Tables
Tables let you organize information that doesn't fit neatly into prose: a magic system's rules, a side-by-side comparison of factions, character stats, or a relationship matrix. They work in any rich text area in Penpoint: notes, paragraph blocks on character and item pages, location pages, chapter author notes, arc details, and more.
Inserting a Table
Click the table icon (it looks like a small grid of squares) in the row of formatting buttons above the writing area. A small grid appears: hover over it to preview how many rows and columns you want, then click a cell to lock in that size. When you're happy with the selection, click Insert Table.
Tables start with a header row (the top row, which is shaded differently: use it for column labels like "Name" or "Location") and can be up to 6 columns wide and 20 rows tall. You can add more rows and columns after inserting (up to the limits).
Typing in Cells
Click any cell to start typing. Press Tab to move to the next cell, or Shift+Tab to go back.
Inside cells you can use:
- Bold, italic, underline, and links
- Bullet and numbered lists
- @Mentions: type @ followed by a name to link to a character, location, or item. Mentions appear as clickable links you can tap to jump straight there.
Adding and Removing Rows and Columns
Right-click any cell (or Ctrl+click on Mac) and hover over Table to see the options. The first four insert a new row or column next to the cell you clicked: Insert Row Above, Insert Row Below, Insert Column Left, and Insert Column Right. Insert options gray out when the table is already at its 6-column or 20-row limit.
Below those, Delete Row and Delete Column remove the row or column containing the cell you clicked. These gray out when the table only has one row (or one column) left; to remove the whole table, use the trash icon next to the caption instead.
Naming a Table
Every table has a caption above it: Untitled Table by default. Click the caption to type a new name (up to a short sentence). A descriptive name helps you identify the table at a glance and makes it easier to find in exported files.
Tip: Undo works for most table edits: typing, adding rows and columns, and even renaming the caption. If you accidentally delete something, Ctrl+Z will bring it back.
Deleting a Table
Click the trash icon next to the caption. If you change your mind, Ctrl+Z (Cmd+Z on Mac) will bring the table back immediately; the confirmation dialog itself doesn't have an undo button, but the keyboard shortcut works right after you close it. The table and all its contents are removed once you confirm.
Tables in Exports
Tables don't convert to other formats when you export your work. No matter which format you export to, each table is replaced with a line like:
[Table: "Faction Comparison"]
At the end of your exported file, you'll find a list of all the tables in the document so you know exactly where to look. If you need the actual table data in another app, you'll need to rebuild it there manually.
Note: This is an intentional trade-off. Tables are fully functional inside Penpoint, but because every export format handles tables differently, we show a clear placeholder rather than risk corrupted or mangled output.
For more on what gets exported and what doesn't, see Exporting Worldbuilding Data.