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authorNorbert Preining <norbert@preining.info>2019-09-02 13:46:59 +0900
committerNorbert Preining <norbert@preining.info>2019-09-02 13:46:59 +0900
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+\newcommand{\px}[1]{{\parbox[t]{1.1in}{\raggedright #1}}}
+\newcommand{\py}[1]{{\parbox[t]{1.7in}{\raggedright #1}}}
+\newcommand{\dbr}{\discretionary{}{}{}}
+\newcommand{\mydefaults}{%
+ \renewcommand{\baselinestretch}{1.1}%
+ \sf
+ \scriptsize}
+
+
+\title{Table design}
+\author[Siep Kroonenberg]{Siep Kroonenberg\\
+\texttt{N.S.Kroonenberg@eco.rug.nl}}
+\begin{Article}
+
+\begin{figure*}
+
+{\sf\bf Example: before and after}
+
+\vspace{9pt}
+
+\footnotesize
+\noindent
+\begin{minipage}[t]{3.2in}
+{\bf Economic forecasts for 1992}
+
+\begin{tabular}{|l|r@{}l|r@{}l|}
+\hline
+ & \multicolumn{4}{c|}{forecast}\\
+\cline{2-5}
+variable & \multicolumn{2}{c|}{Grecon} &
+ \multicolumn{2}{c|}{CPB} \\
+ & & &
+ \multicolumn{2}{c|}{(MEV '92)}\\
+\hline
+ &\multicolumn{4}{l|}{\% mutations}\\
+ &\multicolumn{4}{l|}{w.r.t. 1991}\\
+\cline{2-5}
+real consumption ($c$) & 1&.1 &1&.25\\
+price index consumption ($p_c$) & 2&.6 &3&.25\\
+real investments ($i_m$) &1&.4 &-2&.5\\
+export price index ($p_b$) & 3&.5 &3&.25\\
+real import of goods ($m$) & 4&.1 &3&\\
+real output of goods ($v'$) &2&.5 &2&.1\footnote{%
+ The quantities $v'$ and $bpr$ aren't given as such by the CPB. The
+ CPB data presented here are computed using their GRECON definitional
+ equations. For details, see appendix D.} \\
+real domestic production ($bpr$) &1&.4 &1&.6\\
+private employment ($a$) &0&.32 &0&\\
+wage rate ($l$) &4&.0 &4&\\
+government income (\%) &-0&.1 & \multicolumn{2}{c|}{--\footnote{%
+Not available.}
+}\\
+\ \ from output of goods ($iso'$) &&&&\\
+\cline{2-5}
+& \multicolumn{4}{l|}{absolute quantities}\\
+\cline{2-5}
+unemployment ($\times$1000 persons) &510&\footnote{%
+ Not a model outcome: see text in par.\ 3.1 and 3.2.} & 525&\\
+balance of payments ($10^9$ Hfl) &24&.4&25&.0 \\
+\hline
+\end{tabular}
+\end{minipage}\hfill%
+%
+\begin{minipage}[t]{3.1in}
+\mydefaults
+\mpfoot
+{\bf\small Economic forecasts for 1992}
+
+\vspace{-3pt}
+
+\noindent\rule{\linewidth}{1pt}
+
+\vspace*{3pt}
+\begin{tabular*}{\linewidth}{@{}l@{~~~~}r@{}lr@{}l@{}}
+ & \multicolumn{4}{l@{}}{\bf\sf Grecon~~~~~CPB\footnote{MEV '92}}
+ \\[3pt]
+\hline \\[-6pt]
+\em mutations w.r.t. 1991 \\
+real consumption ($c$) & 1&.1 &1&.25 \\
+price index consumption ($p_c$) & 2&.6 &3&.25 \\
+real investments ($i_m$) &1&.4 &$-$2&.5 \\
+export price index ($p_b$) & 3&.5 &3&.25 \\
+real import of goods ($m$) & 4&.1 &3 \\
+real output of goods ($v'$) &2&.5 &2&.1\footnote{%
+ The quantities $v'$ and $bpr$ aren't given as such by the CPB. The
+ CPB data presented here are computed using their GRECON definitional
+ equations. For details, see appendix D.} \\
+real domestic production ($bpr$)
+ &1&.4 &1&.6 \\
+private employment ($a$)
+ &0&.32 &0 \\
+wage rate ($l$) &4&.0 &4 \\
+government income (\%) \\
+\ \ from output of goods ($iso'$) &$-$0&.1 &--&{}\footnote{%
+ Not available}\\[6pt]
+\em absolute quantities \\
+unemployment ($\times$1000) & 510 &\footnote{%
+ Not a model outcome: see text in par.\ 3.1 and 3.2.} & 525 \\
+balance of payments (10$^9$ Hfl) &24&.4 & 25&.0
+\end{tabular*}
+\vspace*{-6pt}
+\end{minipage}
+
+\vspace{9pt}
+
+\end{figure*}
+
+\begin{quote}
+{\em [Editor's note: I am grateful to
+Siep Kroonenberg and Gerard van Nes (editor) for permission to reprint this
+article from MAPS, the journal of the Nederlandstalige \TeX\
+Gebruikersgroep.]}
+\end{quote}
+
+\noindent
+\LaTeX\ users generally seem unaware of current ideas on table design.
+The following table is a typical \LaTeX\ production:
+
+\vspace{6pt}
+
+{\footnotesize
+\begin{tabular}{|l|rr|}
+\hline
+\multicolumn{3}{|c|}{\bf \LaTeX\ table design}\\
+\hline
+ & 1991 & 1992 \\
+\hline
+Unemployment ($\times$1000) & 500 & 600 \\
+Balance of Payments (10$^9$ Hfl) & 24 & 25 \\
+\hline
+\end{tabular}}
+
+\vspace{6pt}
+
+In a professionally-designed publication, the above table would
+probably look more like this:
+
+\vspace{6pt}
+
+{\mydefaults
+\begin{tabular}{@{}lrr@{}}
+\multicolumn{3}{@{}l@{}}{\small\bf Common sense table design} \\[3pt]
+\hline \\[-6pt]
+ & \bf 1991 & \bf 1992 \\ [3pt]
+\cline{2-3} \\[-6pt]
+Unemployment ($\times$1000) & 500 & 600 \\
+Balance of Payments (10$^9$ Hfl) & 24 & 25 \\
+\end{tabular}}
+
+\vspace{6pt}
+
+If you read a book on typography, \eg \cite{treebus} or \cite{mclean}:
+you'll find that they use rules and boxes with far more restraint, and
+rely more on white space and variation in typefaces for organization.
+
+The table examples in \cite{lamport} were (I hope) merely intended to
+demonstrate techniques. However, their style was almost unanimously
+adopted by \LaTeX\ users.
+
+So I think that some design education is in order. I am not a
+design professional. However, many people never even think about
+table design; so if I set them thinking and they start reading books on
+typography by real professionals then this paper has served its purpose.
+
+{\bf Note.} This is not meant to be a technical exposition.
+\cite{bernard} and \cite{lamport} tell you most of the technical things
+you need to know. All the same, I have indicated here and there with
+what codes or constructs you might accomplish certain effects.
+
+\section{Basics of table design}
+
+A table should present its information as clearly as possible.
+Typographic means to organize this information includes rules, white
+space, choice of typefaces and appropriate headings and captions. But
+if a feature doesn't help to make a table clearer, it had better be
+left out.
+
+\vspace{6pt}
+
+{\mydefaults
+\noindent\begin{tabular*}{\linewidth}{@{}lll@{}}
+\multicolumn{3}{@{}l@{}}{\small\bf Macroeconomic memoranda} \\[3pt]
+\hline \\[-9pt]
+1. & \px{Karl L\"ausche, Maria Vader, Theo Zernike} &
+ \py{Money illusion and savings illusion; an illusionistic look
+ on neo-\dbr Hegel\-ian monetary theory} \\ \\[-6pt]
+\hline \\[-9pt]
+2. & \px{Hendrik Kooy\-ker, Johan Zonder\-link} &
+ \py{BIGTHUMB, a software package for handling missing and politically
+ incorrect data} \\ \\[-6pt]
+\hline \\[-9pt]
+3. & Anneke~Draaijer &
+ \py{Consumer behavior, expectation formation and the long-term
+ economic effects of risk-aversion} \\ \\[-6pt]
+\hline
+\end{tabular*}}
+
+\vspace{6pt}
+
+\subsection*{Rules and boxes}
+Rules have their uses. They can emphasize headings. They can also
+separate different items and unite the several data for one item, as in
+the table above. Vertical rules, as in the table below, would have the
+opposite effect and would be no help at all in making the table easier
+to read.
+
+\vspace{6pt}
+
+{\mydefaults
+\noindent\begin{tabular*}{\linewidth}{@{}l|l|l@{}}
+\multicolumn{3}{@{}l@{}}{\small\bf Macroeconomic memoranda} \\[3pt]
+\hline && \\
+1. & \px{Karl L\"ausche, Maria Vader, Theo Zernike} &
+ \py{Money illusion and savings illusion; an illusionistic look
+ on neo-\dbr Hegel\-ian monetary theory} \\ && \\
+2. & \px{Hendrik Kooy\-ker, Johan Zonder\-link} &
+ \py{BIGTHUMB, a software package for handling missing and politically
+ incorrect data} \\ && \\
+3. & Anneke~Draaijer &
+ \py{Consumer behavior, expectation formation and the long-term
+ economic effects of risk-aversion} \\ && \\
+\hline
+\end{tabular*}}
+
+\vspace{6pt}
+
+But even in the earlier example one might wonder whether white space
+wouldn't have been more effective than rules.
+
+A table may also be boxed to set it off from the surrounding text. But
+\LaTeX\ users normally don't go through the trouble of wrapping text
+around tables and figures; therefore, there is little reason to box in
+a table.
+
+In all cases, there should be enough space between rules and text. A
+rule too close to text interferes with readability and makes the text
+look cramped.
+
+An alternative to rules or boxes is a shaded background, preferably in
+a second colour. This is not supported by \LaTeX\ as far as I know,
+although with PostScript some tricks are possible (see \eg
+\cite{bernard} section 11.6). This formatting device requires high
+output quality in order to look good.
+
+\subsection*{Alignment and justification}
+
+A column of text labels can be left- or right-aligned, or centered. If
+the table has any length at all, a centered column can easily look
+sloppy. With left- or right-alignment there is at least one straight
+edge to give the column structure. Think twice before centering a
+column in a longer table.
+
+A column of figures is usually decimally aligned (see below
+for some technical issues). If the figures are unrelated,
+you may consider right- or left-alignment instead.
+
+Don't justify text inside a narrow column or you'll end up with large
+distracting holes between words. This is easier said than done, but
+see further below.
+
+\subsection*{Headings}
+Headings may get added emphasis by setting them bold, italic, at a
+larger point size or in a different typeface. Don't go overboard,
+though. The heading of a centered or decimally-aligned column may need
+some manual adjustment.
+
+\section{An example}
+We illustrate some of these points with the `before-and-after' example.
+It is sufficiently complex to illustrate a number of points; I
+am not implying that it is any worse than other \LaTeX\ tables I have
+seen. The `before' table is a \LaTeX\ remake of a table from
+\cite{grecon}. At an earlier occasion, it has been used as a
+demonstration of \LaTeX's table-making capabilities.
+
+The example table contains footnotes; therefore it is enclosed in a
+minipage environment.
+
+\subsection*{Rules}
+The most conspicuous shortcoming of the `before' example is the tight
+spacing between horizontal lines and text. I am not aware of a
+parameter which controls this distance; however, the `\verb+\\+'
+command takes an optional length parameter, also in a \verb+tabular+
+environment.
+
+In this case, as in most cases, the vertical rules are better left out.
+It is advisable to begin and end the column specification with
+\verb+@{}+:
+
+\begin{verbatim}
+\begin{tabular}{@{}l@{}r@{}lr@{}l@{}}
+\end{verbatim}
+
+Without vertical rules, no white space needs to be reserved
+at the left- and righthand sides.
+
+Actually, I used a \verb+tabular*+ environment, which allowed me to
+set the width to \verb+\linewidth+: exactly the width of the
+minipage.
+
+Another unfortunate detail is the footnote rule next to the bottom
+rule. I solved this by dropping the bottom rule. Also, I redefined in a
+separate style file several aspects of minipage footnotes: among
+others, the footnote rule now stretches across the width of the
+minipage.
+
+The rule under the title is not part of the
+\verb+tabular+ environment, but is constructed
+as a `\verb+\rule+'-rule. This made it easy to give it a custom
+thickness. Again, the length was set to \verb+\linewidth+.
+
+\subsection*{Headings}
+As to the various headings: the word {\em forecast} repeated
+information from the table header and was dropped. The word {\em
+variable} could also safely be omitted.
+
+Aligning the Grecon- and CPB headings at the bottom instead of the top
+would have been an improvement, but moving the text `{\em MEV '92}' to
+a footnote was even better. Their horizontal positioning was adjusted
+by hand, adding `\verb+~+' here and there.
+
+The `{\em \% mutations...}' and `{\em absolute quantities}' headings
+looked rather jarring in the figures columns, and were moved to the
+left column.
+
+\subsection*{Fonts}
+Sans serif faces are especially appropriate for tabular material. At
+small sizes serifed faces easily look fussy, especially if the output
+quality is not top notch. Sans serif faces suffer much less from
+scaling down. A sans serif face also helps to set off the table from
+the surrouding text.
+
+Several sizes and weights are used (typographers talk about an italic
+{\em weight}; the \TeX\ community should realize that they entertain
+rather off-beat ideas about font families). And hyphens are replaced by
+proper minus-signs.
+
+\section{Technical issues}\label{tech}
+Some things in \LaTeX\ are harder than they should be. Two notorious
+examples are table-related: aligning a column of figures on the decimal
+point, and setting text in a table cell ragged right.
+
+\subsection*{Decimal alignment}
+There are at least three ways in \LaTeX\ to accomplish decimal
+alignment:
+\begin{itemize}
+\item If all numbers have the same number of digits after the decimal
+point, decimal alignment coincides with right alignment, since in most
+fonts all digits have the same width.
+\item Split the numbers right before the decimal point, i.e. put an
+ampersand `\verb+&+' before the decimal point (or after the number, if
+it has none). The column formatting for the resulting two columns
+should be \verb+r@{}l+: right-align the part before the decimal point,
+left-align the remainder, and put no white space in between.
+\item Use the {\tt dcolumn} package by David Carlisle. This is
+documented in \cite{bernard} section 5.5.1.
+\end{itemize}
+
+\subsection*{Ragged right justification}
+You may have noticed that \verb+\raggedright+ simply doesn't work in a
+tabular environment. Again, let me suggest a couple of brute-force
+workarounds.
+\begin{itemize}
+\item Divide the text manually between rows. Of course, this is
+practical only in very simple cases.
+\item Put a parbox around the text, \eg \\
+\verb+\parbox{1in}{\raggedright+\ {\em text...}\verb+}+ \\
+This is simple enough, but not very elegant since it involves
+specifying column widths outside the \verb+\begin{tabular}+ command.
+\end{itemize}
+
+Goossens \emph{et al.} give a more sophisticated solution in section 5.3.1,
+`{\em Typesetting Narrow Columns.}' As in the last of the above two
+workarounds, it adds code to make \verb+\raggedright+ operational again.
+
+\section{The trouble with \LaTeX}
+It took me a lot of time to prepare the examples in this paper. Even
+the standard \LaTeX\ \verb+tabular+ environment has plenty of quirks,
+and extension packages such as {\tt array} or {\tt tabularx} only add
+to them. Too often, it was a matter of trial and error what would work
+and what wouldn't, and that might depend on the package used. In the
+end I didn't use any of the table extension packages for this paper.
+
+In \LaTeX, some aspects of layout and typography can be controlled by
+changing a few parameters or by replacing some simple code out of a
+style file. But there are quite a few rough spots: sometimes the code
+is too cryptic for easy modification and sometimes the code is not in
+the style file at all. When typesetting tables one tends to run into
+such rough spots.
+
+Besides \LaTeX, I use high-end wordprocessors and low-end desktop
+publishing software. I am exceedingly frustrated that simple things
+that you just do in a commercial program, require hours or days of
+study and experimentation in \LaTeX.
+
+Still, \LaTeX\ can't be beaten (yet) for long documents or for
+automation. It remains robust and efficient whatever the size and
+complexity of the job. So I keep using it for certain types of work.
+
+I hope that \AllTeX\ developers are seriously addressing \LaTeX's
+shortcomings. What is really needed is a more accessible basic \LaTeX\
+system, which doesn't require wizardry to tailor to one's own
+preferences, and which can put an end to the current proliferation of
+style files to patch up its defects.
+
+Finally I want to mention that \cite{bernard} was a great help in
+preparing this paper, even though the solutions proposed there didn't
+always work out.
+
+\begin{thebibliography}{[GMS94]}
+
+\bibitem[Treebus 1982]{treebus} Treebus, K. F. {\em Tekstwijzer.} SDU 1982.
+
+\bibitem[McLean 1980]{mclean} McLean, Ruari. {\em Typography.} Thames and
+Hudson 1980.
+
+\bibitem[Lamport 1986]{lamport} Lamport, Leslie. {\em \LaTeX, A Document
+Preparation System.} Addison-Wesley 1986.
+
+\bibitem[Goossens \emph{et~al.}~1994]{bernard}
+Goossens, Michel, Frank Mittelbach, Alexander
+Samarin. {\em The \LaTeX\ Companion.} Addison-Wesley 1994.
+
+\bibitem[DV91]{grecon} Dietzenbacher, H.W.A., W. Voorhoeve. {\em Het
+model GRECON 91-D. Septembervoorspellingen voor 1992}.
+Onderzoeksmemorandum no. 450. Economics Department, Groningen
+University 1991.
+
+\end{thebibliography}
+\end{Article}