Tables

Why it matters

Tables are one of the most common ways to structure data in
documentation: solution comparisons, responsibility matrices,
release plans, endpoint lists, configs. And, at the same time,
one of the most annoying features in most wiki tools: rigid
column widths, broken pasting from Excel, no comfortable way to
edit.

In Nextdocs a table is a full first-class block. All operations
on it happen through a hover menu, no modals, no settings. Working
with it should feel as fast and natural as in Excel or Google
Sheets.

Inserting a table

From the slash menu

/ → Table → inserts a 3×3 table. The first row is a header
by default (bold, fixed font).

From the clipboard

See the "Pasting from the clipboard" section in
Editor:

• From Excel / Google Sheets — Cmd+C a range → Cmd+V in
  Nextdocs → a table with the correct size and contents.

• CSV / TSV — text with commas / tabs becomes a table
  automatically.

• HTML table — copying a web page with a <table> gives you
  our table.

• Markdown pipe-table — standard markdown syntax
  (| col | col |) is parsed.

Floating menu above the table

Hover over the table — a toolbar appears above its top edge. From
there:

Adding rows and columns

• Add row / Add column — adds a row below / column right
  of the current cursor position.

• Alternative — Tab in the last cell of the last row creates a
  new row.

• Shortcuts: Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+↓ / → — adds row / column.

Deletion

• Select row / column (click the indicator on the left / top) →
  "Delete row/column" in the menu.

Reorder

• Drag row / column indicators with the mouse — changes order.
  Works with animation, you can see where it'll land.

Cells

• Merge / split cells via right-click context menu.

• Alignment (left / center / right) for cell text.

• Cell background colour to highlight important bits.

Content formatting

Full formatting set inside each cell:

• Bold / italic / inline code / link.

• Multi-line text (Shift+Enter inside a cell — new line).

• Checklists in a cell (/checklist).

• Bulleted / numbered lists.

• Images — the cell resizes to the image.

• Links to other pages (@ + page name — autolinks).

Fullscreen mode

The "expand" icon in the bottom-left of the table — opens it in
its own overlay. In fullscreen:

• The whole table is visible without horizontal scroll.

• Comfortable for 20+ column tables.

• ESC / click "shrink" — back to the editor.

The result is synced automatically: whatever you changed in
fullscreen applies in the main editor (and for colleagues).

Export to Excel

Save as Excel button (in the toolbar). Downloads an .xlsx
with the current table's contents. Preserved:

• Cell contents (text, numbers).

• Row headers.

• Column order.

Not preserved: formatting (bold / italic), colours, hyperlinks
(the text itself is pasted). For pixel-perfect compatibility with
Excel — make the table there.

Copy as HTML

Select the table in Nextdocs → Cmd+C → paste into Gmail / Slack /
Word. It pastes as an HTML table close to the original visually.
Handy for report distribution.

Sort and filters

Not yet. Nextdocs tables are primarily a tool to present data to
humans, not a mini-spreadsheet. If you need pivot / sort /
formulas — build them in Google Sheets and paste the result into
the docs.

Co-editing

Tables are a CRDT document like the rest of the editor:

• Two people can edit different cells at the same time without
  conflicts.

• The colleague's cursor is visible in the cell they're typing
  in.

• If both edit the same cell — merges happen just like in a
  regular paragraph: characters interleave, nothing is lost.

Deep linking

Right-click a cell → Copy cell link. Gives you a
https://nextdocs.ai/projects/.../page#cell-ab12 URL that you can
share in Slack — the opener lands directly on the cell and it's
highlighted.

Search

Full-text search (Cmd/Ctrl+K, Table filter) searches cell
contents. A match highlights the specific cell on page open.

Typical scenarios

Product comparison (like the table in
13-comparison.md). Properties in rows,
products in columns. Fill with ✅ / ❌ / ⚠️. One table replaces
five paragraphs of text.

Responsibility matrix (RACI). Roles in columns, activities in
rows. Cells — R / A / C / I. Shared via a cell link when
discussing a specific task.

Release plan. Version / Date / Features / Owner / Status.
Each row — a release. Updated by the team in real time.

Env variables / API endpoints. Name / Description / Example
value. Standard way to document configs.

Data import from a spreadsheet. Select a range in Google
Sheets → Cmd+C → Cmd+V in Nextdocs — table populated. Good for
one-off dashboard snapshots.

Limitations

• Max ~50 columns × 500 rows per table. Above that the editor
  slows down (especially in fullscreen).

• No formulas or computations. Use Google Sheets / Excel.

• No autofill (like drag-fill in Excel).

• No pivot tables (group-by, aggregation).

• Splitting a table across pages on PDF export — in progress;
  very large tables export with horizontal scroll.