Tables
Build tables directly in the page. Orbit stores the result as a markdown table in the file, so it stays readable anywhere.
Insert a table
Section titled “Insert a table”- Type
/and choose Table, or select text and choose Insert table in the formatting toolbar. - Orbit inserts a 3 by 3 table with a header row.
- Click any cell and start typing. Tab moves to the next cell.
Row and column handles
Section titled “Row and column handles”Hover a table to see a small handle above each column and left of each row. Click a handle to open its menu. Drag a handle to move the row or column.
The column menu has:
- Sort A → Z and Sort Z → A
- Background colour and Alignment, each opening a small side menu
- Add column left, Add column right, Move column left, Move column right, Duplicate
- Header column, on the first column only
- Clear cells and Delete column
The row menu has the same shape: Background colour, add, move and duplicate, Header row on the first row, then Clear cells and Delete row.
Hovering any Delete item tints what it would remove in red before you click.
The thin strips on the table’s right and bottom edges add a column or a row in one click.
The cell menu
Section titled “The cell menu”Click a cell and a small arrow appears in its top-right corner. It opens the cell menu:
- Background colour
- Merge cells and Split cell, when several cells are selected or a cell is merged
- Add column right and Add row below
- Clear cell and Delete column / Delete row
Select several cells by dragging across them. The cell menu then acts on the whole selection.
Whole-table actions
Section titled “Whole-table actions”Hover the table and click the block handle (⋮⋮) to its left. Its menu has Fit table to width, Header row, Header column, Copy and Delete for the whole table.
Clicking anywhere outside the table, including the empty space beside it, lets go of the table and hides its selection.
Background colour
Section titled “Background colour”Choose from nine soft colours: grey, brown, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink and red. A colour belongs to its cells. It stays with them when you sort, move, add or delete rows and columns, and it adapts to light and dark themes.
Colours are saved in the page as a small hidden line above the table, so every reader sees them. Other markdown apps show the table without colours.
Keyboard shortcuts
Section titled “Keyboard shortcuts”| Action | Mac | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Add row above / below | ⌃⌥↑ / ⌃⌥↓ | Ctrl+Alt+↑ / Ctrl+Alt+↓ |
| Add column left / right | ⌃⌥← / ⌃⌥→ | Ctrl+Alt+← / Ctrl+Alt+→ |
| Move row up / down | ⌃⌥⇧↑ / ⌃⌥⇧↓ | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+↑ / Ctrl+Alt+Shift+↓ |
| Move column left / right | ⌃⌥⇧← / ⌃⌥⇧→ | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+← / Ctrl+Alt+Shift+→ |
| Delete selected row or column | ⌃⌫ | Ctrl+Backspace |
| Clear selected cells | ⌫ | Backspace |
Ctrl+Backspace only deletes when a whole row or column is selected. Click its handle first. Inside ordinary text it still deletes a word.
Resize columns
Section titled “Resize columns”Drag a column border to resize it. Widths are saved with the page, so the layout you set is the layout every reader and collaborator sees.
Can I sort or filter a table?
You can sort from a column’s handle menu, which reorders the rows. There’s no filter for tables. For typed, filterable rows with Table, Board and Calendar layouts, use a Microsoft List: type / and choose List.
Can two people edit one table at once? Yes. Tables sync in real time like every other block. See Live editing.
Up next: Equations, maths written in TeX.