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After the program has detected the columns, it starts to look for rows. FlexiLayout Studio can detect rows automatically by relying on the black separators and white gaps. Sometimes a column can contain a fairly large fragment of text, such as a long description of a product. In this case the text is often carried over to the next line, and the white gaps between these lines should be ignored when dividing the table into rows. If the number of text lines in a cell varies from column to column, you can use one or more master columns to divide the table into rows. The rows of the master columns then serve as a pattern for the entire table. You select a method of dividing a table into rows and specify the row properties on the Rows tab of the Table element’s Properties dialog box.
Screenshot of the Rows tab of the Table element's Properties dialog box in ABBYY FlexiLayout Studio.

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Detect rows automatically

To detect rows automatically, select the Detect rows automatically option. The program relies on the black separators and white gaps present in all of the columns to divide them into rows. To mark each line of text as a row, select One line of text corresponds to one row.

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Use master columns to detect rows

If a table has columns whose data defines how the table splits into rows, select the Use master columns to detect rows option and specify the columns in the Master columns list. The first Master column found in the image is used to detect the table rows. Master columns are the columns whose rows are used to divide the rest of the columns into rows. The composition of columns can vary from image to image, so the list of master columns must cover all the possible variations.

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Create a list of master columns

1

Open the Select Master Columns dialog box

Click the Search button button next to the Use master columns to detect rows option.
2

Select and order the columns

In the Select Master Columns dialog box:
  1. Select the required columns from the List1 list and click Move right button. The names of the selected columns appear in the List2 list.
  2. Use the Move up button and Move down button buttons to arrange the columns in order of priority. The program uses the top-most column it finds in the image to detect rows.
3

Apply the selection

Click OK to display the selected columns in the Use master columns to detect rows list.

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Edit the list of master columns

1

Open the Select Master Columns dialog box

Click Search button.
2

Change the list

Use the Move right button, Move all right button, Move left button, Move up button, and Move down button buttons to make the necessary changes to the List2 list.

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Set how master column text defines rows

To specify how text within the cells of the master columns is aligned, use Master column text alignment. Top specifies alignment by the top border, and Bottom specifies alignment by the bottom border. To draw a row for each line of text in a master column, select One line of text corresponds to one row.

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Prevent words from starting a new row

Some tables can contain narrow columns that hold numerical data accompanied by units of measurement, such as sums of money with currency symbols. If the unit of measurement does not fit on the same line, it can be carried over to the next line. In this case the column contains additional lines of text. To prevent the program from drawing separate rows for such lines, add these carried currency symbols, units of measurement, and the like to the Words not to be treated as a separate line of text list. To create a list of stop words or phrases that do not merit a separate row, type such words or phrases into the Words not to be treated as a separate line of text field. Press Enter after typing each word or phrase. Words you type in the Words not to be treated as a separate line of text field are used both when detecting rows automatically and when detecting rows by means of master columns.