Hi all,
This is a pretty major 'feature request', but I think also an
important
one.
When developing large tables, it can often be /necessary/ to start
using
multi-column/row cells for clarity, and sensible exporting
results.
As far as I am aware, in Org does not currently have any
multi-col/row
syntax. The only viable method seems to be re-implementing the
table
using export blocks in every backend you may want to export to (in
my
case, usually TeX + HTML). This is clumsy, difficult to work with,
and
could be avoided should org gain support for multi-col/row syntax.
I appreciate that this would constitute a major change both the
Org's
syntax and the codebase, but I believe such a change is warranted
by the
advantages it would provide.
Both how this can be implemented while minimising/eliminating the
chance
of breaking well-formed current table elements, and what syntax
may be
both acceptable and seem sensible to use.
I would anticipate such a feature working by designating two
characters
to indicate "add row" and "add column". For example "|" and "-".
These
characters would take affect when /immediately following/ (no
space) a
cell separator ("|"), and designate the dimensions of the top
right cell.
Example:
| a | b | c |
|---+---+---|
| a | - | | |
| - | b | . |
| . | | | c |
Would be interpreted just as any current table is.
However,
| hello | there | you |
|-------+-------+------|
|| two column | cell |
Contains a 2x1 cell.
| a little | test |
|----------+------|
|- hello | hi |
| two row | you |
Contains a 1x2 cell. In a more complex example:
| a | b | c |
|---+---+---|
||-- hi | a |
| two x | . |
| three | b |
| c | - | . |
Contains a 2x3 cell.
This is just the first syntax that comes to mind, but hopefully
the
general form of this idea seems viable.
All the best,
Timothy.
