If you're a writer or researcher who uses Obsidian App to manage your notes, you may find yourself needing to create tables to organize your data. Tables are a great way to present information in an easy-to-read format, but it can be daunting to create and customize tables in Obsidian App.

In this guide, we'll walk you through the basics of creating tables in Obsidian App using markdown syntax. We'll also introduce you to the Advanced-tables-obsidian plugin, which provides an even better way to create and customize tables. Additionally, we'll show you how to use the Obsidian Dataview plugin to create a lookup table for your notes. Finally, we'll teach you how to add check boxes to your tables in Obsidian App.

By the end of this article, you'll have the tools you need to create and enhance tables in Obsidian App, making it easier to organize and present your data.

Basic formatting syntax for markdown tables you need to know

basic table format in markdown

To create a table in Markdown, use three or more hyphens (---) to create each column header, and separate each column with pipes (|). You should also add a pipe on either end of the row to maintain compatibility.

For example, the following code creates a simple table with two columns:

| Syntax | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Header | Title |
| Paragraph | Text |

The rendered output looks like this:

Syntax	Description
Header	Title
Paragraph	Text

Aligning Text in Markdown Tables

To align text in columns, add a colon (:) to the left, right, or on both sides of the hyphens within the header row. Here's an example:

| Syntax | Description | Test Text |
| :--- | :----: | ---: |
| Header | Title | Here's this |
| Paragraph | Text | And more |

The rendered output looks like this:

Syntax	Description	Test Text
Header	Title	Here's this
Paragraph	Text	And more

In the above example, the "Syntax" column is left-aligned, the "Description" column is center-aligned, and the "Test Text" column is right-aligned.

More Formatting Text in Markdown Tables

You Can:

You can format text within tables by adding links, code (words or phrases in backticks (`) only, not code blocks), and emphasis.

You Can't:

However, you cannot use headings, blockquotes, lists, horizontal rules, images, or most HTML tags.

Here's an example of how to add links within a table cell:

| Name | Website |
| --- | --- |
| John Doe | [example.com](http://example.com) |
| Jane Smith | [example.org](http://example.org) |

The rendered output looks like this:

Name	Website
John Doe	example.com
Jane Smith	example.org

Tip: You can use HTML to create line breaks and add lists within table cells.

How to Create Tables in Obsidian App

Get started with Create Tables in Obsidian App

Are you looking to create a table in Obsidian but unsure of how to do it? Fear not, for it's quite simple! All you need are two characters: pipes (|) and hyphens (-).

To create a table using Markdown in Obsidian, use a pipe (|) to separate each column and three or more hyphens (-) to separate the header row from the rest of the table. With just these two characters, you can create a neat and organized table in Obsidian for all your note-taking needs.

This is an easy pictrure show you how to make a table in Obsidian.

Let's say you want to create a table with three columns and three rows in Obsidian App, where the first row is the header. You can use Markdown to do this easily. Check out the example below:

| Header 1 | Header 2 | Header 3 |
| -------- | -------- | -------- |
| Item 1   | Item 2   | Item 3   |
| Item 4   | Item 5   | Item 6   |

To make sure the columns are properly aligned when you're editing the table, it's a good idea to use enough hyphens to separate the header. Although you only need three hyphens, adding more won't affect how the table looks when it's read. In reading mode, the cell size is automatically adjusted, regardless of the number of hyphens you use.

If you want to Aligning a Table in Obsidian

Obsidian will align the text in each cell to the left by default. If you want to change the alignment of a column, you can use colons (:) in the header row. Putting a colon at the beginning, end, or both sides of the hyphens in a column header will align it to the left, right, or middle respectively.

To align the columns in your table, you can use the colons ":" symbol in the header row of your table. The position of the colons determines the alignment of the column.

In the example below, the first column is aligned to the right, the second column is centered, and the third column is aligned to the left.

Header 1	Header 2	Header 3
Item 1	Item 2	Item 3
Item 4	Item 5	Item 6

As you can see, the first column has the colons on the right side, indicating it should be aligned to the right. The second column has colons on both sides, indicating it should be centered. And the third column has the colons on the left side, indicating it should be aligned to the left.

Add more text format in Obsidian Table

Did you know that you can spice up your Obsidian table by using Markdown formatting? With Markdown, you can add bold, italic, strikethrough, code, links, and even images to the content of each cell. To do this, all you have to do is use the same Markdown syntax you would use for regular text.

Advanced-tables-obsidian plugin - Better way to create table in Obsidian App

If you're a frequent user of markdown tables in Obsidian, you might have noticed that they can be somewhat limited in terms of functionality. Fortunately, the Advanced Tables plugin is here to improve your markdown table experience in several ways. Here are three key features of the plugin:

Auto Formatting and Improved Navigation

The Advanced Tables plugin makes it easier to create and navigate markdown tables in Obsidian. Instead of manually typing out each cell, you can use the Tab and Enter keys to quickly move between cells and rows. The plugin also has an auto-formatting feature, which can save you time by automatically adjusting the table as you add or remove content.

Spreadsheet-like Formulas

One of the standout features of the Advanced Tables plugin is the ability to use spreadsheet formulas within markdown tables. This means you can perform calculations, manipulate text, and more, all within the table itself. You can access the formula editor by pressing Ctrl + Shift + D, or by using the command palette.

Flexible Table Manipulation and Export Options

The Advanced Tables plugin also gives you more control over the formatting and appearance of your tables. You can easily add, remove, and move columns and rows, as well as set column alignment and sort rows by a specified column. Additionally, the plugin allows you to export your tables to CSV format for use in other applications.

Download & Install the Advanced Tables Plugin

Where to download

You can download the Advanced Tables Plugin for Obsidian here , you can visit this github page.

Advanced Tables Plugin for Obsidian github page

How to install

Installing the Advanced Tables plugin is easy, and can be done directly within Obsidian:

1. Open the Settings menu and select Third-party plugin.
2. Ensure that Safe mode is turned off.
3. Click Browse community plugins and search for "Advanced Tables".
4. Click Install and wait for the installation to complete.
5. Close the community plugins window and activate the plugin.

With the Advanced Tables plugin installed and activated, you'll be able to enjoy improved navigation, formatting, and manipulation of your markdown tables in Obsidian.

Use Obsidian Dataview to make lookup table

You may have heard of the Dataview plugin. One of the powerful features of Dataview is the ability to create tables that display data from your notes.

These tables can be incredibly useful for organizing and visualizing information. However, creating them can be a bit intimidating at first. That's where the dataview table command comes in.

To create a Dataview table, simply type dataview table and press enter. This will create a basic table that you can customize to your needs.

For example, let's say you have a set of notes that contain information about books you've read. You could create a table that displays the title, author, and date read of each book like this:

BOOK
| Name | Author | Date |
|------|--------|------|
| [[{{Name}}]] | {{Author}} | {{Date}} |

In this table, BOOK is the name of the query that will be used to populate the table. The table has three columns: Name, Author, and Date. The data for each row will be pulled from the notes that match the query.

Note that the syntax for Dataview tables uses Markdown, so you can customize the appearance of the table with Markdown formatting.

Once you've created your table, you can add additional queries to filter and sort the data. For example, you could add a query to only show books that were read in the last year:

Here's an example of what the table might look like:

Name	Author	Date
The Great Gatsby	F. Scott Fitzgerald	2022-01-15
To Kill a Mockingbird	Harper Lee	2022-02-05
1984	George Orwell	2022-03-22
Pride and Prejudice	Jane Austen	2022-04-02
Animal Farm	George Orwell	2022-05-20
The Catcher in the Rye	J.D. Salinger	2022-06-10

Add check boxes to tables in Obsiddian

Have you ever tried to add checkboxes to a table in Obsidian? It's a handy feature for keeping track of things, like a to-do list, in a neat and organized way. However, you may have noticed that simply using "- [ ]" won't work in a table.

No worries, there's a simple workaround! Instead of using the standard "- [ ]", we can use HTML code to create checkboxes that will work in a table. Specifically, we'll use the <input type="checkbox"> code.

Here's an example of what the code looks like:

|  Task  | Completed |
|--------|-----------|
|  Buy milk  | <input type="checkbox"> |
|  Walk the dog  | <input type="checkbox"> |

In this example, we've created a table with two columns: "Task" and "Completed". We've added two rows with tasks and a checkbox in the "Completed" column using the <input type="checkbox"> code. When you preview the note, you'll see that the checkboxes work just like they would outside of a table.

Task	Completed
Buy milk
Walk the dog

So there you have it! With this simple trick, you can easily add checkboxes to tables in Obsidian and keep track of your tasks in a more organized way.

Comparing Tables in Obsidian to Other Note-Taking Software

Tables are one of the most powerful features of Obsidian, a popular note-taking software that allows users to create and organize notes in various ways. I personally find the simplicity of Obsidian's table creation and formatting features refreshing compared to other note-taking software. Despite their simplicity, they still have the ability to create complex tables and allow customization of the look and feel.

For me, using tables in Obsidian for note-taking has many advantages. Organizing and managing different types of information becomes a breeze, and the visually appealing and easy-to-read notes are a plus. I think that being able to create charts and graphs to visualize data is a real advantage.

However, there are some disadvantages to using tables in Obsidian for note-taking as well. Creating tables can be time-consuming and editing them can be challenging. Space is also a concern, especially if you're using Obsidian on a mobile device. In my experience, tables take up a lot of space and can be a problem.

Use Cases for Tables in Obsidian

There are a number of ways that tables can be used in Obsidian for note-taking. Here are a few examples:

• Organizing data: Tables can be used to organize data in a variety of ways. For example, you could use a table to create a list of items, a timeline, or a budget.
• Creating charts and graphs: Tables can also be used to create charts and graphs. This can be helpful for visualizing data and making it easier to understand.
• Creating visually appealing notes: Tables can also be used to create visually appealing notes. This can be done by using different colors, fonts, and borders.
• Making notes easy to read: Tables can also be used to make notes easy to read. This can be done by using headings and subheadings, and by spacing out the text.

Tips for Incorporating Tables into Your Note-Taking System

Here are a few tips for incorporating tables into your note-taking system:

• Organize data with tables: In my experience, organizing data in tables can offer a great way to present information in various formats, such as a list of items, a timeline, or a budget plan.
• Visualize data with charts and graphs: To make data easier to understand, I personally prefer creating charts and graphs using tables. It can add visual appeal to the information and make it stand out.
• Enhance the look of notes with tables: For me, tables can also be utilized to enhance the look of notes and make them visually appealing. This can be achieved by playing with colors, font styles, and borders.
• Make notes readable with tables: To make notes readable, I think using tables can be a helpful approach. This can be achieved by using headings and subheadings, as well as adding some whitespace to the text.

In addition to these tips, here are a few more specific things that you can do with tables in Obsidian:

• Create a table of contents: You can create a table of contents for your notes by using the Table of Contents plugin. This will help you to easily find the information that you need.
• Create a master index: You can create a master index for your notes by using the Master Index plugin. This will help you to easily find all of your notes, regardless of where they are stored.
• Create a table of links: You can create a table of links for your notes by using the Table of Links plugin. This will help you to easily find all of the links that you have embedded in your notes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, creating tables in Obsidian can be a useful tool for organizing and displaying data in a clear and concise manner. With the basic formatting syntax for markdown tables and the ability to create tables within the Obsidian app, you can get started with creating tables right away. The Advanced-tables-obsidian plugin provides an even better way to create tables with more advanced features.

Obsidian Dataview plugin can be used to create lookup tables for easy reference. Lastly, adding check boxes to tables can make them more interactive and user-friendly. We hope that this guide has provided you with valuable insights and tools to create tables in Obsidian more efficiently. Don't forget to share this article with anyone who might find it useful!