TABLE

Type: $blogExpOpt

Scope: self (sub-posts only)

Purpose: Exports note and children as a table-header and rows

For sub-posts only.

Making a complex table in Tinderbox is easy: just add TABLE to a note’s $blogExpOpt to make it a the header note of a table—its paragraphs will become the headings of the table. The name of the header note becomes the title of the table.

The children of the header note will become the row notes of the table. The paragraphs of a row note become the cells of a row. The names of the child notes are ignored on export.

Each paragraph in the table container is a cell in the table header; its title, the title of the table. Each child of the table container is row; their paragraphs, cells in the row.

This provides an intuitive rendition of the Cartesian intersection we enjoy about tables. A table is the coordination of two series of differences. Or: a tables is an array that contains vectors as its elements.

This is replicated inside the Tinderbox outline as ordered lines of text inside of Tinderbox notes, which in turn are also lines of text. Notes, in Outline View, are lines of text that are also containers—of other lines of text (paragraphs).

  • Column-ness—The difference-relation that informs a column becomes is the idea that paragraph ordinality is its own orthogonal dimension. Being “the” second paragraph in a set of notes makes second-ness a universal. “Being third” is a thing (as they say).
  • Row-ness—The difference-relation that informs a row becomes paragraph seriality. A table’s row is now the vertical series of paragraphs.

TABLE sample

A table. Prototypes are irrelevant for export so you can exploit them for their display schemas.

A table. Prototypes are irrelevant for export so you can exploit them for their display schemas.

Inside the “heading note.”

Inside the “heading note.”

Inside one of the “row notes.”

Inside one of the “row notes.”

Here is the result:

Table: Boyhood Gods
ProducedGodformPower bestowedMagickal talisman
1964G. I. Joe: Deep Sea DiverBreathes underwater. Walks around underwater, on the bottom of the pool. Has sex with his octopus pal.The octopus. The helmet. His facial scar.
1972Big Jim Sky CommanderHas sex with people. Is wanted by Playboy models. Can survive alone outdoors. Is big, strong, and manly.His muscular, naked torso. His collapsable shelf bed. The “Big” in his name.
1972Evel KnievelBecomes The Mummy when wrapped in wet toiletpaper and dried. Jumping the shit out of things.His body wrapped in toiletpaper.
1973World’s Greatest Super HeroesPower to fly. Super strong.Hollow, thin-walled rubber heads collapse easily.
1973Aquaman Safety SegmentTeaching. Compassion. Telepathic animal control. Exceptional swimming and diving ability. Underwater breathing.G. I. Joe deep diving suit. G. I. Joe octopus. Swimming pool, magnifying glass, glaring sunlight, aluminum foil.
1976Dick Smith Monster Makeup KitRegan (spinning head). Regan (vomiting).Flex Flesh smell. Blood bottle shape. Scar mold tray.