User:Fbstj/docs/tables

so here is a table in 'raw' wiki syntax:

this is the caption

this is a	cell, it starts with a |
this is another cell	and a third on the same row as the second, but on a different line
this is a	cell: it starts with an !	this is a normal cell again	and this is a third cell in that row but on the same line by using ||
to split header cells	use !!	on the same line
to apply attributes (or style) to a single cell you add the attributes after the | at the start of a line, and then add another | after the attributes:
| style="text-align: center;" | this is centered text	this is centered text
the same attribute stuff can be applied to the ! cells	but not to cells on the same line split by double ||
the trick comes when trying to use a template to generate a table or row to pass in to the template that you want a cell/row you cannot use the | character as that would split into two template arguments instead. so there is a special {{!}} code which makes a | character that doesn't act like a template argument splitter
this means we can use the {{row}} template, to more clearly split columns without the rigmarole of the |-
but to support header cells	or cell styling	the template needs extra arguments:
if you pass |pre=!	it turns all the cells into	cells
and to style a single cell you can use the preN parameter	(N for the column number)
this also enables you to style cells with	|pre3={{!}} style="font-weight: bold; " {{!}}	like this