##### 33.3.2.3 Enumerating table column groups

To group table columns, table rows must be preceded by <colgroup> elements that determine the extent of each group:

    [Tables]
    ; ColGroupElements = No (default) or Yes (to put out <colgroup>
    ;  elements before first table row; needed to enable scope="colgroup")
    ColGroupElements=No

This setting is intended primarily to support WAI interpretation using the WAI scope attribute; see §35. Identifying HTML table structure for WAI for more information. However, you can use this setting also to add CSS class attributes.

DITA2Go generates <colgroup> elements, but not <col> elements. The main use of <col> is to give a column a class attribute, so you can apply column-specific formatting (borders, shading) in CSS (see §31. Setting up CSS for HTML). To use <col> elements, specify them in [TableStartMacros] (see §33.6.1 Invoking macros around tables), and supply the needed attributes there. For example:

    [TableStartMacros]
    sometable=
    <colgroup>
      <col span="2" class="LeftSide" />
    </colgroup>
    <colgroup>
      <col class="UnitPrice" />
      <col class="MinQty" />
    </colgroup>

If you provide your own <colgroup> and <col> elements this way, either set ColGroupElements=No (for all tables), or override ColGroupElements for those tables where you supply these elements; see §33.3.2.6 Overriding row and column group settings.

Previous Topic: 33.3.2.2 Designating table header cells

Next Topic: 33.3.2.4 Wrapping table row groups

Parent Topic: 33.3.2 Identifying row and column groups and header cells

Sibling Topics:

33.3.2.1 Using browser-dependent HTML tags for tables

33.3.2.2 Designating table header cells

33.3.2.4 Wrapping table row groups

33.3.2.5 Positioning table footer rows (deprecated)

33.3.2.6 Overriding row and column group settings