </code> | Add a kern to the left of the column\AR\NC \type{|- | <code>j} \VL </code> | Add a kern to the right of the column\LR\HL |-\NC \NC ! colspan="2" | Numeric and Math Item Keys \SR\HL |-\NC \type{| <code>n} \VL </code> | Numeric item not in math mode\AR\NC \type{|- | <code>N} \VL </code> | Numeric item in math mode\AR\NC \type{|- | <code>m} \VL </code> | Each cell is in (inline) math mode. Equivalent to \type{<code>b$ a$}\AR</code> |-\NC \type{| <code>M} \VL </code> | Each cell is in display math mode. Equivalent to \type{<code>\{b{$\displaystyle}a$}} \AR</code> |-\NC \type{| <code>\m} \VL </code> | Equivalent to \type{1 <code>l b{{}}m}\AR</code> |-\NC \type{| <code>\M} \VL </code> | Equivalent to \type{1 <code>l b{{}}M}\LR</code>\HL |-\NC \NC ! colspan="2" | Style Keys \SR\HL |-\NC \type{| <code>f\<em>command} \VL </em></code> | Set font according to following \tex{<code><em>command}\AR</em></code> |-\NC \type{| <code>B} \VL </code> | Bold. Equivalent to \type{<code>f\bf}\AR</code> |-\NC \type{| <code>I} \VL </code> | Italic. Equivalent to \type{<code>f\it}\AR</code> |-\NC \type{| <code>S} \VL </code> | Slanted. Equivalent to \type{<code>f\sl}\AR</code> |-\NC \type{| <code>R} \VL </code> | Roman. Equivalent to \type{<code>f\rm}\AR</code> |-\NC \type{| <code>T} \VL </code> | Teletype. Equivalent to \type{<code>f\tt}\AR</code> |-\NC \type{| <code>C} \VL </code> | Color. Use it in combination with \backslash<code>\{ </code> (e.g. \backslash<code>\{C\{<em>red\</em>} </code>)\LR\HL |-\NC \NC ! colspan="2" | Tabskip Keys \SR\HL |-\NC \type{| <code>s} \VL </code> | Set the tabskip to the right of this column and of all following columns up to the next \type{<code>s} </code> or \type{<code>o} </code> key\AR\NC \type{|- | <code>o} \VL </code> | Set the tabskip to the right of this column only\LR\HL |-\stoptable</context> |}

It's possible to create columnspans (i.e. cells that span more than one column) with the command <{{cmd>|use|{<i>N</i>}}} where ''N'' is the number of columns spanned by the cell. It's often necessary to use <{{cmd>|ReFormat|[<i>new keys</i>]{}}} to reformat this specific cell according to the ''new keys''.

(<{{cmd>|ReFormat}} can be abbreviated <{{cmd>|REF}} for brevity.) 

It's also possible to create rowspans (i.e. cells that span more than one row) with the command <{{cmd>|Raise|(<i>dimen</i>){<i>content</i>}}} or <{{cmd>|Lower|(<i>dimen</i>){</i>content</i>}}} that raise or lower ''content'' by ''dimen''.

(<{{cmd>|Lower|(.5\lineheight){a}}} can be abbreviated <{{cmd>|LOW|{a}}} for brevity.)

<{{cmd>|smash|{tall object}}}:

* If you need information about <{{cmd>|placetable}} look after <{{cmd>|placefloat}} in the manual or texshow!

* <{{cmd>|BL}} makes a gray background: the optional argument tells BL how many cells it should color* <{{cmd>|CL}} makes a colored row