# Create Table

> Create PDF tables using ReportLab Table class for proper structure detection. Creates tables that Marker and other extractors can parse. Use when you need detectable tables in PDFs.

- Skill: `majiayu000/create-table` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds add majiayu000/create-table`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/majiayu000/create-table/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Docs & Writing
- Author: majiayu000 (https://skillmd.com/u/majiayu000)
- Updated: 2026-09-09
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/majiayu000/create-table

---


# create-table

Create PDF tables using ReportLab's `Table` class that extractors (Marker, Camelot) can detect.

## Why This Exists

PyMuPDF raw drawing commands (`draw_line`, `insert_text`) create visual tables but **not** proper PDF table structures. Marker and other extractors cannot detect these as tables.

ReportLab's `Table` class creates proper PDF table structures with cell boundaries that extraction tools recognize.

## Quick Start

```bash
cd .pi/skills/create-table

# Generate from preset (simple, medium, complex)
uv run generate.py preset simple
uv run generate.py preset complex --output my_table.pdf

# Generate with custom data
uv run generate.py generate --output custom.pdf \
  --columns "ID,Name,Status" \
  --rows '[["1","Alice","Active"],["2","Bob","Pending"]]'

# Borderless table
uv run generate.py generate --no-border --output borderless.pdf

# Thick borders (3pt)
uv run generate.py generate --line-width 3 --output thick.pdf

# Render as image (for scanned document testing)
uv run generate.py preset medium --as-image --dpi 200

# Generate all examples
uv run generate.py example
```

## Commands

### `preset` - Generate from preset complexity

```bash
uv run generate.py preset <name> [options]
```

| Preset | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| `simple` | 3x3 basic table |
| `medium` | 8-row requirements matrix with 6 columns |
| `complex` | Multi-index headers with column spans |

### `generate` - Create custom table

```bash
uv run generate.py generate [options]
```

**Options:**
| Option | Short | Description | Default |
|--------|-------|-------------|---------|
| `--output` | `-o` | Output PDF/PNG path | `table_fixture.pdf` |
| `--columns` | `-c` | Comma-separated column headers | `ID,Name,Value` |
| `--rows` | `-r` | JSON array of row data | 3 sample rows |
| `--spec` | `-s` | JSON spec file path | - |
| `--title` | `-t` | Table title text | - |
| `--style` | | `grid`, `plain`, `colored` | `grid` |
| `--border/--no-border` | | Enable or disable borders | `--border` |
| `--line-width` | `-w` | Border thickness in points | `1.0` |
| `--multi-index` | `-m` | JSON multi-index headers | - |
| `--as-image` | `-i` | Render as PNG image | `False` |
| `--dpi` | | Image resolution | `150` |

### `example` - Generate all examples

```bash
uv run generate.py example
```

Creates `examples/` directory with all presets, styles, and border variations.

## Multi-Index Tables

For hierarchical headers that span columns:

```bash
uv run generate.py generate \
  --columns "ID,Q1,Q2,Q3,Q4,Total" \
  --rows '[["A","10","20","30","40","100"]]' \
  --multi-index '[[{"text":"","span":1},{"text":"2024 Quarters","span":4},{"text":"","span":1}]]'
```

## Scanned Document Simulation

Generate table as a rasterized PNG image (for testing OCR/VLM extraction):

```bash
# 150 DPI (default)
uv run generate.py preset medium --as-image

# Higher quality (300 DPI)
uv run generate.py preset complex --as-image --dpi 300 --output scanned_table.png
```

## Verification

Test that Camelot detects the table:

```bash
uv run generate.py preset simple --output test.pdf

python -c "
import camelot
tables = camelot.read_pdf('test.pdf', pages='1', flavor='lattice')
print(f'Tables found: {len(tables)}')
if tables:
    print(tables[0].df)
"
```

## Dependencies

Self-contained via `uv run` - no pre-installation needed.

```toml
[project]
dependencies = [
    "reportlab>=4.0.0",
    "typer>=0.9.0",
    "pymupdf>=1.23.0",
]
```