Cc-skills latex-tables

LaTeX tables with tabularray package. TRIGGERS - LaTeX table, tabularray, fixed-width columns, table alignment.

install
source · Clone the upstream repo
git clone https://github.com/terrylica/cc-skills
Claude Code · Install into ~/.claude/skills/
T=$(mktemp -d) && git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/terrylica/cc-skills "$T" && mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && cp -r "$T/plugins/doc-tools/skills/latex-tables" ~/.claude/skills/terrylica-cc-skills-latex-tables && rm -rf "$T"
manifest: plugins/doc-tools/skills/latex-tables/SKILL.md
source content

LaTeX Tables with tabularray

Self-Evolving Skill: This skill improves through use. If instructions are wrong, parameters drifted, or a workaround was needed — fix this file immediately, don't defer. Only update for real, reproducible issues.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

  • Creating tables with fixed-width columns
  • Formatting complex table layouts
  • Need precise column alignment
  • Migrating from tabular/tabularx/longtable/booktabs
  • Troubleshooting table overflow issues

Quick Reference

Why tabularray?

Modern LaTeX3 package (replaces old solutions):

  • Fixed-width columns with proper alignment
  • Clean, consistent syntax
  • Replaces:
    tabular
    ,
    tabularx
    ,
    longtable
    ,
    booktabs
  • Better performance than legacy packages
  • Part of TeX Live 2025

Installation

# Check if installed
kpsewhich tabularray.sty

# If not found, install:
sudo tlmgr install tabularray

Basic Usage

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tabularray}  % Modern table package

\begin{document}
% Simple table
\begin{tblr}{colspec={ccc}, hlines, vlines}
  Header 1 & Header 2 & Header 3 \\
  Data 1   & Data 2   & Data 3   \\
\end{tblr}
\end{document}

Quick Reference Card

% Minimal table
\begin{tblr}{colspec={ccc}}
  A & B & C \\
\end{tblr}

% With all lines
\begin{tblr}{colspec={ccc}, hlines, vlines}
  A & B & C \\
\end{tblr}

% Fixed widths
\begin{tblr}{colspec={Q[2cm] Q[3cm] Q[2cm]}, hlines}
  A & B & C \\
\end{tblr}

% Bold header
\begin{tblr}{
  colspec={ccc},
  row{1}={font=\bfseries}
}
  Header & Header & Header \\
  Data   & Data   & Data   \\
\end{tblr}

Best Practices

  1. Use Q[width] for fixed columns instead of p{width}
  2. Specify widths explicitly when text might overflow
  3. Use X for flexible columns that should expand
  4. Style headers with row{1} instead of manual formatting
  5. Use colspec for column properties, not inline commands
  6. Check package version:
    kpsewhich tabularray.sty
    (should be recent)

Reference Documentation

For detailed information, see:

Official Docs: Run

texdoc tabularray
for complete package documentation

See Also:

  • Use
    latex/setup
    skill for installing tabularray package
  • Use
    latex/build
    skill for compilation workflows

Troubleshooting

IssueCauseSolution
Package not foundtabularray not installed
sudo tlmgr install tabularray
Table too wideFixed widths exceed pageUse smaller Q[width] values or X for flexible
Text not wrappingColumn spec missing widthUse Q[width] instead of c/l/r for wrapping
Alignment issuesMixed column typesEnsure all columns have consistent spec
Compile error on colspecInvalid syntaxCheck for missing commas or typos in column spec
hlines not appearingMissing from specAdd
hlines
to the spec:
{colspec={...}, hlines}
Row style not appliedWrong row indexRemember row{1} is first row (1-indexed)
Package version too oldTeX Live outdated
sudo tlmgr update --self --all

Post-Execution Reflection

After this skill completes, check before closing:

  1. Did the command succeed? — If not, fix the instruction or error table that caused the failure.
  2. Did parameters or output change? — If the underlying tool's interface drifted, update Usage examples and Parameters table to match.
  3. Was a workaround needed? — If you had to improvise (different flags, extra steps), update this SKILL.md so the next invocation doesn't need the same workaround.

Only update if the issue is real and reproducible — not speculative.