format-markdown-table
Generate well-formatted markdown tables from data with proper alignment and spacing. Use for report statistics, comparison tables, or summary data presentation.
Best use case
format-markdown-table is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Generate well-formatted markdown tables from data with proper alignment and spacing. Use for report statistics, comparison tables, or summary data presentation.
Teams using format-markdown-table should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/format-markdown-table/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How format-markdown-table Compares
| Feature / Agent | format-markdown-table | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Generate well-formatted markdown tables from data with proper alignment and spacing. Use for report statistics, comparison tables, or summary data presentation.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# Format Markdown Table
Create properly formatted markdown tables with alignment and consistent spacing.
## When to Use
- Report statistics tables
- Comparison tables
- Summary data presentation
- Metric dashboards in reports
## Instructions
### Step 1: Receive Table Data
Accept headers and rows as input.
**Expected Input**:
```json
{
"headers": ["Column 1", "Column 2", "Column 3"],
"rows": [
["Value 1", "Value 2", "Value 3"],
["Value 4", "Value 5", "Value 6"]
],
"alignment": ["left", "center", "right"]
}
```
**Alignment** (optional):
- `left`: Left-aligned (default)
- `center`: Center-aligned
- `right`: Right-aligned
### Step 2: Calculate Column Widths
Determine maximum width for each column.
**Width Calculation**:
- Include header width
- Include all row values
- Add padding (1 space on each side)
- Minimum width: 3 characters
### Step 3: Format Header Row
Create header row with proper spacing.
**Format**:
```
| Header 1 | Header 2 | Header 3 |
```
### Step 4: Format Separator Row
Create separator with alignment indicators.
**Alignment Indicators**:
- Left: `:---` or `---`
- Center: `:---:`
- Right: `---:`
**Format**:
```
|----------|:--------:|---------:|
```
### Step 5: Format Data Rows
Create data rows with consistent spacing.
**Format**:
```
| Value 1 | Value 2 | Value 3 |
| Value 4 | Value 5 | Value 6 |
```
### Step 6: Return Complete Table
Return formatted markdown table.
**Expected Output**:
```markdown
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|----------|:--------:|---------:|
| Value 1 | Value 2 | Value 3 |
| Value 4 | Value 5 | Value 6 |
```
## Error Handling
- **Empty Headers**: Return error requesting headers
- **Empty Rows**: Return warning, create table with headers only
- **Mismatched Columns**: Pad short rows with empty cells
- **Invalid Alignment**: Use 'left' as default, warn
## Examples
### Example 1: Simple Statistics Table
**Input**:
```json
{
"headers": ["Metric", "Count", "Percentage"],
"rows": [
["Critical Bugs", "3", "13%"],
["High Bugs", "8", "35%"],
["Medium Bugs", "12", "52%"]
],
"alignment": ["left", "right", "right"]
}
```
**Output**:
```markdown
| Metric | Count | Percentage |
|---------------|------:|-----------:|
| Critical Bugs | 3 | 13% |
| High Bugs | 8 | 35% |
| Medium Bugs | 12 | 52% |
```
### Example 2: Comparison Table
**Input**:
```json
{
"headers": ["Feature", "Before", "After"],
"rows": [
["Build Time", "45s", "12s"],
["Test Time", "2m 30s", "1m 15s"],
["Bundle Size", "2.3 MB", "1.8 MB"]
],
"alignment": ["left", "center", "center"]
}
```
**Output**:
```markdown
| Feature | Before | After |
|-------------|:-------:|:-------:|
| Build Time | 45s | 12s |
| Test Time | 2m 30s | 1m 15s |
| Bundle Size | 2.3 MB | 1.8 MB |
```
### Example 3: Priority Distribution
**Input**:
```json
{
"headers": ["Priority", "Open", "Fixed", "Total"],
"rows": [
["P0", "2", "5", "7"],
["P1", "5", "3", "8"],
["P2", "12", "8", "20"]
]
}
```
**Output**:
```markdown
| Priority | Open | Fixed | Total |
|----------|------|-------|-------|
| P0 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| P1 | 5 | 3 | 8 |
| P2 | 12 | 8 | 20 |
```
### Example 4: Empty Rows (Header Only)
**Input**:
```json
{
"headers": ["Name", "Value", "Status"],
"rows": []
}
```
**Output**:
```markdown
| Name | Value | Status |
|------|-------|--------|
```
## Validation
- [ ] Formats headers correctly
- [ ] Creates proper separators
- [ ] Aligns columns as specified
- [ ] Handles various data types (numbers, text)
- [ ] Pads columns for consistent width
- [ ] Handles empty rows gracefully
## Supporting Files
- `examples.md`: Table formatting examples (see Supporting Files section)Related Skills
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