Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to some of the most common questions about using the Text To Table Converter Add-on.
Questions
How do I install the Text To Table Converter Add-on?
You can install the Text To Table Converter Add-on directly from the Google Workspace Marketplace™. Search for “Text To Table Converter” and click the “Install” button. You’ll need to grant permissions for the Add-on to access your Google Docs™, Google Slides™, or Google Sheets™ to function correctly.
For a detailed step-by-step guide, please refer to our Getting Started Guide.
On which Google Workspace™ applications can I use Text To Table Converter?
The Text To Table Converter Add-on is designed to work seamlessly across the following core Google Workspace™ applications:
- Google Docs™
- Google Slides™
- Google Sheets™
Once installed, you can access its features directly within the editor of any of these applications through the Extensions menu.
Does Text To Table Converter support converting Markdown text to a table?
Yes, absolutely! When you use the 🔡 ➜ 🔤 Selected Table to Text function, the Add-on automatically detects if your selected text is formatted using standard Markdown table syntax. It then converts it into a native table within Google Docs™, Google Slides™, and importantly, Google Sheets™ (which lacks native Markdown table conversion).
Beyond just creating the table structure, the converter also intelligently parses and applies common inline Markdown formatting found within the table cells across all three platforms, such as:
- Bold (
**text**or__text__) - Italic (
*text*or_text_) - Strikethrough (
~~text~~) - Inline Code (
`text`) - Rendered with ‘Roboto Mono’ font and specific color. - Highlight (
==text==) - Rendered with background color. - Subscript (
~text~) - only Google Docs™ - Superscript (
^text^) - only Google Docs™ - Escaped Characters (
\*,\_, etc.) - Autolinks (
<url>or<mailto:...>) are parsed.
This allows you to bring your formatted Markdown tables directly into your documents, including Google Sheets™, saving significant time compared to manual conversion and re-formatting.
What are the differences between the native Markdown support in Google Docs™/Slides™/Sheets™ and this Add-on?
Google Docs™ and Google Slides™ have the most extensive native Markdown support. Google Sheets™ has essentially no native support for Markdown conversion. Google Slides™ lacks the ability to convert Markdown tables to presentation tables.
Here’s a comparison table:
| Feature | Google Docs™ Native (Paste/Auto-Correct) | Google Slides™ Native | Google Sheets™ Native | Our Add-on (Docs™) | Our Add-on (Slides™) | Our Add-on (Sheets™) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Table Recognition | ✅ Yes (Paste/Auto) | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (Via Add-on) | ✅ Yes (Via Add-on) | ✅ Yes (Via Add-on) |
Bold (**__/___) | ✅ Yes | Minimal¹ | Minimal¹ | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Italic (* / _) | ✅ Yes | Minimal¹ | Minimal¹ | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Bold & Italic (***) | ✅ Yes | Minimal¹ | Minimal¹ | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Strikethrough (~~) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Inline Code (`) | ✅ Yes (Applies Font/Color) | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (Applies Font/Color) | ✅ Yes (Applies Font/Color) | ✅ Yes (Applies Font/Color) |
Highlight (==) | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (BG Color) | ✅ Yes (BG Color) | ✅ Yes (BG Color) |
Subscript (~) | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ No (Not Applied) | ⚠️ No (Not Applied) |
Superscript (^) | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ No (Not Applied) | ⚠️ No (Not Applied) |
Links ([...](...)) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No (Inside Cells) | ❌ No (Inside Cells) | ❌ No (Inside Cells) |
Autolinks (<...>) | ✅ Yes (Clickable) | Minimal¹ | Minimal¹ | ✅ Parsed Only | ✅ Parsed Only | ✅ Parsed Only |
Headings (# ...) | ✅ Yes (Block Level) | ✅ Yes (Block Level) | ❌ No | ❌ No (Inside Cells) | ❌ No (Inside Cells) | ❌ No (Inside Cells) |
Lists (*, 1.) | ✅ Yes (Block Level) | ✅ Yes (Block Level) | ❌ No | ❌ No (Inside Cells) | ❌ No (Inside Cells) | ❌ No (Inside Cells) |
Checkboxes ([]) | ✅ Yes (Block Level) | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No (Inside Cells) | ❌ No (Inside Cells) | ❌ No (Inside Cells) |
Escaping (\* etc.) | ❔ Unclear / N/A | N/A | N/A | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
¹ Minimal: Slides™/Sheets™ might perform some basic auto-corrections (like for (c)) but lack comprehensive Markdown recognition, especially within tables or for specific syntax like strikethrough, code, etc.
Key Takeaways:
- Tables in Sheets™/Slides™™: Google Docs™ native support will convert Markdown tables to document tables most reliable. Google Slides™ and Sheets™ do not have this functionality.
- Extended Inline Formatting: The Add-on supports Highlight, Subscript (Docs™), and Superscript (Docs™) within table cells, which native features do not handle.
- Standard Links: Native Google Docs™ currently handles standard Markdown links (
[text](url)) inside pasted table cells better than the Add-on. - Consistency: The Add-on aims to provide a consistent Markdown table conversion experience across Docs™, Slides™, and Sheets™.
Choose the method that best suits the specific formatting elements you need to preserve within your tables and the platform you are working on.
Feedback
We are always looking to improve! If you have any feedback, suggestions, or ideas for new features, please don’t hesitate to share them with us. Your input helps us make the Add-on better for everyone.
Need Help?
If you encounter any issues or require assistance with the Add-on, please reach out to our support team.
- Email: [email protected]
We’ll do our best to respond to your query as quickly as possible.
Thank you for using Text To Table Converter!