Create LaTeX Tables

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created 2008 · complexity basic · version 7.0

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Typesetting LaTeX tables is time consuming and can get very complicated. It is, however, very easy to use the Perl LaTeX::Table module from within Vim. Install the module with:

$ cpan LaTeX::Table

Then for example, enter the following into a buffer:

theme=NYC;caption_top=1;caption=Bla
Animal & Description & Price
Gnat & per gram & 13.65
& each & 0.02
Gnu & stuffed & 92.59

Now visually select the lines (for example, ggVG), and enter the command !ltpretty to filter the text through the ltpretty script. The lines are replaced with the following LaTeX code:

 % theme=NYC;caption_top=1;caption=Bla
 % Animal & Description & Price
 % Gnat & per gram & 13.65
 % & each & 0.02
 % Gnu & stuffed & 92.59

\definecolor{latextbl}{RGB}{78,130,190}
\begin{table}
\centering
\caption{Bla}
\setlength{\extrarowheight}{1pt}
\begin{tabular}{|llr|}
\hline
\rowcolor{latextbl}\multicolumn{1}{|>{\columncolor{latextbl}}c}{\color{white}\textbf{Animal }} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\columncolor{latextbl}}c}{\color{white}\textbf{ Description }} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\columncolor{latextbl}}c|}{\color{white}\textbf{ Price}} \\
\hline
\rowcolor{latextbl!25}Gnat & per gram & 13.65 \\
\rowcolor{latextbl!10}     & each     & 0.02  \\
\rowcolor{latextbl!25}Gnu  & stuffed  & 92.59 \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{table}