##### 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

Table of Contents • Index