Text to Table Workflows

Use these workflows to decide how Text to Table should open and what happens after conversion.

Choose the Right Path

• Use Standard Insert when the source text is already clear and you want the fastest result.
• Use Open in Table Editor when you want to check the conversion before you apply it.
• Use Start Without Selected Text when you want to create a new table from pasted text, a file, or a blank grid.

Menu and Sidebar Behavior

• Extensions menu: Extensions > Text To Table Converter > Selected Text to Table
• Sidebar: Convert & Format > Selected Text To Table

The Extensions menu follows your saved Output Mode preference. The sidebar always gives you both options directly:

• primary button for Standard Insert
• caret (▼) for Open in Table Editor

Standard Insert

Use Standard Insert when you want the fastest path from selected text to a finished table.

1. Select the text you want to convert.
2. Open Extensions > Text To Table Converter > Selected Text to Table, or click the primary Selected Text To Table button in the sidebar under Convert & Format.
3. The add-on converts the selection and inserts the table immediately.

Use this path for clear CSV-style text, quick delimiter-based conversions, or repeated actions where you do not need to review the result first.

Open in Table Editor

Use Open in Table Editor when you want to review the converted table before you apply it.

1. Select the text you want to convert.
2. In the sidebar, open Convert & Format.
3. Click the caret (▼) on Selected Text To Table.
4. Choose Open in Table Editor.
5. Review the converted table, make changes if needed, and click Apply.

Use this path when the source text is messy, when you want to fix headers or spacing, or when presentation quality matters.

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Placeholder step 1: Open the converted result in Table Editor.

Start Without Selected Text

If you run Text to Table without selecting text first, the feature opens Table Editor automatically so you can start a new table.

You can start from:

• From Text to paste content and convert it in the editor
• From File to import .csv, .tsv, .txt, or .xlsx
• Empty Table to start with a blank grid

Note

File import supports local files and Google Drive™ files, with a 5 MB limit per file.

Related Links

Convert Text to Table Return to the main Text to Table guide.

Tips for Better Results See practical preparation rules for headers, delimiters, and Markdown input.

Table Editor Learn the full editing workflow after you open a table in the editor.