Tables allow you to display facts, figures and data in an organized manner. However, tables must be manually coded into an ebook, which can be time consuming and/or expensive.
Use tables for tabular data only
Do not use tables to create drop caps or to highlight text in an ebook using borders and colored background. (See Easily Add Borders & Colored Backgrounds to Paragraphs in eBooks.)
Tables are for organizing data…period. In addition, ebooks do not support “nested tables” meaning you cannot put a table “inside” a cell of another table.
Display of tables
Most e-readers can handle the display of tables (even the older e-ink Kindle 3), but table text is a non-reflowable layout. If you have a table that is larger (wider or taller) than the screen display, the user experience diminishes: tables do not display on one screen. And rendering the table an image does not improve the user experience as the text will be difficult to read.
The best solutions for larger tables is to redesign the information into something else that is reflowable such as a text list.
Two methods to creating tables: HTML and IMAGES
Tables as Images
IMPORTANT!
Turning tables into images is a very popular method for ebook publishers, but it isn’t the best option. Accessibility diminishes for the hearing and visually impaired.
It is possible to export tables as images from your Word document, PDF or InDesign file. By creating an image, the table appears exactly the same as in your original document, but they are images.
Pros. This method can greatly save time and cost. As an image they will not break across two or more pages when displayed (like hand-coded HTML tables).
Cons. E-reading devices do not recognize the text in images as “text” so it will not show up when a user searches your book, nor will the user be able to highlight the text.
HTML Tables and Text
Re-creating your tables as real text in HTML is the best solution for your ebook. Tables can be created for an ebook to look as they appear in the original document.
Pros. HTML tables with “real” text are included in ebook searches. They also can be highlighted by users. When a user changes the font size of the ebook, the text in tables will change in size along with the rest of the ebook.
Cons. Production time and cost is increased. It can also create unwanted line breaks in the table, such as flowing larger tables over several pages.
Best Method
You need to determine what is best for your ebook readers. Will they require searching, highlighting or the need to “read” the text?
