React Quill With Tables

Introductory Context

Adding tables to a rich text editor opens new opportunities to represent structured data. Tables make your application more robust and versatile.

Quill.js is a rich text editor developed by slab. It is a well-known HTML text WYSIWYG editor known for its modularity and expressive API.

React Quill is a Quill component for React that wraps around Quill.js in the React environment and simplifies the setup of Amaro Z (2017-08-04). React Quill.

With table support, blog users would be able to represent their data more structurally. They would be able to manage inventories, design complex layouts, or even create detailed reports. Plugins like quill-better-table, quill-table-ui, and react-quill-with-table bring that table feature into React Quill. They are among the best in the world.

For example, quill-better-table introduces cell-level operations like merging and splitting, addressing a common limitation in basic Quill setups quill-better-table Contributors (2020-07-11). quill-better-table.. Similarly, quil-table-ui provides an intuitive toolbar to handle tables. These features have made these 3 libraries stand out. This can be seen in the weekly downloads they have attracted, as seen in npm trends xxxxx.

Naturally, some developers may be hesitant to adopt third-party libraries due to concerns about compatibility or maintenance. However, these three are actively maintained and integrate seamlessly with React.

Join us as we explore these plugs in detail. We will cover their features, example implementation, use cases, and best practices of the three libraries. Let's dive in.

Using quill-better-table

Quill-better-table Key Features

Here are the main features of quill-better-table.

• Cell Merging and Splitting: You can easily split or merge cells as your structured data template requires.
• Column and Row Resizing: Supports resizing of the rows and columns.
• Custom Styling: Don't like the look of your tables? Apply styles to customize them to your liking.

These features are ideal in most use cases.

Quill-better-table Installation and Setup

Install the packages via npm with the following command:

npm install quill-better-table

Import the plugin and register with Quill using the following code:

import Quill from 'quill';
import BetterTable from 'quill-better-table';
Quill.register({
    'modules/better-table': BetterTable,
});

Add the following CSS to make things look good.:

import 'quill-better-table/dist/quill-better-table.css';

This simple setup shows how to integrate your Quill-based editor with quill-better-tables.

Quill-Better-Table full implementation example

The below code shows a full example of how you would integrate quill-better-tables with your Quill editor.

import React, { useRef } from 'react';
import ReactQuill from 'react-quill';
import Quill from 'quill';
import BetterTable from 'quill-better-table';
import 'react-quill/dist/quill.snow.css';
import 'quill-better-table/dist/quill-better-table.css';
Quill.register({
  'modules/better-table': BetterTable,
});
const Editor = () => {
  const quillRef = useRef(null);
  return (
    <ReactQuill
      ref={quillRef}
      theme="snow"
      modules={{
        'better-table': {
          operationMenu: {
            items: {
              unmergeCells: { text: 'Unmerge Cells' },
            },
          },
        },
        keyboard: {
          bindings: BetterTable.keyboardBindings,
        },
      }}
    />
  );
};
export default Editor;

Using quill-table-ui

Quill-table-ui Key Features

• Intuitive Toolbar Options: Quill-table-ui offers an easy way to manipulate table elements, rows, and columns.
• Drag-and-Drop Row Reordering: Quill-table-ui simplifies the reorganization of rows by offering simple drag-and-drop functionality.
• User-Friendly Table Navigation: Streamlines interaction with large, complex tables by offering clear visual cues.
• The above features make quill-table-ui suitable for users who want a straightforward table component, e.g. content creators or educators.

How to Install and Configure quill-table-ui

1. Install the Package

Run the following command to install the quill-table-ui package:

npm install quill-table-ui

1. Register the Plugin

Import the package and register it to your Quill instance. using the following code:

import Quill from 'quill';
import TableUI from 'quill-table-ui';
Quill.register({
    'modules/tableUI': TableUI,
});

1. Include the Styles

Add the CSS styles required for the toolbar and tale UI:

import 'quill-table-ui/dist/quill-table-ui.css';

With this simplified setup, you get quill-table-ui into action.

Implementation Example

Below is a full code showing how to implement quill-table-ui into a React Quill project.

import React, { useRef } from 'react';
import ReactQuill from 'react-quill';
import Quill from 'quill';
import TableUI from 'quill-table-ui';
import 'react-quill/dist/quill.snow.css';
import 'quill-table-ui/dist/quill-table-ui.css';
Quill.register({
  'modules/tableUI': TableUI,
});
const Editor = () => {
  const quillRef = useRef(null);
  return (
    <ReactQuill
      ref={quillRef}
      theme="snow"
      modules={{
        tableUI: true,
      }}
    />
  );
};
export default Editor;

Code breakdown

The tableUI module enables a toolbar that allows users to manipulate tables with ease.

The custom styles from the CSS file ensure a good look for the table.

Using react-quill-with-table

React-quill-with-table Key Features

• Table Creation and Deletion: Easily add and remove tables in the editor.
• Cell Editing: Allows you to edit cells by clicking them.
• Lightweight and Easy to Use: Perfect when you need a simple table without complexities, e.g., merging or resizing.

These features make react-quill-with-table suited for content management systems where complex table functionality isn't required.

React-quill-with-table Installation and setup

Install the Package

Add the library to your project:

npm install react-quill-with-table

Register the Plugin

Import the module and configure it with your React Quill instance:

import ReactQuill from 'react-quill';
import 'react-quill-with-table/dist/react-quill-with-table.css';
const modules = {
  table: true, // Enables table functionality
};

Include Table Styles

Include the following CSS code to make your UI more appealing.

import 'react-quill-with-table/dist/react-quill-with-table.css';

React-quill-with-tables full implementation

import React, { useRef } from 'react';
import ReactQuill from 'react-quill';
import 'react-quill/dist/quill.snow.css';
import 'react-quill-with-table/dist/react-quill-with-table.css';
const Editor = () => {
  const quillRef = useRef(null);
  return (
    <ReactQuill
      ref={quillRef}
      theme="snow"
      modules={{
        toolbar: [
          ['bold', 'italic', 'underline'], // Text formatting
          [{ list: 'ordered' }, { list: 'bullet' }], // Lists
          ['table'], // Table button
        ],
        table: true, // Enables table functionality
      }}
    />
  );
};
export default Editor;

The toolbar now includes a table button for table manipulation. Note, however, that this provides very basic functionality.

Comparison of quill-better-table, quill-table-ui, and react-quill-with-table

Feature Comparison

In this section, we will consider the feature comparison of the three table libraries: quill-better-table, quill-table-ui, and react-quill-with-table:

• quill-better-table
  • Advanced Features: Offers cell merging, column resizing, and high customization. Suitable for complex tables.
  • Use Case: Best suited for enterprise-level applications.
  • Integration Difficulty: Moderate; some configuration is needed to leverage its full potential.
• quill-table-ui
  • UI-Focused Enhancements: Provides an intuitive interface for managing tables, including features such as drag-and-drop.
  • Use Case: Best for user-centric platforms for non-technical users.
  • Integration Difficulty: Easy; seamless integration with React Quill.
• react-quill-with-table
  • Lightweight Solution: Focuses on providing basic table functionality.
  • Use Case: Suitable for simple blogs, minimalistic editors and anywhere a simple table would suffice.
  • Integration Difficulty: Very easy; minimal configuration required.

H3: Best Use Cases for Each Package

Each package serves a unique niche:

1. quill-better-table
   • Who Should Use It?
   • Enterprise-level developers working with data-intensive applications that require advanced table customization.
   • Why Choose It?
   • High-level features like merging cells and resizing columns allow for managing complex data presentations.
2. quill-table-ui
   • Who Should Use It?
   • Platforms designed for non-technical users, such as educational tools or CMS for content creators.
   • Why Choose It?
   • Its UI is customized to be natural and easy for end users without technical knowledge.
3. react-quill-with-table
   • Who Should Use It?
   • Bloggers, writers, or small-scale projects that only need basic functionality.
   • Why Choose It?
   • It's lightweight and straightforward, making it the best for minimalistic design and fast deployment.

Troubleshooting and Tips

Common Issues with Table Packages

In this section, we cover common problems encountered when integrating quill-better-table, quill-table-ui, and react-quill-with-table.

1. Toolbar Misconfiguration

Issue: The table-related toolbar buttons may not function correctly.

Solution: Ensure that the toolbar is configured properly, following the documentation.

1. CSS Conflicts

Issue: Table styling might not render correctly due to CSS conflicts.

Solution: Ensure there are no CSS overrides or conflicts. If needed, use scoped styles to avoid interference.

1. Table Rendering Issues

Issue: The table may not render correctly.

Solution: Ensure that only one table package is being used at a time. Mixing packages can cause React Quill to malfunction.

Best Practices for React Quill Tables

To ensure that you are following industry best practices when setting up tables in React Quill, follow these guidelines:

1. Optimize table rendering performance: Large datasets might cause sluggish behavior in tables. In such cases, minimize nested tables and implement dynamic loading for better performance.
2. Use consistent CSS styles: Apply scoped styles to avoid global CSS overrides, ensuring better maintainability and consistency.
3. Manage toolbar configuration properly: Most issues arise from toolbar misconfiguration. Always configure the toolbar explicitly to avoid unnecessary complications.
4. Test across different browsers: Test the results in various browsers to ensure consistent functionality and behavior.

By adhering to these practices, you’ll ensure a more efficient and consistent user experience.

Conclusion

When choosing between quill-better-table, quill-table-ui, and react-quill-with-table, it's essential to be guided by your project's needs. Each package is designed for a different use case. By following our analysis above, you can easily determine the right one for you.

Happy Editing!

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