Tables

Ken supports the table syntax of Github-flavored markdown. Ken also adds many extra features to control appearance.

In general, cells can be styled by appending one or more style instructions to the pipe character that precedes a cell. Multiple style instructions can often be specified by pure concatenation; if something is ambiguous, separate with semicolon. Entire columns can be styled by appending these style instructions to the associated pipe character on the delimiter row. Style instructions are inherited across a row, but not from one row to another. This means you can style a whole row just by styling its first cell. If you want different styles in subsequent cells on the same row, just specify the styles each time they change.

concept of ditto for rows (repeat previous style) as well as anteditto (repeat previous previous style)

Shading

Shading instructions are single characters. Three are possible:

instruction	meaning
x	darken
o	reset
*	double darken

Reset cancels an inherited darkening on the current row. It isn’t needed when doing full-row styling, but it allows for alternating cell shading on a single row.

To shade alternate rows, use both the x and o characters as a single instruction on the delimiter row of the table. In this case, if x appears first, the odd rows below the header will be darkened; if o appears first, even rows will be darkened. The header row will be double-darkened.

Highlighting

Ken supports highlighting cells in a table. The format and appearance is the same as what’s used for standalone highlights on text. For example, highlight a cell red with ~red.

Border style

bs:s (only have to use enough letters from CSS to disambiguate, so s means solid). Use commas for 2, 3, or 4-value versions (e.g., bs:s,s)

Border color

bc:blue. Use commas for 2, 3, or 4-value versions (e.g., bs:s,s). If colors are specified without styles, assume bs:s in whatever variant (1, 2, 3, or 4) the color uses.

Column width

A column width instruction is an expression like w:20% or w:3em. Append it to the pipe that precedes a cell on the delimiter row; it is not valid on content rows or header rows.

Tables without headers

In ken, a table can begin with the delimiter row; the header row is optional.

Vertical alignment

Vertical alignment instructions are ^ (vertical-align: top), v (vertical-align: bottom), and < (vertical-align: middle):

| Month    | Savings|
|^ :-----  |v ----: |
| January  | $100   |
| February | $80    |
|< March   | $75    |

<table>
    <tr>
        <th>Month</th><th>Savings</th>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td style="vertical-align:top;align:left">January</td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;align:right">$100</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td style="vertical-align:top;align:left">February</td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;align:right">$80</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td style="vertical-align:middle;align:left">February</td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;align:right">$80</td>
    </tr>
</table>

colspan

A cell (including in the header row) can be given an HTML colspan value (merging it with the cell(s) to its right) by preceding its delimiting pipe character with one or more greater-than (>) characters (where the number of > characters tells how many rightward cells to merge):

Month |	Savings
--- | ---
January	| $100
February | $80
|> Sum : $180

To begin a cell’s content with a > character, simply put a space between the pipe delimiter and the content.

rowspan

A cell can be given an HTML rowspan value (merging it with the cell(s) below it) by preceding its delimiting pipe character with one or more underscore (_) characters (where the number of _ characters tells how many downward cells to merge):

Month | Savings | Savings for holiday!
--- | --- | ---
January | $100 |_ $50
February | $80

To begin a cell’s content with a > character, simply put a space between the pipe delimiter and the content.

block (multiline) cells

Unlike markdown, where table rows must fit on a single line, ken allows you to have arbitrary content inside a table. Any cell that has such content must be preceded by a |+ that ends the line, then indented block content, then +| (end of cell) or +|+ (end and begin another multiline cell). Although pipe characters at the end of a row are optional in GFM’s table extension, you MUST end a multiline cell with a +| if it is the last cell of the row.

property address | description | notes
--- | --- | ---
123 Main Street |+
    A gorgeous antebellum mansion on the
    edge of New Orleans' lake district.
    
    Stately trees festooned with Spanish
    Moss.
    +| Call after 5 pm.
456 Willow Ave |+
    Direct access to the marina. Private
    garage and sun deck.
    
    HOA fees extra.
    +|+
    Some unusual things about this property:
    * Originally the home of a French pirate
      that operated out of the Gulf of Mexico.
    * Once cursed by a witchdoctor.
    +|