Emacs is the greatest text editor in the world (TM). Here is one converted user's testimony page, who is rejoicing the new life in Emacs. No other editor can extend itself quite like this one without modifying its core. When one finds something is missing in Emacs it is usually a good time to start writing a new lisp package for that particular task. Table.el was created this way too.

Table.el is an Emacs lisp package that extends Emacs and provides text based table creation and editing feature. With this package Emacs is capable of editing tables that are embedded inside a document, the feature similar to the ones seen in modern WYSIWYG word processors. A table is a rectangular text area consisting from a surrounding frame and content inside the frame. The content is usually subdivided into multiple rectangular cells, see the actual tables used below in this document. Once a table is recognized, editing operation inside a table cell is confined into that specific cell's rectangular area. This means that typing and deleting characters inside a cell do not affect any outside text but introduces appropriate formatting only to the cell contents. If necessary for accommodating added text in the cell, the cell automatically grows vertically and/or horizontally.

The package uses no major mode nor minor mode for its implementation because the subject text is localized within a buffer. Therefore the special behaviors inside a table cells are implemented by using local-map text property instead of buffer wide mode-map. Also some commonly used functions are advised so that they act specially inside a table cell.

Here is a list of some advertising features of this table package.

1. Cell size is dynamically adjusted as contents are typed in.
2. A cell can be split horizontally and vetically.
3. A cell can span into an adjacent cell.
4. A cell maintains its own justification.
5. A table can generate HTML source.

It is truly useful package in day-to-day work. Seeing may be believing, however, trying for yourself is really convincing.