format-table - SKILL.md Agent Skill

name: format-table description: Format markdown tables and ASCII box diagrams so all borders align vertically. Use this skill whenever writing, editing, or reviewing a markdown file with tables or box-drawing diagrams (plans, reviews, architecture docs, etc.) to ensure properly aligned columns and consistent line widths. Also use when asked to fix table or diagram formatting.

Format Table

Ensure markdown tables have vertically aligned | borders and ASCII box diagrams have consistent line widths within each visual section.

Usage

Run scripts/format_tables.py (located in this skill's directory) after writing or editing any markdown file containing tables or box diagrams.

# Check a single file (exit 1 if misaligned)
python .claude/skills/format-table/scripts/format_tables.py <file.md>

# Fix a single file in place
python .claude/skills/format-table/scripts/format_tables.py <file.md> --fix

# Check all .md files in a directory recursively
python .claude/skills/format-table/scripts/format_tables.py <dir>

# Fix all .md files in a directory recursively
python .claude/skills/format-table/scripts/format_tables.py <dir> --fix

What It Fixes

Markdown Tables

Computes max content width per column
Pads all cells and separator dashes to align | borders vertically

ASCII Box Diagrams (in code blocks)

Detects code blocks containing box-drawing characters (─│┌┐└┘┬┴┼ etc.)
Groups lines into segments by width similarity (separate boxes at different widths are treated independently)
Normalizes line widths within each segment by adjusting padding before trailing border characters

When to Run

After writing or editing any markdown file with tables or box diagrams
After a skill or subagent produces a markdown file with tables
When asked to fix table or diagram formatting

Limitations

Box diagram fix only adjusts padding (spaces), not structural issues like a box's content rows being wider than its border row
For structural diagram issues, regenerate the diagram with a generator script (see gen_diagram examples in /tmp/claude/)