12

I would like to generate tables that have headers from code blocks. Something like this:

#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp :results value table :table-header | First | Second |
  (identity '((a b) (c d)))
#+END_SRC

#+RESULTS:
| First | Second |
|-------+--------|
| a     | b      |
| c     | d      |

Unfortunately something like :table-header | First | Second | does not exist. Or rather I am hoping that I am overlooking something. (Here I am using (identity ...) as a placeholder for code which actually calculates a value.)

This workaround doesn't quite do it for me:

#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp :results value table
  (cons (list "First" "Second")
        (identity '((a b) (c d))))
#+END_SRC

#+RESULTS:
| First | Second |
| a     | b      |
| c     | d      |

I have to modify the content of the code block and the resulting header is not actually a header row, its a row like any other.

Related to this (but not 100% the same, above I would like to avoid having to put table setup instructions inside the code block, below that is required), is there a special element that causes the insertion of a separator? Something like:

#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp :results value table
  (nconc (identity '((a b) (c d)))  ; calculated value A
         (list 'linebreak)          ; explicitly inserted linebreak
         (identity '((A B) (C D)))) ; calculated value B
#+END_SRC

#+RESULTS:
| a | b |
| c | d |
|---+---|
| A | B |
| B | D |
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2 Answers 2

Reset to default
11

Just use hline instead of linebreak. The following works:

* test
#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp :results value table
  '(("First" "Second")
    hline
    (a b) (c d))
#+END_SRC

#+RESULTS:
| First | Second |
|-------+--------|
| a     | b      |
| c     | d      |
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2
  • After having played with :colnames as suggested in the other answer, it looks like I'll have to open feature request for #+BEGIN_SRC ... :colnames yes as well as :colnames "| First | Second |". Until then I will go with this approach.
    – tarsius
    Commented Mar 8, 2016 at 13:42
  • Just a note in case anyone finds this a helpful addition: If you're not using quoted values for everything (e.g. maybe you're using a :var header and a, b, c, etc. are actually derived variables which you use list on), just quote the 'hline symbol itself.
    – lindes
    Commented Feb 24, 2018 at 5:26
3

After adding the header row:

  1. Assign #+NAME: to code block.

    #+NAME: needs-a-table-header
#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp :results value table 
  (cons (list "First" "Second")
        (identity '((a b) (c d))))
#+END_SRC

  2. Add #+CALL: statement with :colnames yes header

    #+CALL: needs-a-table-header() :colnames yes

  3. Run #+CALL: statement using C-c C-c.

    #+RESULTS:
| First | Second |
|-------+--------|
| a     | b      |
| c     | d      |

Hope that helped!

Code Tested using

GNU Emacs 24.5.1 (x86_64-unknown-cygwin, GTK+ Version 3.14.13)
org-version: 8.3.2

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2
  • Thanks. To avoid having two tables I prefixed both the code block and the call with #+NAME: same-name. Since I still have to cons the header row when using this approach, I'll go with the solution in the other answer.
    – tarsius
    Commented Mar 8, 2016 at 13:38
  • @tarsius Thanks for update! BTW thanks for asking this question! I know of several different ways to add table headers which you might find helpful. I'll look through my notes an post another answer.
    – Melioratus
    Commented Mar 8, 2016 at 15:53

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