Explore converting simple tables to Markdown

[evbacher]

We could potentially have an option to convert tables to Markdown. If there are complex tables, I suspect they will get mangled. If that's the case, you can just use HTML tables. I don't really want to add logic to determine if a table is simple enough to convert to Markdown, because that will add a lot of overhead (time and code).

[HughP]

I was just noticing that the output of my tables was not Markdown, but HTML. I suppose this is a feature?

[evbacher]

It's a feature because HTML tables can handle just about anything that a Google Doc can do with tables. That's not true of Markdown tables. If I have time (haha :) I hope to investigate turning very simple tables into Markdown tables. But it's not a trivial fix, so for now, HTML tables.

[georgebrindeiro]

I just got here because I clicked "Markdown" when converting a table and got HTML code.

Totally understand why it's not a trivial fix, but maybe consider adding a comment in the conversion notes with a short explanation and pointing to this issue?

Something like:

Markdown tables are not currently supported. See: #22

[georgebrindeiro]

I'd gladly contribute, but: #37

[evbacher]

Hi George -- I'm happy to add a short message like that in the top comment.

And, no promises, but I am starting to explore open-sourcing as well.

[evbacher]

If there are tables, there will now be a note in the conversion comment at the top that all tables currently convert to HTML tables. I'm leaving this open in case someone gets motivated to try detecting simple tables and converting them to Markdown.

[evbacher]

Note to @georgebrindeiro: this addon is now open source.

[evbacher]

@georgebrindeiro: See #75 for more discussion about Markdown tables.