Why are there fewer ` ` elements than rows times columns?

Because merged cells cover several grid positions with one . The positions a merged cell covers have no element of their own.

Tables · IDML Reference

Q: How is a table represented in IDML?

As a element inside a of a story. The table declares its grid with row and column counts and lists , and children.

An IDML table is a grid that rides on a paragraph — a Table element with rows, columns and cells holding their own text, drawn where the story reaches it.

An IDML table is not a page item of its own: it is a <Table> element that rides on a paragraph in the text flow.

In short A <Table> sits inside a <CharacterStyleRange>, inside a <ParagraphStyleRange>, inside a story, where a run of text would sit. It has no position and names no frame: it draws wherever its paragraph lands as the story flows through its frames. The table declares its grid with counts of header, body and footer rows and of columns, and carries <Row>, <Column> and <Cell> children; each cell holds its own paragraphs. The table takes its paragraph's <Br/> mark right after </Table> when more text follows.

The model in one breath

A <Table> declares its shape with HeaderRowCount, BodyRowCount, FooterRowCount and ColumnCount, and then lists:

<Row> elements, one per row, with the row's height settings;
<Column> elements, one per column, with the column's width;
<Cell> elements, one per occupied grid position, each addressed by Name="column:row" and holding its own paragraphs of text.

A cell can span several rows or columns, so a table usually has fewer <Cell> elements than rows times columns.

A three-row, two-column table inside a story: one header row over two body rows.

Stories/Story_ustory.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<idPkg:Story xmlns:idPkg="http://ns.adobe.com/AdobeInDesign/idml/1.0/packaging" DOMVersion="20.0">
  <Story Self="ustory">
    <ParagraphStyleRange AppliedParagraphStyle="ParagraphStyle/$ID/[No paragraph style]">
      <CharacterStyleRange AppliedCharacterStyle="CharacterStyle/$ID/[No character style]">
        <Table Self="utable" HeaderRowCount="1" FooterRowCount="0" BodyRowCount="2" ColumnCount="2"
               AppliedTableStyle="TableStyle/$ID/[Basic Table]"
               TopBorderStrokeColor="Color/Black" TopBorderStrokeWeight="1"
               BottomBorderStrokeColor="Color/Black" BottomBorderStrokeWeight="1"
               LeftBorderStrokeColor="Color/Black" LeftBorderStrokeWeight="1"
               RightBorderStrokeColor="Color/Black" RightBorderStrokeWeight="1">
          <Row Self="urow0" Name="0" SingleRowHeight="24"/>
          <Row Self="urow1" Name="1" SingleRowHeight="24"/>
          <Row Self="urow2" Name="2" SingleRowHeight="24"/>
          <Column Self="ucol0" Name="0" SingleColumnWidth="120"/>
          <Column Self="ucol1" Name="1" SingleColumnWidth="120"/>
          <Cell Self="ucell00" Name="0:0" RowSpan="1" ColumnSpan="1"
                TextTopInset="2" TextLeftInset="3" TextBottomInset="2" TextRightInset="3"
                AppliedCellStyle="CellStyle/$ID/[None]" FillColor="Color/Black"
                BottomEdgeStrokeColor="Color/Black" BottomEdgeStrokeWeight="1"
                RightEdgeStrokeColor="Color/Black" RightEdgeStrokeWeight="1">
            <ParagraphStyleRange AppliedParagraphStyle="ParagraphStyle/$ID/[No paragraph style]">
              <CharacterStyleRange AppliedCharacterStyle="CharacterStyle/$ID/[No character style]">
                <Content>Item</Content>
              </CharacterStyleRange>
            </ParagraphStyleRange>
          </Cell>
          <Cell Self="ucell10" Name="1:0" RowSpan="1" ColumnSpan="1"
                TextTopInset="2" TextLeftInset="3" TextBottomInset="2" TextRightInset="3"
                AppliedCellStyle="CellStyle/$ID/[None]" FillColor="Color/Black"
                BottomEdgeStrokeColor="Color/Black" BottomEdgeStrokeWeight="1">
            <ParagraphStyleRange AppliedParagraphStyle="ParagraphStyle/$ID/[No paragraph style]">
              <CharacterStyleRange AppliedCharacterStyle="CharacterStyle/$ID/[No character style]">
                <Content>Qty</Content>
              </CharacterStyleRange>
            </ParagraphStyleRange>
          </Cell>
          <Cell Self="ucell01" Name="0:1" RowSpan="1" ColumnSpan="1"
                TextTopInset="2" TextLeftInset="3" TextBottomInset="2" TextRightInset="3"
                AppliedCellStyle="CellStyle/$ID/[None]"
                BottomEdgeStrokeColor="Color/Black" BottomEdgeStrokeWeight="1"
                RightEdgeStrokeColor="Color/Black" RightEdgeStrokeWeight="1">
            <ParagraphStyleRange AppliedParagraphStyle="ParagraphStyle/$ID/[No paragraph style]">
              <CharacterStyleRange AppliedCharacterStyle="CharacterStyle/$ID/[No character style]">
                <Content>Paper</Content>
              </CharacterStyleRange>
            </ParagraphStyleRange>
          </Cell>
          <Cell Self="ucell11" Name="1:1" RowSpan="1" ColumnSpan="1"
                TextTopInset="2" TextLeftInset="3" TextBottomInset="2" TextRightInset="3"
                AppliedCellStyle="CellStyle/$ID/[None]"
                BottomEdgeStrokeColor="Color/Black" BottomEdgeStrokeWeight="1">
            <ParagraphStyleRange AppliedParagraphStyle="ParagraphStyle/$ID/[No paragraph style]">
              <CharacterStyleRange AppliedCharacterStyle="CharacterStyle/$ID/[No character style]">
                <Content>12</Content>
              </CharacterStyleRange>
            </ParagraphStyleRange>
          </Cell>
          <Cell Self="ucell02" Name="0:2" RowSpan="1" ColumnSpan="1"
                TextTopInset="2" TextLeftInset="3" TextBottomInset="2" TextRightInset="3"
                AppliedCellStyle="CellStyle/$ID/[None]"
                RightEdgeStrokeColor="Color/Black" RightEdgeStrokeWeight="1">
            <ParagraphStyleRange AppliedParagraphStyle="ParagraphStyle/$ID/[No paragraph style]">
              <CharacterStyleRange AppliedCharacterStyle="CharacterStyle/$ID/[No character style]">
                <Content>Toner</Content>
              </CharacterStyleRange>
            </ParagraphStyleRange>
          </Cell>
          <Cell Self="ucell12" Name="1:2" RowSpan="1" ColumnSpan="1"
                TextTopInset="2" TextLeftInset="3" TextBottomInset="2" TextRightInset="3"
                AppliedCellStyle="CellStyle/$ID/[None]">
            <ParagraphStyleRange AppliedParagraphStyle="ParagraphStyle/$ID/[No paragraph style]">
              <CharacterStyleRange AppliedCharacterStyle="CharacterStyle/$ID/[No character style]">
                <Content>4</Content>
              </CharacterStyleRange>
            </ParagraphStyleRange>
          </Cell>
        </Table>
      </CharacterStyleRange>
    </ParagraphStyleRange>
  </Story>
</idPkg:Story>

How to read this chapter

The table modelthe <Table> element: the counts, the table style, the outer border, the row and column dividers.
Rows, columns and cellstrack sizes, the column:row address, merged cells, insets, fills, edge strokes and the text in a cell.
Tables in the text flowhow a table sits among paragraphs, breaks across frames, repeats its header and footer rows, and oversets.

A table's formatting can also come from styles: a <Table> applies a table style with AppliedTableStyle and a <Cell> a cell style with AppliedCellStyle. See table and cell styles.

In Paged: tables are laid out from these elements, with each cell composed as a small text frame; tables nested in cells are supported. Supported · verified

Frequently asked questions

How is a table represented in IDML? As a <Table> element inside a <CharacterStyleRange> of a story. The table declares its grid with row and column counts and lists <Row>, <Column> and <Cell> children.

Where does an IDML table appear on the page? Where its paragraph lands as the story flows through its frames. A table has no position of its own; move the paragraph and the table moves with it.

Why are there fewer <Cell> elements than rows times columns? Because merged cells cover several grid positions with one <Cell>. The positions a merged cell covers have no element of their own.

Can a table contain another table? Yes. A cell holds ordinary paragraphs, and one of them can hold a <Table>.

Tables

The model in one breath

How to read this chapter

Frequently asked questions

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