A table can retain all its words and numbers while becoming misleading. A long translated heading may appear over the wrong value, a row label may wrap into several lines, or the rightmost column may be hidden on a small screen. Review relationships as well as text.
This guide concerns tables already present in an EPUB. Recovering a table from a scanned PDF adds OCR and layout-recognition questions, covered separately in the scanned table guide.
Expect text length to change
Translated table headers can become longer, easily wrapping text or crowding column widths on narrow screens such as phones. When you run into tables like this, switch to landscape mode or read on a larger screen to cross-check headers against each column's data.
Keep the original EPUB open and locate the same table by chapter, title, or number. Compare the whole header structure before checking individual values. Multi-level headers can associate one label with several columns, and losing that grouping changes how the table is read.
Do not judge preservation by matching page counts or screenshots at different font sizes. Reflowable content adapts to its reading environment.
Follow a row and a column all the way through
Choose one row with several entries and read it across from the label to the final value. Then choose a column and follow its header through several rows. Confirm that the values still belong to the right categories.
Check:
- Decimal points, minus signs, percentages, and units.
- Blank cells, dashes, and symbols that indicate missing or inapplicable data.
- Footnote markers attached to values or headings.
- Repeated labels and totals that may be mistaken for ordinary rows.
- Terms whose meaning depends on the book's subject.
When organizing table data, check the original book first to confirm conventions for special symbols, such as whether an empty cell indicates missing data or 'same as above', and whether a hyphen means missing observations or a zero value. Confirming how header labels connect to values before annotating or reorganizing helps prevent accidentally distorting the book's statistical meaning.
Test long tables on the intended screen
Use your normal font size and screen orientation. Check whether the reader lets you see the full width or provides a practical way to inspect it. A table that looks fine on a desktop can be difficult to use on an eReader.
For a long table, inspect its beginning, middle, and final rows. Make sure the header remains understandable when it is no longer visible. In bilingual output, inspect where original and translated material appear around the table rather than assuming all cells use the same paragraph arrangement as ordinary prose.
If small-screen reading is awkward, consult the original on a larger display. Do not shrink type beyond comfortable reading merely to force a complex table onto one page.
Separate content problems from display problems
Try the same EPUB in another reader if cells overlap, a column disappears, or scrolling behaves unexpectedly. Compare the source in that reader too. If both source and result show the problem in one app, the display environment deserves attention.
If a value is attached to the wrong label in every reader, inspect the output structure and source rather than changing fonts at random. Record the table name, row, column, and expected relationship. A screenshot is helpful, but a location and short phrase make the issue easier to find later.
The EPUB troubleshooting guide helps distinguish file and reader issues. The format-preservation guide covers navigation, images, and notes beyond tables.
Keep the original as the numerical reference
PDF Craft aims to retain EPUB reading structure where possible. After uploading in the EPUB translator, selecting the language and output, and downloading the completed task, review important tables against the original. Translation is charged by usage; see Pricing for current rates.