Focus: table
A table directive asks architxt to organise information into rows and columns. Tables are useful when you need a compact, scannable answer that compares entities, lists properties, or enumerates values. Like other focus types, a table can stand alone or be combined with narrative, diagram, and graph sections on a curated page.
When to use a table focus
Use a table focus when you want:
- A side-by-side comparison of entities or concepts.
- A property grid: each entity as a row, each attribute as a column.
- A ranked or enumerated list with multiple fields per item.
- Output that is easy to paste into a spreadsheet or report.
What a table envelope looks like
A table envelope contains one or more table blocks. Each block has:
| Field | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Name | The title shown above the table. |
| Columns | The column headers that define what each cell means. |
| Rows | The data values, one row per record or entity. |
| Evidence | Optional references to source data that informed the table. |
Table blocks are rendered as a scrollable grid in the Preview tab and in the curated-page editor.
Preview controls
Table previews share the common envelope controls and add a few table-specific ones.
| Control | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Copy | Copies the table as CSV, Markdown, or a plain text grid. |
| Search | Filters rows by typing a substring match across all cells. |
| Sort | Sorts rows by a selected column in ascending or descending order. |
| Focus | Opens the table in a modal with the source visible and, when the source is editable, an Apply button. |
From the table header you can copy CSV for spreadsheets, Markdown for documentation, or a plain grid for quick notes.
Editing tables in curated pages
When you add a table to a curated page it becomes an editable table section. The section editor shows a spreadsheet-like grid on one side and a compact source panel on the other.
| Action | How it works |
|---|---|
| Edit cells | Click any cell to change its value. |
| Add / remove rows | Insert rows above or below the current selection, or delete selected rows. |
| Add / remove columns | Rename headers, insert columns, or remove columns that are no longer needed. |
| Reorder columns | Drag column headers to reorder the grid. |
| Apply | Save the edited table back to the curated page. |
| Soft delete | Remove the section; restore it before saving if you change your mind. |
Tables in the curated-page editor and Preview tab scroll horizontally and vertically. They are not paginated, so long tables stay intact and searchable.
From table to curated page
The typical flow is:
- Ask a Reflect question that requests a table, or open a mental model whose output is a table.
- Inspect the rendered grid in the Preview tab.
- Sort, search, or copy the table while you decide what to keep.
- Copy the table (CSV, Markdown, or as a section) into a curated page.
- In the curated page, refine cell values, add or remove rows, then save the page.
Relationship to other focus pages
Tables often appear alongside narrative, diagram, and graph sections in the same envelope. A single Reflect result can contain a short narrative followed by a table that enumerates the details. You can mix all of these section types on one curated page.
- Focus: narrative for prose sections.
- Focus: diagram for visual flowchart sections.
- Preview and curated pages for the tab model this focus type fits into.
Summary
The table focus turns Reflect output into editable grids. Previews give you copy, search, and sort controls; curated-page sections let you edit cells, rows, and columns live and save the result.