# RFC Spec extension for \*tables\*: Syntax and transformation rules **URL:** \ **Category:** Extensions\ **Created:** [November 7, 2015, 11:42pm UTC](https://talk.commonmark.org/t/rfc-spec-extension-for-tables-syntax-and-transformation-rules/1910 "2015-11-07T23:42:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 2
**Author:** ![mofosyne](https://cdn.commonmark.org/user_avatar/talk.commonmark.org/mofosyne/32/1438_2.png) [@mofosyne](https://talk.commonmark.org/u/mofosyne)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2015, 3:21am UTC](https://talk.commonmark.org/t/rfc-spec-extension-for-tables-syntax-and-transformation-rules/1910/2 "2015-11-08T03:21:26Z")
Might you also be interested in this other thread, on a proposal for a restricted subset of pipe syntax as an alternative to CSV? [http://talk.commonmark.org/t/side-thoughts-promoting-pipe-tables-as-a-potential-alternative-to-csv-format-e-g-psv/1862](http://talk.commonmark.org/t/side-thoughts-promoting-pipe-tables-as-a-potential-alternative-to-csv-format-e-g-psv/1862) * * * Also talks about tables in [http://talk.commonmark.org/t/tables-in-pure-markdown/81/81](http://talk.commonmark.org/t/tables-in-pure-markdown/81/81) * * * An interesting approach to multi line in [http://justatheory.com/computers/markup/markdown-table-rfc.html](http://justatheory.com/computers/markup/markdown-table-rfc.html) is how PostgreSQL uses the `:` character: ( Talk in: [Madoko - microsoft research's markdown editor](http://talk.commonmark.org/t/madoko-microsoft-researchs-markdown-editor/1866/8?u=mofosyne) ) This is how PostgreSQL renders tables, with multiline cells: ```auto id | name | description | price ------+-------------+------------------------------+-------- 1 | gizmo | Takes care of the doohickies | 1.99 2 | doodad | Collects *gizmos* | 23.80 10 | dojigger | Handles: | 102.98 : : * gizmos : : : * doodads : : : * thingamobobs : 1024 | thingamabob | Self-explanatory, no? | 0.99 ``` Which might be a better and simpler way to approach this issue, than how your are suggesting at the moment. --- _[View the full topic](https://talk.commonmark.org/t/rfc-spec-extension-for-tables-syntax-and-transformation-rules/1910)._