Please note that there are two different types of TableMaker application—one called "TableMaker" and the other one called "TableMaker Droplet." The droplet version of TableMaker is much smaller in size, but it requires that you have MacPerl 4 or 5 installed on your computer. The stand-alone version of TableMaker, on the other hand, includes a runtime version of MacPerl built-in and so it does not have any such requirement. If you plan to use the droplet version but you don't have MacPerl installed, you will either have to get it or get the stand-alone version of TableMaker instead.
Quick Instructions
Drag and drop tab or comma-delimited text files onto the TableMaker application. When the standard open dialog box appears, select a SETTINGS file. That's it — HTML versions of your files containing the table will be created automatically. I've included a whole bunch of settings files in the "Settings Files" folder. Please note that each settings file works either with comma-delimited text or tab-delimited text, but not both. You can easily tell which files work with what type of delimiter since the first part of the filename is either "comma" or "tab."
The settings files holds the formatting options for the tables you want to create. Some of the options are border, width, height, headers, column & row spanning, horizontal alignment, etc. You can open these files in any text editor and modify them to suit your taste. If you do not like the idea of editing text files to modify the behavior of applications, TableMaker can lead you through the process of creating new settings files. Just double-click on the TableMaker application to see a menu of options and select the one for creating new settings files.
If you find yourself using the same settings file over and over again, you can direct TableMaker to use it automatically without asking each time. Again, just double-click the TableMaker application and then select the appropriate option.
Please see the included Docs in HTML format for complete instructions, examples of tables, and links to various places on the web with more info on tables.
Important Note
If you cannot drag and drop files onto TableMaker or if you get an error message telling you that your files cannot be opened because the application that created them cannot be found, you need to rebuild your desktop file. Restart your computer and hold down the command and option keys until a message appears asking you if you would like to rebuild your desktop. Choose OK.
Known Bugs
If you are using the droplet version of TableMaker with MacPerl 4, you must have AppleScript installed or it will not work. Using the droplet version with MacPerl 5 does not require that AppleScript be installed
When you drag and drop files onto the TableMaker application, a dialog box will appear for you to select a settings file (unless you have designated a settings file to be re-used automatically) but there are no instructions that you are supposed to select a settings file. Just remember that any time you get this sort of dialog box, you are supposed to select a settings file. If you choose the wrong file type, such as the data file you are trying to convert, TableMaker should recognize the error and give you another opportunity to select a settings file.
When you are using the built-in utility to create a new settings file (which you can do by double-clicking the TableMaker application) you will be prompted to select your choices for various table attributes. For the border, width, height, cellpadding, cellspacing, and caption attributes, you specify your choice by entering it in a text-edit field. Do not click the "OK" button with an empty field or the settings file could become corrupted. If you want to designate, for example, a table with no border, submit the default value shown for border (which in this case is the word "none") instead of submitting an empty field.
Upgrading from TableMaker version 1.0.1
If you were previously using version 1.0.1 of TableMaker, you should be aware that the format of settings files has changed slightly. You will have to edit them if you would like to continue using your settings files with this version. Open your old settings files in a text editor and delete the sections for the following three former options ($BOLD_CAPTION, $SOURCE_LINES, and $CREATOR). The first option is no longer supported and the 2nd and 3rd options are now stored in a preferences file.
Shareware Fee
If you feel that TableMaker has saved you significantly more than $5 worth of your time, I suggest you send $5 (cash, check or money order) to:
Sam Choukri
406 Tucker Hall, UMC
Columbia, MO 65211
TableMaker Web Page
TableMaker started out as a web page. After lots of requests, I decided to make a version that would run on the Macintosh so that it would be easier to process lots of data at one time. The TableMaker web page is still available and has the advantage that changes to the various formatting options are instantly visible. This feature is especially helpful if you are just starting to write HTML tables and are still unsure how the various formatting options affect the appearance of tables. You can find the TableMaker web page at:
http://www.missouri.edu/~c588349/tablemaker.html
Contact Info
If you would like to contact me for whatever reason, send me e-mail at <sam@pobox.com>. I welcome comments, suggestions, bug reports, etc. I also will do my best to answer your questions, but please read the included the documentation first.
Version History
1.1 - May 17, 1996
* now using MacPerl 5 for the stand-alone version so it no longer requires AppleScript
* added the option of reusing the same settings file each time
* added a built-in utility to create new settings files
* now using a preferences file to store some options
* included a bunch of new settings files
1.0.1 - Jan. 22, 1996
* removed the requirement for 'GUSI.ph' file
* updated the 'Readme' file to indicate requirement for AppleScript
