Tables in Evernote for Mac

[knelson27 0]

Is there a way for me to copy and paste tables? When I try to copy a template table that I created in one note and paste it into a new note, only the text from the table is copied and pasted. The table itself is not. Also... is there a way to better control the table and the width of the columns... rather than the column width being automatically determined by the text?

 

I'd like to see more/better functionality with tables and the copy and pasting of content. I create templates for notes that I re-use for projects and I get inconsistent format when I paste and have to correct formating in each new note.

 

Thanks!

[JMichaelTX 4,074]

Well, to be kind, Evernote does not handle or support HTML tables very well.

We have been asking for better table support for well over a year now.  Let's hope it comes soon.

 

Until then, here are some tips to help mitigate some of your issues:

1. When copying tables, start with the line above the table and end with the line below the table.
2. Use MS Word to create tables with the format/structure you like, then copy/paste the table into the EN Note
3. As much as possible, use the entire EN Note as a template.  Then just right-click on the Note in the Note List view, and select "Copy to..."
4. If you need to have parts of Notes as a template, then MS Word might work better.
   1. You could actually store a Word file as an attachment to an EN Note.  This file could then contain all of the blocks of tables and/or text that you want to use as templates.
5. Keep all of your EN Notes that you use as Templates in a separate NB.
   1. I named mine "!Templates" to have it at the top of the NB list.
   2. You could also make a shortcut to the specific Note and/or the Template NB for quick ref.

Hope this helps.

[JMichaelTX 4,074]

 

Many thanks JMichael, this works for me but I cannot edit the table in Evernote (add row/colum) once I've pasted it.

Is there a way using whatever application to create and edit tables outside EN and then have these editeable in EN once pasted there (I mean, add rows/columns)?

 

PS: I'm using Evernote 5.4.4, Mac OS X 10.9.1 (Mavericks) and Word for Mac 2011.

 

 

I'm NOT running Mavericks, so that MAY make a difference.

 

However, I have found that getting the EN Table Editor to show in the right-click context menu is a hit and miss affair.

You can try clicking in different places, different rows, etc.  I have found clicking in a blank cell works best.

[knelson27 0]

Thanks JMichael... this was very helpful. It looks like I'll have to plan my templates a little better and I like the Excel suggestions. I will definitely give it a try.

Thanks again!

[JMichaelTX 4,074]

Thanks JMichael... this was very helpful. It looks like I'll have to plan my templates a little better and I like the Excel suggestions. I will definitely give it a try.

Thanks again!

 

You're welcome knelson.  But note that I said WORD, not EXCEL.  For some strange reason tables from Excel do NOT paste well into Evernote.  OTOH, tables from WORD paste very well, maintaining all formatting and structure (including the one I like best:  "Fit Table to Text").

[knelson27 0]

Well... I gave it a try and no luck. Perhaps I am doing something wrong. I created a simple, 2 column, 6 row table in a word doc. I selected the entire table and when I pasted into the Evernote note, only the text pasted... the table is gone. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Kevin

[JMichaelTX 4,074]

Well... I gave it a try and no luck. Perhaps I am doing something wrong. I created a simple, 2 column, 6 row table in a word doc. I selected the entire table and when I pasted into the Evernote note, only the text pasted... the table is gone. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Kevin

 

Hmm, I do this all the time and it has always worked.

 

If you view the Word doc in "Print Layout View", and mouse over the table, you should see a "+" symbol in the upper left corner.

Click on this Plus symbol -- this will select the WHOLE table.

Press CMD-C to copy

Switch to EN Mac, click in the Note where you want the table, and Press CMD-V.

 

This should work.  If not, all I know to suggest is to file a support ticket with Evernote.

 

GrumpyMonkey is an EN Mac guru.  Maybe he'll jump in here with some ideas.

[knelson27 0]

Wow... this is exactly what I was doing and I gave it another try with the same result. The pasting only copies the text that I had in the Word version of the table...

Kevin

[JMichaelTX 4,074]

Kevin, what versions are you running for:

• Evernote
• Mac
• Word

[knelson27 0]

Evernote Version 5.0.6 (400960)

Mac OS 10.7.5

Word 14.3.1

[JMichaelTX 4,074]

Kevin, I have verified copy/paste from Word in these ver:

• EN Mac 3.3.0, Mac 10.7.5, Word 14.3.5
• EN Mac 5.2.1, Mac 10.8.4, Word 14.3.5

The biggest diff I see with your setup is you are running an early ver of EN Mac 5.

I'd suggest you upgrade to EN Mac 5.2.1, and try again.  I think lots of bugs were fixed between 5.0.6 and 5.2.1.

 

Still no luck, then definitely submit a EN support case.

[knelson27 0]

Thanks so much for the help. I updated my Evernote to the latest version and now I am able to copy and paste the table from Word. It works great!

Thanks!

Kevin

[JMichaelTX 4,074]

Great!  That's good to hear.

[e-b 0]

Open Evernote (the desktop version for mac)

 

In the top menu bar click: Evernote>Preferences>Formatting

 

Then UNCHECK the BOX that reads: Simplify formatting of pasted content

 

Now, if you are copying a table within Evernote into another note your table formatting should remain.

 

Good Luck : )

[Martin Packer 162]

Perhaps it's the difference between Word's table being a vaguely HTML-like document construct and Excel tables being actual spreadsheets with formulae etc.

 

I can imagine the former is MUCH easier to parse than the latter.

[SergeGardien 5]

 

Well... I gave it a try and no luck. Perhaps I am doing something wrong. I created a simple, 2 column, 6 row table in a word doc. I selected the entire table and when I pasted into the Evernote note, only the text pasted... the table is gone. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Kevin

 

Hmm, I do this all the time and it has always worked.

 

If you view the Word doc in "Print Layout View", and mouse over the table, you should see a "+" symbol in the upper left corner.

Click on this Plus symbol -- this will select the WHOLE table.

Press CMD-C to copy

Switch to EN Mac, click in the Note where you want the table, and Press CMD-V.

 

This should work.  If not, all I know to suggest is to file a support ticket with Evernote.

 

GrumpyMonkey is an EN Mac guru.  Maybe he'll jump in here with some ideas.

 

Many thanks JMichael, this works for me but I cannot edit the table in Evernote (add row/colum) once I've pasted it.

Is there a way using whatever application to create and edit tables outside EN and then have these editeable in EN once pasted there (I mean, add rows/columns)?

 

PS: I'm using Evernote 5.4.4, Mac OS X 10.9.1 (Mavericks) and Word for Mac 2011.

[anjoschu 67]

 

Thanks JMichael... this was very helpful. It looks like I'll have to plan my templates a little better and I like the Excel suggestions. I will definitely give it a try.

Thanks again!

 

You're welcome knelson.  But note that I said WORD, not EXCEL.  For some strange reason tables from Excel do NOT paste well into Evernote.  OTOH, tables from WORD paste very well, maintaining all formatting and structure (including the one I like best:  "Fit Table to Text").

 

 

Thanks JMichael, that's very useful to know!

 

 

...unfortunately for me, though, every time I have to edit table layouts in Word, it feels like I'm already serving part of my purgatory in the world of the living... :-)