format-table

name	format-table
description	Formats markdown tables with fixed-width columns for consistent alignment. Use when creating tables, reformatting existing tables, or ensuring table readability. Triggers on terms like "format table", "align table", "fix table", "table columns".

Markdown Table Formatting Skill

This skill formats markdown tables with fixed-width columns for consistent alignment and readability.

Table Format Rules

Column Width Calculation

1. Find the maximum content width in each column (including header)
2. Add padding (minimum 1 space on each side)
3. Apply consistent width to all cells in that column

Alignment

• Left-aligned (default): | content | with space padding on right
• Right-aligned: :--- becomes ---: in separator
• Center-aligned: :---: in separator

Separator Row

The separator row uses dashes matching the column width:

• Left-aligned: |----------|
• Right-aligned: |---------:|
• Center-aligned: |:--------:|

Example Transformation

Before (inconsistent widths)

| Option | Description | Example |
|--------|-------------|---------|
| `--use-context` | Enable contextual intelligence | `--use-context` |
| `--batch-size N` | Set batch size for large ranges | `--batch-size 3` |
| `--auto-apply` | Apply without confirmation | `--auto-apply` |

After (fixed-width columns)

| Option           | Description                     | Example          |
|------------------|---------------------------------|------------------|
| `--use-context`  | Enable contextual intelligence  | `--use-context`  |
| `--batch-size N` | Set batch size for large ranges | `--batch-size 3` |
| `--auto-apply`   | Apply without confirmation      | `--auto-apply`   |

Formatting Algorithm

For each column:
  1. width = max(len(cell) for cell in column)
  2. width = max(width, 3)  # Minimum 3 chars for separator

For each row:
  1. For each cell:
     - Pad content to column width
     - Add single space before and after content
  2. Join cells with '|' delimiter
  3. Add '|' at start and end

Special Cases

Code in Cells

Preserve backticks when calculating width:

• `--flag` counts as 8 characters (including backticks)

Empty Cells

Empty cells get full padding:

| Column A | Column B |
|----------|----------|
| value    |          |

Multi-word Headers

Headers determine minimum column width:

| Long Header Name | Short |
|------------------|-------|
| value            | x     |

Instructions

When formatting tables:

1. Read the table - Identify all rows and columns
2. Calculate widths - Find max content width per column
3. Format header - Apply consistent width with padding
4. Format separator - Match column widths with dashes
5. Format data rows - Apply same widths to all cells
6. Preserve alignment - Keep : markers for right/center alignment

Quick Reference

Element	Format
Cell padding	Single space each side
Min width	3 characters (for ---)
Separator	Dashes matching column width
Pipe spacing	No space adjacent to pipes
Line ending	No trailing whitespace