AscToTab is a free tool that converts plain text and comma-separated or tab-delimited text files containing table data into tables.

The program can create either HTML or RTF tables with the output written to file. For HTML tables the output can be direct to the clipboard, ready to paste into a HTML source editor.

For plain text files AscToTab detects how many columns the table has; their alignment, and which rows are header rows. It can spot data that spans multiple columns or rows.

For files containing tab- or comma-delimited data the table is built up line-by-line, with each value placed in a cell by itself. There are a large number of formatting options, so you can choose the fonts, borders etc and even to color odd and even rows differently.

AscToTab is free and simple utility that converts plain of delimited text files containing table data into either HTML or RTF (rich text format) tables. The software can also convert files of tab-delimited or comma-separated (.csv) data into tables.

If you want a more general utility to convert text to HTML, look at AscToHTM (5 stars at ZDNet)
For a general utility to convert text to RTF, look at AscToRTF (also 5 stars at ZDNet).

For plain text files AscToTab will attempt to :-

* determine how many columns the table has
* determine the default alignment of each column
* determine which rows are header rows

* spot entries that span several columns
* spot entries that span several rows.

You can read more about this in the JafSoft text conversion FAQ, but ignore the bit about detecting tables - that doesn't apply to AscToTab which always assumes the input is a single table.

For tab-delimited or comma-separated files conversion is more straightforward. AscToTab will convert one table row per line, placing each delimited value into the next column.


You can tell the software what type of file you are converting, and whether you want to convert to HTML or RTF tables. HTML tables can optionally be copied to the clipboard, ready for pasting into a HTML source editor.

For all formats a line containing a row of dashes will be taken as signifying the separator between table header and border.

Additionally the user can select (for HTML)

* BORDER, WIDTH etc attributes
* to colour odd and even rows different colours for clarity
* the font to be used
* a CAPTION

Program options can be saved in "policy files" which can be reloaded next time you run the software for your convenience.