Add Tables to PDF in Java

Aspose.PDF for Java provides a rich Table API for building tables with layout and content customization.

Create a basic table

Use this example when you need to add a simple table with uniform borders and text cells.

  1. Create a new PDF Document and add a page.
  2. Create a Table and configure its borders.
  3. Add rows and cells, attach the table to the page, and save the document.
public static void createTable(Path outputFile) {
    try (Document document = new Document()) {
        Page page = document.getPages().add();
        Table table = new Table();
        table.setBorder(new BorderInfo(BorderSide.All, 5, Color.getLightGray()));
        table.setDefaultCellBorder(new BorderInfo(BorderSide.All, 5, Color.getLightGray()));
        for (int rowCount = 0; rowCount < 10; rowCount++) {
            Row row = table.getRows().add();
            row.getCells().add("Column (" + rowCount + ", 1)");
            row.getCells().add("Column (" + rowCount + ", 2)");
            row.getCells().add("Column (" + rowCount + ", 3)");
        }
        page.getParagraphs().add(table);
        document.save(outputFile.toString());
    }
}

Add cells with row span and column span

Use this example when the table needs merged cells across rows or columns.

  1. Create a new PDF Document and add a page.
  2. Create a Table and add rows.
  3. Configure ColSpan and RowSpan on the target cells, then save the PDF.
public static void addRowspanOrColspan(Path outputFile) {
    try (Document document = new Document()) {
        Page page = document.getPages().add();
        Table table = new Table();
        table.setBorder(new BorderInfo(BorderSide.All, 0.5f, Color.getBlack()));
        table.setDefaultCellBorder(new BorderInfo(BorderSide.All, 0.5f, Color.getBlack()));

        Row row1 = table.getRows().add();
        for (int cellCount = 1; cellCount < 5; cellCount++) {
            row1.getCells().add("Test 1" + cellCount);
        }

        Row row2 = table.getRows().add();
        row2.getCells().add("Test 2 1");
        Cell cell = row2.getCells().add("Test 2 2");
        cell.setColSpan(2);
        row2.getCells().add("Test 2 4");

        Row row3 = table.getRows().add();
        row3.getCells().add("Test 3 1");
        row3.getCells().add("Test 3 2");
        row3.getCells().add("Test 3 3");
        row3.getCells().add("Test 3 4");

        Row row4 = table.getRows().add();
        row4.getCells().add("Test 4 1");
        cell = row4.getCells().add("Test 4 2");
        cell.setRowSpan(2);
        row4.getCells().add("Test 4 3");
        row4.getCells().add("Test 4 4");

        Row row5 = table.getRows().add();
        row5.getCells().add("Test 5 1");
        row5.getCells().add("Test 5 3");
        row5.getCells().add("Test 5 4");

        page.getParagraphs().add(table);
        document.save(outputFile.toString());
    }
}

Add table borders and cell padding

Use this example when you need to configure borders, padding, and cell wrapping behavior.

  1. Create a new PDF Document and add a page.
  2. Create a Table and configure widths, borders, and padding.
  3. Add rows and save the resulting document.
public static void addBorders(Path outputFile) {
    try (Document document = new Document()) {
        Page page = document.getPages().add();
        Table table = new Table();
        page.getParagraphs().add(table);
        table.setColumnWidths("50 50 50");
        table.setDefaultCellBorder(new BorderInfo(BorderSide.All, 0.1f));
        table.setBorder(new BorderInfo(BorderSide.All, 1));
        table.setDefaultCellPadding(new MarginInfo(5, 5, 5, 5));

        Row row1 = table.getRows().add();
        row1.getCells().add("col1");
        row1.getCells().add("col2");
        row1.getCells().add();
        row1.getCells().get_Item(2).getParagraphs().add(new TextFragment("col3 with large text string"));
        row1.getCells().get_Item(2).setWordWrapped(false);

        Row row2 = table.getRows().add();
        row2.getCells().add("item1");
        row2.getCells().add("item2");
        row2.getCells().add("item3");
        document.save(outputFile.toString());
    }
}

Enable auto-fit table layout

Use this example when the table should automatically adjust to the available page width.

  1. Create a new PDF Document and add a page.
  2. Create a Table and set ColumnAdjustment.AutoFitToWindow.
  3. Add sample rows and save the PDF.
public static void autoFit(Path outputFile) {
    try (Document document = new Document()) {
        Page page = document.getPages().add();
        Table table = new Table();
        page.getParagraphs().add(table);
        table.setColumnWidths("50 50 50");
        table.setColumnAdjustment(ColumnAdjustment.AutoFitToWindow);
        table.setDefaultCellBorder(new BorderInfo(BorderSide.All, 0.1f));
        table.setBorder(new BorderInfo(BorderSide.All, 1));
        table.setDefaultCellPadding(new MarginInfo(5, 5, 5, 5));

        Row row1 = table.getRows().add();
        row1.getCells().add("col1");
        row1.getCells().add("col2");
        row1.getCells().add("col3");
        Row row2 = table.getRows().add();
        row2.getCells().add("item1");
        row2.getCells().add("item2");
        row2.getCells().add("item3");
        document.save(outputFile.toString());
    }
}

Add an image inside a table cell

Use this example when the table needs to display raster image content inside one of its cells.

  1. Create a new PDF Document and add a page.
  2. Create a Table and add a row with text and image cells.
  3. Configure the Image size and save the document.
public static void addImage(Path imageFile, Path outputFile) {
    try (Document document = new Document()) {
        Page page = document.getPages().add();
        Table table = new Table();
        table.setColumnWidths("200 100");

        Row row = table.getRows().add();
        row.getCells().add().getParagraphs().add(new TextFragment(imageFile.toString()));
        Image image = new Image();
        image.setFile(imageFile.toString());
        image.setFixWidth(50);
        image.setFixHeight(50);
        row.getCells().add().getParagraphs().add(image);

        page.getParagraphs().add(table);
        document.save(outputFile.toString());
    }
}

Add SVG images inside table cells

Use this example when the table should render SVG files row by row.

  1. Create a new PDF Document and add a page.
  2. Create a Table and iterate through the SVG files.
  3. Add one row per image, configure the SVG Image, and save the PDF.
public static void addSvgImage(List<Path> imageFiles, Path outputFile) {
    try (Document document = new Document()) {
        Page page = document.getPages().add();
        Table table = new Table();
        table.setColumnWidths("200 100");
        for (Path imageFile : imageFiles) {
            Row row = table.getRows().add();
            row.getCells().add().getParagraphs().add(new TextFragment(imageFile.toString()));
            Image image = new Image();
            image.setFileType(ImageFileType.Svg);
            image.setFile(imageFile.toString());
            image.setFixWidth(50);
            image.setFixHeight(50);
            row.getCells().add().getParagraphs().add(image);
        }
        page.getParagraphs().add(table);
        document.save(outputFile.toString());
    }
}

Add HTML fragments to table cells

Use this example when table content should include inline HTML formatting.

  1. Create a new PDF Document and add a page.
  2. Create a Table and configure borders.
  3. Add HtmlFragment objects to the cells and save the document.
public static void addHtmlFragments(Path outputFile) {
    try (Document document = new Document()) {
        Page page = document.getPages().add();
        Table table = new Table();
        table.setBorder(new BorderInfo(BorderSide.All, 0.5f, Color.getLightGray()));
        table.setDefaultCellBorder(new BorderInfo(BorderSide.All, 0.5f, Color.getLightGray()));
        for (int rowCount = 1; rowCount < 10; rowCount++) {
            Row row = table.getRows().add();
            row.getCells().add().getParagraphs().add(new HtmlFragment("Column <strong>(" + rowCount + ", 1)</strong>"));
            row.getCells().add().getParagraphs().add(new HtmlFragment("Column <span style='color:red'>(" + rowCount + ", 2)</span>"));
            row.getCells().add().getParagraphs().add(new HtmlFragment("Column <span style='text-decoration: underline'>(" + rowCount + ", 3)</span>"));
        }
        page.getParagraphs().add(table);
        document.save(outputFile.toString());
    }
}

Add LaTeX fragments to table cells

Use this example when table content should render TeX or LaTeX expressions.

  1. Create a new PDF Document and add a page.
  2. Create a Table with borders.
  3. Add TeXFragment objects to the cells and save the output file.
public static void addLatexFragments(Path outputFile) {
    try (Document document = new Document()) {
        Page page = document.getPages().add();
        Table table = new Table();
        table.setBorder(new BorderInfo(BorderSide.All, 0.5f, Color.getLightGray()));
        table.setDefaultCellBorder(new BorderInfo(BorderSide.All, 0.5f, Color.getLightGray()));
        for (int rowCount = 1; rowCount < 10; rowCount++) {
            Row row = table.getRows().add();
            row.getCells().add().getParagraphs().add(new TeXFragment("Column $\\mathbf{(" + rowCount + ", 1)}$"));
            row.getCells().add().getParagraphs().add(new TeXFragment("Column $\\textcolor{red}{(" + rowCount + ", 2)}$"));
            row.getCells().add().getParagraphs().add(new TeXFragment("Column $\\underline{(" + rowCount + ", 3)}$"));
        }
        page.getParagraphs().add(table);
        document.save(outputFile.toString());
    }
}

Force a table onto a new page

Use this example when a second table should start on a separate page after a large table.

  1. Create a new PDF Document and configure page settings.
  2. Build the first large Table and add it to the page.
  3. Create a second table, set InNewPage, and save the document.
public static void addTableOnNewPage(Path outputFile) {
    try (Document document = new Document()) {
        document.getPageInfo().getMargin().setLeft(37);
        document.getPageInfo().getMargin().setRight(37);
        document.getPageInfo().getMargin().setTop(37);
        document.getPageInfo().getMargin().setBottom(37);
        document.getPageInfo().setLandscape(true);

        Page page = document.getPages().add();
        Table table = new Table();
        table.setColumnWidths("50 100");
        for (int i = 1; i < 121; i++) {
            Row row = table.getRows().add();
            row.setFixedRowHeight(15);
            row.getCells().add().getParagraphs().add(new TextFragment("Content 1"));
            row.getCells().add().getParagraphs().add(new TextFragment("Content 2"));
        }
        page.getParagraphs().add(table);

        Table table1 = new Table();
        table1.setColumnWidths("100 100");
        for (int i = 1; i < 11; i++) {
            Row row = table1.getRows().add();
            row.getCells().add().getParagraphs().add(new TextFragment("Content 3"));
            row.getCells().add().getParagraphs().add(new TextFragment("Content 4"));
        }
        table1.setInNewPage(true);
        page.getParagraphs().add(table1);
        document.save(outputFile.toString());
    }
}

Build a vertically broken table with repeating columns

Use this example when a wide table should continue vertically and repeat key columns.

  1. Create a new PDF Document and add a page.
  2. Create a Table and configure vertical breaking with repeating columns.
  3. Add the header and data rows, then save the document.
public static void addTableHideBorders(Path outputFile) {
    try (Document document = new Document()) {
        Page page = document.getPages().add();
        Table table = new Table();
        table.setBroken(TableBroken.Vertical);
        table.setDefaultCellBorder(new BorderInfo(BorderSide.All));
        table.setRepeatingColumnsCount(2);
        page.getParagraphs().add(table);

        Row row = table.getRows().add();
        Cell cell = row.getCells().add("header 1");
        cell.setColSpan(2);
        cell.setBackgroundColor(Color.getLightGray());
        row.getCells().add("header 3");
        Cell cell2 = row.getCells().add("header 4");
        cell2.setColSpan(2);
        cell2.setBackgroundColor(Color.getLightBlue());
        row.getCells().add("header 6");
        Cell cell3 = row.getCells().add("header 7");
        cell3.setColSpan(2);
        cell3.setBackgroundColor(Color.getLightGreen());
        Cell cell4 = row.getCells().add("header 9");
        cell4.setColSpan(3);
        cell4.setBackgroundColor(Color.getLightCoral());
        for (int i = 12; i < 18; i++) {
            row.getCells().add("header " + i);
        }

        for (int rowCounter = 0; rowCounter < 3; rowCounter++) {
            Row row1 = table.getRows().add();
            for (int i = 1; i < 18; i++) {
                row1.getCells().add("col " + rowCounter + ", " + i);
            }
        }
        document.save(outputFile.toString());
    }
}

Reuse the borders and padding example

Use this helper when the margins and padding scenario should delegate to the shared border example.

  1. Call the existing table border and padding method.
  2. Reuse the same table layout logic without duplicating code.
public static void addMarginsOrPadding(Path outputFile) {
    addBorders(outputFile);
}

Create a table with rounded corners

Use this example when the table should use rounded corner styling instead of standard rectangular borders.

  1. Create a new PDF Document and add a page.
  2. Create a Table and configure rounded border settings.
  3. Add rows to the table and save the PDF.
public static void createTableWithRoundCorner(Path outputFile) {
    try (Document document = new Document()) {
        Page page = document.getPages().add();
        Table table = new Table();
        BorderInfo borderInfo = new BorderInfo(BorderSide.All);
        borderInfo.setRoundedBorderRadius(15);
        table.setCornerStyle(BorderCornerStyle.Round);
        table.setBorder(borderInfo);
        for (int rowCount = 0; rowCount < 10; rowCount++) {
            Row row = table.getRows().add();
            row.getCells().add("Column (" + rowCount + ", 1)");
            row.getCells().add("Column (" + rowCount + ", 2)");
            row.getCells().add("Column (" + rowCount + ", 3)");
        }
        page.getParagraphs().add(table);
        document.save(outputFile.toString());
    }
}

Add repeating header rows

Use this example when multi-page tables should repeat their header rows on every continuation page.

  1. Create a new PDF Document and add a page.
  2. Create a vertically broken Table and configure repeating row count and style.
  3. Add header rows and data rows, then save the document.
public static void addRepeatingRows(Path outputFile) {
    try (Document document = new Document()) {
        Page page = document.getPages().add();
        Table table = new Table();
        table.setBroken(TableBroken.Vertical);
        table.setRepeatingRowsCount(2);
        TextState textState = new TextState();
        textState.setFontSize(12);
        textState.setFont(FontRepository.findFont("TimesNewRoman"));
        textState.setForegroundColor(Color.getRed());
        table.setRepeatingRowsStyle(textState);
        table.setColumnWidths("100 100 100");
        table.setDefaultCellBorder(new BorderInfo(BorderSide.All, 0.5f, Color.getBlack()));
        table.setBorder(new BorderInfo(BorderSide.All, 1, Color.getBlack()));

        Row headerRow1 = table.getRows().add();
        headerRow1.getCells().add("Header 1-1");
        headerRow1.getCells().add("Header 1-2");
        headerRow1.getCells().add("Header 1-3");
        for (Cell cell : headerRow1.getCells()) {
            cell.setBackgroundColor(Color.getLightGray());
        }
        Row headerRow2 = table.getRows().add();
        headerRow2.getCells().add("Header 2-1");
        headerRow2.getCells().add("Header 2-2");
        headerRow2.getCells().add("Header 2-3");
        for (Cell cell : headerRow2.getCells()) {
            cell.setBackgroundColor(Color.getLightBlue());
        }
        for (int i = 1; i < 101; i++) {
            Row row = table.getRows().add();
            row.getCells().add("Data " + i + "-1");
            row.getCells().add("Data " + i + "-2");
            row.getCells().add("Data " + i + "-3");
        }
        page.getParagraphs().add(table);
        document.save(outputFile.toString());
    }
}

Add repeating columns in a wide table

Use this example when the first columns should repeat while the table breaks vertically on the same page.

  1. Create a new PDF Document and configure page size.
  2. Create a Table and set repeating columns plus auto-fit behavior.
  3. Add header and data rows, then save the PDF.
public static void addRepeatingColumns(Path outputFile) {
    try (Document document = new Document()) {
        Page page = document.getPages().add();
        page.setPageSize(PageSize.getA5().getHeight(), PageSize.getA5().getWidth());
        BorderInfo border = new BorderInfo(BorderSide.All, 0.5f, Color.getLightGray());
        Table table = new Table();
        table.setBroken(TableBroken.VerticalInSamePage);
        table.setColumnAdjustment(ColumnAdjustment.AutoFitToContent);
        table.setRepeatingColumnsCount(5);
        table.setBorder(border);
        table.setDefaultCellBorder(border);
        page.getParagraphs().add(table);

        Row row = table.getRows().add();
        for (int i = 1; i < 6; i++) {
            Cell cell = row.getCells().add("header " + i);
            cell.setBackgroundColor(Color.getLightGray());
        }
        for (int i = 6; i < 18; i++) {
            row.getCells().add("header " + i);
        }

        for (int rowCounter = 1; rowCounter < 6; rowCounter++) {
            row = table.getRows().add();
            for (int i = 1; i < 6; i++) {
                Cell cell = row.getCells().add("cell " + rowCounter + "," + i);
                cell.setBackgroundColor(Color.getLightGray());
            }
            for (int i = 6; i < 18; i++) {
                row.getCells().add("cell " + rowCounter + "," + i);
            }
        }
        document.save(outputFile.toString());
    }
}

Insert page breaks between table rows

Use this example when specific table rows should begin on a new page.

  1. Create a new PDF Document and add a page.
  2. Create a Table and populate many rows.
  3. Mark selected rows with InNewPage and save the document.
public static void insertPageBreak(Path outputFile) {
    try (Document document = new Document()) {
        Page page = document.getPages().add();
        Table table = new Table();
        table.setBorder(new BorderInfo(BorderSide.All, Color.getRed()));
        table.setDefaultCellBorder(new BorderInfo(BorderSide.All, Color.getRed()));
        table.setColumnWidths("100 100");
        for (int counter = 0; counter < 201; counter++) {
            Row row = new Row();
            table.getRows().add(row);
            row.getCells().add().getParagraphs().add(new TextFragment("Cell " + counter + ", 0"));
            row.getCells().add().getParagraphs().add(new TextFragment("Cell " + counter + ", 1"));
            if (counter % 10 == 0 && counter != 0) {
                row.setInNewPage(true);
            }
        }
        page.getParagraphs().add(table);
        document.save(outputFile.toString());
    }
}

Rotate text inside table cells

Use this example when cell text should be displayed at different rotation angles.

  1. Create a new PDF Document and add a page.
  2. Create a Table and add a row with multiple cells.
  3. Create rotated TextFragment objects, add them to the cells, and save the PDF.
public static void rotatedTextTable(Path outputFile) {
    try (Document document = new Document()) {
        Page page = document.getPages().add();
        Table table = new Table();
        table.setBorder(new BorderInfo(BorderSide.All, 0.5f, Color.getBlack()));
        table.setDefaultCellBorder(new BorderInfo(BorderSide.All, 0.5f, Color.getBlack()));
        Row row = table.getRows().add();
        row.setMinRowHeight(200);
        for (int cellCount = 0; cellCount < 4; cellCount++) {
            Cell cell = row.getCells().add();
            TextFragment textFragment = new TextFragment("Cell 1 " + (cellCount - 1));
            textFragment.getTextState().setRotation(90 * cellCount);
            textFragment.setHorizontalAlignment(HorizontalAlignment.Center);
            cell.getParagraphs().add(textFragment);
        }
        page.getParagraphs().add(table);
        document.save(outputFile.toString());
    }
}
Extract Tables from PDF in Java