[Rlib-users] Re: Re: Text-mode tables with borders in reStructuredText style?

[Jeff K. <jt...@ya...>]

Bob Doan wrote:
> Right now rlib has a concept of "Output".. which contains "Images",
> "HorizontalLines", and "Lines".. "Lines" in turn contain "Text" and
> "Data".. Its as simple as that at the moment... You are asking for the
> ability to "Box" items... mainly "Text" and "Data" in lines.. so the 
> "Line" we would add a property box="..some style.."..  
> To implement this we would have to first settle in on what exactly the
> properties of boxing would be.. Chet.. Bob Kratz... any suggestions?

I see. Looking at
http://docutils.sourceforge.net/spec/rst/reStructuredText.html#tables

+------------------------+------------+----------+----------+
| Header row, column 1   | Header 2   | Header 3 | Header 4 |
| (header rows optional) |            |          |          |
+========================+============+==========+==========+
| body row 1, column 1   | column 2   | column 3 | column 4 |
+------------------------+------------+----------+----------+
| body row 2             | Cells may span columns.          |
+------------------------+------------+---------------------+
| body row 3             | Cells may  | - Table cells       |
+------------------------+ span rows. | - contain           |
| body row 4             |            | - body elements.    |
+------------------------+------------+---------------------+

Perhaps auto wrapping and spanning aren't necessary in the
context of precision layout like rlib uses. After all, the
objective is only to make certain rlib text output optionally
reST compatible. This way, each line wouldn't grow a dependency
on previous and subsequent lines for floating bordering. Note
that the exterior borders have no difference to internal
borders, which is convenient for the implementation.

- normal specification of column widths should result in good
  alignment, user can tweak alignment if reST column spanning is
  desired. Row spanning wouldn't be as simple.
- header property, affects lower border style.
- line may need a height (in lines) property, user is
  responsible for specifying height, truncate overflow?
- specifying text/data cell width to align in a reSt compatible
  fashion is probably OK to ask the user to handle in the
  report definition.
- default single space side margin property for cell? Reports
  that are tight on space may wish to omit margin space.