Introduction to Tables in LaTeX

7. August 2007 by tom 33 Comments

I was asked to give an introduction to tables in LaTeX. Even though there are plenty of tutorials and pieces of LaTeX-code out there in the internet, it might still be useful to somebody who just started using Latex or has never used tables before…

Table

Let me start with the table-stub and later on explain how to fill in the actual table content. Most of the Latex editors provide a macro, which is usually helpful as it directly inserts the basic stub usually including a few rows and columns of the table. The macro provided by LED is the following code:

\begin{table}[t]
\centering
\begin{tabular}{}
%table content
\end{tabular}
\caption{}
\label{tab:label}
\end{table}

There is an optional argument which determines where LaTeX places the table. Available placements are:

h (here), t (top), b (bottom) and p (page of floats).

Caption and label are the same commands used when including figures. Caption is the explanation displayed below or above the table, depending on where you insert it, before or after the tabular. The label is used for reference in the text. It is a Latex convention to start table references by “tab:”, which no only lets you use the same name for a figure (starting with fig:) and a table, but makes it easier to distinguish between figures and tables. Use the command \ref{tab:} to reference a table in the text.

Tabular

The tabular environment produces a box consisting of a sequence of rows aligned vertically in columns. The complete tabular environment takes 3 arguments:

\begin{tabular}{width}[pos]{cols}

The first argument fixes the width of the whole tabular environment.Filling the content is not difficult, once you got the idea. Columns are separated by “&” and rows by “\\”.

Example 1:

entry 1 & entry 2 & entry 3 & entry4 \\

You have to tell Latex in the beginning how many columns you will be using. This is done by adding l’s (align left), c’s (align center) and r’s (align right) in addition to |’s (vertical bar for cell separation) as the argument of the command tabular.

Example 2:

In order to generate a table with four horizontal cells as in example 1, one would use

\begin{tabular}{|c|c|c|c|}

c can be substituted by l and r.

It is also possible to use different alignments for different cells. Just make sure that are as many c’s, l’s and r’s as there are column entries, otherwise LaTeX will complain. For leaving a cell empty, just use “& &”. The number of &’s has to be equal to the number of c’s/r’s/l’s -1.

There are a certain number of other options available, which I will not discuss here, as they are quite specific. You can find the complete command reference for tabular here.

In order to horizontally separate the cells, just use \hline, which inserts a line as wide as the table. The size of the table is determined automatically, depending on the number of cells as well as the content.

Example 3:

Here is the code for a complete table, which can be used as a template for your tables, just copy-paste the code into your tex-file:

\begin{table}[t]
\centering
\begin{tabular}{|l|c|c|c|c|c|}
\hline
Product & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5\\
\hline
Price & 124.- & 136.- & 85.- & 156.- & 23.-\\
Guarantee [years] & 1 & 2 & - & 3 & 1\\
Rating & 89\% & 84\% & 51\% & & 45\%\\
\hline
\hline
Recommended & yes & yes & no & no & no\\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\caption{This is a table template}
\label{tab:template}
\end{table}

Table \ref{tab:template} gives an example of how to write a table in Latex.Generating the PDF should produce thefollowing table.

33 Comments

Problem with label for tables having small text-size « Blog on Latex Matters

20. August 2007 at 6:14

[…] and MacTex… A table ususally has the following structure (for an introduction to tables click here) with the “small”- environment added to slightly decrease its size: begin{table}[htdp] […]

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Floating text around figure/table « Blog on Latex Matters

15. September 2008 at 18:56

[…] font size. E.g. begin{footnotesize} begin{floatingtable} … end{footnotsize} Check this post for an introduction to […]

Reply
Lavinia

25. June 2009 at 9:00

Hi,

I am trying to change the “title” of a table in Latex. You know that first part of the tile: “Table 1: —–“. I want this “Table” to disappear or to replace it with something else. Is there any way that I can do that?

Thanks,
Lavinia

Reply
- tom
  
  2. May 2010 at 15:55
  Hi Lavinia,
  
  Try the caption package:
```
\usepackage{caption}
```
  and within your document use:
```
\captionsetup{tablename=Tab.}
```
  for “Tab.” instead of “Table” and similarly for figures:
```
\captionsetup{figurename=Fig.}
```
  Source: Caption documentaton
  
  Cheers,
  Tom
  Reply
russjohnson09

29. January 2012 at 22:47

Reblogged this on russjohnson09.

Reply
TeXin

12. June 2012 at 10:13
I am using LaTeX to make some reports, one problem I am having is with Tables, the headings to the tables are quite long. Right now I use the tabularx package, when I compile I get underfull hbox badness 10000, I know it will still work but I want LaTeX to compile with no warnings. A minimal example is given below.
```
\documentclass[a4paper,10pt]{article}
\usepackage{tabularx}
\begin{document}
\begin{table}[H]
\centering
\begin{tabularx}{\linewidth}{ |X|X|X|X|}
\hline
Long Name &amp; Long Name&amp; Long Name &amp; Very Long Namesssdsdsdsdsdsdsdssdsdsdsdsdsdsdsssdsds \\
\hline
1 &amp; 2.3 &amp; 30.3 &amp; 36\\
\hline
2 &amp; 8.6 &amp; 10.4 &amp; 17\\
\hline
3.5 &amp; 18.2 &amp; 5.2 &amp; 12\\
\hline
5 &amp; 28.2 &amp; 3.4 &amp; 6\\
\hline
\end{tabularx}
\end{table}
\end{document}
```
Reply
- tom
  
  12. June 2012 at 16:12
  Hi!
  
  Thanks for your question and the minimal working example. As you already pointed out, the problem lies with the very long names of the column headings. I suggest you try the microtype package. Loading that packages possibly resolves most of the warnings. Otherwise, you can enforce how LaTeX splits long names using:
```
\hyphenation{}
```
  Hope it helps,
  Tom.
  Reply
TeXin

12. June 2012 at 21:29

Hi Tom,

Thanks, it fixed it up, however I have decided to make the shift to the booktabs table, it looks much more professional. However another problem with the long names in booktabs is Overfull hbox badness 10000, sometimes I get this when placing figures side by side, any assistance?

Reply
- tom
  
  13. June 2012 at 1:42
  Hey!
  
  These warnings are relatively easy to fix. Use the documentclass option draft to highlight any “overfull hbox”. I suspect you are using 0.5\linewidth or 0.5\textwidth for two figures side-by-side. Just slightly reduce the size to e.g. 0.47\textwidth for both figures, since LaTeX add some space in between.
```
\usepackage{graphicx}
...
\includegraphics[width=0.47\textwidth]{filename}
```
  Please provide a minimal working example again in case this does not solve your problem.
  
  Thanks, Tom.
  Reply
mero

28. August 2012 at 8:41

Hello tom
please help me in my problem

I’m using lyx and I want to make word table bold and put caption below word table, also i want both word table and caption to be most left justified with left border of table , like this

Table1
This is table1 caption

what will be code to modify or steps in lyx

Reply
- tom
  
  29. August 2012 at 4:40
  Hi mero,
  
  I’m sure you can do it in LyX. But since I never use LyX, here is how I would go about it.
  Insert TeX code before and after your table:
```
% before
\begin{table}[ht]
\begin{bfseries}
%after
\end{bfseries}
\caption{Table caption text.}
\end{table}
```
  Once that’s done, you’ll also need to align the caption which turns out a little more challenging, since you’ll need to load the caption package. Navigate to “Document –> Settings” and choose “LaTeX preamble”. Then paste the following line in the textbox:
```
\usepackage[singlelinecheck=off]{caption}
```
  That did the trick for me. Hope it works for you!
  
  Cheers, Tom.
  Reply

Markus

5. October 2012 at 13:54

Hi, I have a problem

\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l*3S[table-format=4.4]}
 \toprule
\input{result1.tex}
\bottomrule
\end{tabular}
\end{table}

Result1.tex:

&amp;\multicolumn{1}{c}{(1)}&amp;\multicolumn{1}{c}{(2)}&amp;\multicolumn{1}{c}{(3)}\\
&amp;\multicolumn{1}{c}{Success}&amp;\multicolumn{1}{c}{Total}&amp;\multicolumn{1}{c}{Round1}\\
\midrule
main&amp;&amp;&amp;\\
Round1&amp;0.405\sym{***}&amp;&amp;\\
&amp;(0.121)&amp;&amp;\\
Gender&amp;0.167&amp;2.852\sym{**}&amp;0.336\sym{***}\\
&amp;(0.298)&amp;(1.177)&amp;(0.128)\\
Biology&amp;-0.695&amp;0.373&amp;0.047\\
&amp;(0.461)&amp;(0.422)&amp;(0.086)\\
Mathematics&amp;0.355&amp;-3.533&amp;-0.829\sym{***}\\
&amp;(0.595)&amp;(2.545)&amp;(0.221)\\
Economics&amp;0.195&amp;-1.535&amp;-0.140\\
&amp;(0.358)&amp;(1.308)&amp;(0.148)\\
Psychology&amp;0.471&amp;-0.011&amp;0.017\\
&amp;(0.608)&amp;(1.833)&amp;(0.248)\\
Law&amp;0.628&amp;0.638&amp;-0.257\\
&amp;(0.568)&amp;(2.058)&amp;(0.211)\\
Treatment&amp;0.722\sym{*}&amp;&amp;0.105\\
&amp;(0.411)&amp;&amp;(0.073)\\
Constant&amp;-1.935\sym{***}&amp;14.719\sym{***}&amp;1.527\sym{***}\\
&amp;(0.702)&amp;(1.343)&amp;(0.138)\\
\midrule
Observations&amp;234&amp;234&amp;234\\

I always get the error:

missplaced\noaligne.
\bottomrule-> noaligne

I can solve the problem by changing \input{result1.tex} to \input{result1.tex} \\

But then I have a empty line before the bottomrule and thats not what I want.

Anybody an idea?

Thanks in advance

tom

6. October 2012 at 10:15

Hi Markus,

I recommend to place the entire table, not only the table content, into the file and try again. It works for me. Also, next time, please provide a minimal working example. I first had to google before I was able to run your code. It only works when using quite a substantial amount of additional code.

Cheers, Tom.

Reply
- Markus Karde
  
  6. October 2012 at 15:12
  
  Thanks for your help Tom. It was the first time that I posted a problem in a forum like this one. Thats why I had no idea how I should really do it. Next time I will do it as you recommend. Thanks again. The problem is that the file result1.tex is provided from Stata.It’s important for me that it stays like this. But thats exactly the point. Isn’t it strange that it works when one puts everything in the file. I mean what else does the the input command do as just putting the code at it’s place. But that’s not working.
- tom
  
  6. October 2012 at 15:42
  Hi Markus,
  
  Thanks for following up on your question. Not sure, why you get the error. Here is what works for me with your Stata output (result1.tex):
```
\documentclass[11pt]{article}
\usepackage{booktabs}
\usepackage{caption}
\newcommand{\sym}[1]{\rlap{#1}}%
\usepackage{siunitx} % centering in tables
	\sisetup{
		detect-mode,
		tight-spacing		= true,
		group-digits		= false ,
		input-signs		= ,
		input-symbols		= ( ) [ ] - + *,
		input-open-uncertainty	= ,
		input-close-uncertainty	= ,
		table-align-text-post	= false
        }
\let\estinput=\input%
\newcommand{\estauto}[3]{
		\vspace{.75ex}{
			\begin{tabular}{l*{#2}{#3}}
			\toprule
			\estinput{#1}
			\bottomrule
			\addlinespace[.75ex]
			\end{tabular}
			}
		}
\begin{document}
\begin{table}
\estauto{result1.tex}{4}{l}
%\begin{tabular}{l*3S[table-format=4.4]}
%\toprule
%\input{result1.tex}
%\bottomrule
%\end{tabular}
\end{table}
\end{document}
```
  I copied most of the code from this blog.
  
  Your code (commented with %) also works. Give it a try!
  
  Hope it helps. Tom.

Arindam Bose

9. December 2012 at 16:29

Hello Tom,
I have a query. I want to make a table which is very long in terms of column. So I divided the whole thing into 2 parts. Now these are titled as Table 1 and Table 2. But how can I make them Table 1.(A) and Table 1.(B)…. Is there any way?
Thanks in advance

Reply
- tom
  
  9. December 2012 at 16:36
  
  Hi Arindam,
  
  The longtable package does what you are looking for. You can find an example here.
  
  Best, Tom.
  
  Reply
  - Arindam Bose
    
    9. December 2012 at 16:47
    
    It’s so kind of you, I think I have got my answer……:) So quickly….
  - tom
    
    9. December 2012 at 16:49
    
    Great! And good luck with the table… Tom.
himanshu sekhar panda

9. April 2015 at 15:31

hi tom

In my pdf, why it is showing Tab. in place of Table.?

please answer.

himanshu

Reply
- tom
  
  10. April 2015 at 9:51
  Hi Himanshu,
  
  This might be due to the document class or package you’re useing. Try adding this line to your preamble:
```
\renewcommand{\tablename}{Table}
```
  Reply
  - himanshu sekhar panda
    
    17. April 2015 at 3:32
    Hi Tom
    
    I am sending my preamble. Please check and advise.
    With your suggestion also, it is not showing TABLE.
    
    Please do me a favour. I am about to submit my Ph.D. thesis.
    
    PREAMBLE:
    
    \documentclass[a4paper,12pt]{thesis}
    
    ** code removed by Tom **
  - tom
    
    17. April 2015 at 8:53
    Hi Himanshu,
    
    Thanks for sending your preamble. It’s the thesis document class that defines \tableshortname to be “Tab.” and \figureshortname to be “Fig.” (on line 1092/3).
    
    \def\figureshortname{Fig.} \def\tableshortname{Tab.}
    
    So, simply redefine these in your preamble, e.g.:
    
    \documentclass{thesis} \renewcommand{\tableshortname}{Table} \begin{document} \listoftables \chapter{First chapter} \begin{table}[ht]\caption{default}\centering \begin{tabular}{|c|c|}\hline a&b\\\hline c&d\\\hline\end{tabular} \end{table}% \end{document}
  - himanshu sekhar panda
    
    20. April 2015 at 4:00
    
    Hi Tom
    
    thanks a lot for your sweet solution. it worked.
    
    Actually, I am a learner of LaTeX. I will need your help at times, if permitted….
    
    Regards
    
    himanshu
  - tom
    
    20. April 2015 at 11:21
    
    Sure, no problem! Feel free to drop me a comment, should you have other questions. However, please find an relevant article using the search field on the right. Also, I can help more efficiently when you provide a minimal example :).
    
    Tom
tamonekolevi

9. August 2015 at 0:20

Hi, does anyone now how to write words ‘figure’ and ‘table’ which looks like in amsart?
I think that all letters are capital letters, but only the first is large and the other are small.

Reply
- tom
  
  9. August 2015 at 16:41
  They are using small capitals, provided by the \sc command.
  
  Here’s a minimal working example where the list headings look similar to what amsart produces.
```
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tocloft}
\renewcommand{\cfttoctitlefont}{\hfil\sc}
\renewcommand{\cftloftitlefont}{\hfil\sc}
\renewcommand{\cftlottitlefont}{\hfil\sc}
\begin{document}
\tableofcontents
\listoffigures
\listoftables
\end{document}
```
  Hope this helps,
  Tom
  Reply
  - tamonekolevi
    
    9. August 2015 at 22:02
    
    Thanks!
    
    I found that I can use \textsc{•} command, but example was helpful.
  - tom
    
    10. August 2015 at 9:56
    
    Great, thanks for your reply.
    Tom
A. M. Alshuaib

18. September 2015 at 12:59

I use a spreadtab package in tables. I try to enter a text column in it on which no calculation done, but it doesn’t work. Please any help!

Reply
- tom
  
  18. September 2015 at 13:23
  Hi there,
  
  Thanks for this question. You’ll have to use ‘@’ or ‘\STtextcell’ for text cells. Next time, please consider the package documentation before asking a question and/or provide a minimal example (see code below).
  
  Best, Tom
```
\documentclass[11pt]{article}
\usepackage{spreadtab}
\begin{document}

\begin{spreadtab}{{tabular}{rr|rl}}
22 & 54 & a1+b1&@Row sum\\
43 & 65 & a2+b2&@Row sum\\
49 & 37 & a3+b3&@Row sum\\
\hline
a1+a2+a3 & b1+b2+b3 & a4+b4&@Row sum\\
\end{spreadtab}

\end{document}
```
  Reply
Santiago Torres

29. April 2019 at 21:44
Hi Tom i got this table… But… When I am going to use \ref{tab:1} the result on my page says: Table II-A and I got no another table, I got a Figure but it seems that is recognizing it as same type of label.
```
\begin{table}
\begin{centering}
\label{tab:1}
\caption{Parameters used for the calculations \cite{Ganouni}-\cite{Lin}}
\par\end{centering}
\begin{centering}
\begin{tabular}{|l|c|c|}
\hline 
% Table content
\hline 
\end{tabular}
\par\end{centering}
\end{table}
```
Reply
- tom
  
  7. May 2019 at 20:48
  
  Hi Santiago,
  
  Thanks for your question. I’m not sure what the problem is, since you didn’t include the rest of the code. Your table looks fine. Perhaps II is the chapter/section and A is the first table. You can redefine the way the table counter is printed if necessary.
  
  HTH, Tom
  
  Reply

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