Designing a legible table
When we learn how to write tables with LaTeX, we learn how to write in rows and columns and draw lines between cells and borders around the table. However, indiscriminately applying borders can result in a table that looks like the following one:
Figure 4.1 – A table with vertical and horizontal lines
Such a habit may arise from using WYSIWYG (which stands for What You See Is What You Get) software such as Excel or Word to write tables. However, while such a grid helps enter data, reading is challenging.
Well-crafted books feature more legible tables. Let’s take a look at how to create a reader-friendly table.
How to do it...
We will use the booktabs package, written with an emphasis on good design. In particular, it enhances the lines within tables. It pays specific attention to horizontal lines with improved spacing and adjustable thickness.
For our example, we will sketch a table displaying the availability...
