generating-tables.md

title	Generating tables
shortTitle	Generate tables
intro	{% data variables.copilot.copilot_chat_short %} can help you create tables to organize information and present it clearly.
versions	feature copilot
surface	Chat
octicon	copilot
category	Communicate effectively Author and optimize with Copilot Scale institutional knowledge
contentType	tutorials
redirect_from	/copilot/tutorials/copilot-chat-cookbook/communicate-effectively/generating-tables

{% data variables.copilot.copilot_chat %} can help you create tables for various purposes, such as organizing data, comparing options, or summarizing information. By using tables, you can present information in a clear and structured way that is easy to read and understand. You can ask {% data variables.copilot.copilot_chat_short %} to generate tables based on existing data or to create empty tables based on your specific requirements.

Example scenario

You want to create a reference table for the people on your team, including their roles and availability. You can ask {% data variables.copilot.copilot_chat_short %} to generate a table that summarizes this information in a clear and organized way.

Example prompt 1

Convert the following information into a markdown table:

Name: Alice  
Age: 30  
Occupation: Engineer
Timezone: PST
Availability: Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm

Name: Bob  
Age: 25  
Occupation: Designer
Timezone: EST
Availability: Mon-Thu, 10am-6pm

Name: Carol  
Age: 27  
Occupation: Writer
Timezone: CST
Availability: Mon-Thu, 8am-4pm

Name: Dave
Age: 35
Occupation: Manager
Timezone: PST
Availability: Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm

Name: Eve
Age: 28
Occupation: Analyst
Timezone: CST
Availability: Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm

Name: Frank
Age: 32
Occupation: Developer
Timezone: CST
Availability: Mon-Thu, 11am-7pm

Name: Grace
Age: 29
Occupation: Researcher
Timezone: EST
Availability: Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm

Name: Heidi
Age: 31
Occupation: Consultant
Timezone: PST
Availability: Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm

Name: Ivan
Age: 26
Occupation: Intern
Timezone: CST
Availability: Mon-Thu, 10am-6pm

Example response 1

{% data reusables.copilot.example-prompts.response-is-an-example %}

{% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} will provide you with a markdown table that organizes the information clearly. You can copy the table {% data variables.copilot.copilot_chat_short %} provides and use it in your documentation or project.

| Name   | Age | Occupation   | Timezone | Availability          |
|--------|-----|-------------|----------|-----------------------|
| Alice  | 30  | Engineer    | PST      | Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm      |
| Bob    | 25  | Designer    | EST      | Mon-Thu, 10am-6pm     |
| Carol  | 27  | Writer      | CST      | Mon-Thu, 8am-4pm      |
| Dave   | 35  | Manager     | PST      | Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm     |
| Eve    | 28  | Analyst     | CST      | Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm      |
| Frank  | 32  | Developer   | CST      | Mon-Thu, 11am-7pm     |
| Grace  | 29  | Researcher  | EST      | Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm      |
| Heidi  | 31  | Consultant  | PST      | Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm      |
| Ivan   | 26  | Intern      | CST      | Mon-Thu, 10am-6pm     |

Next steps

You can experiment with different types of visualizations and data to see how {% data variables.copilot.copilot_chat_short %} can help you create organized and easy-to-read information. For example, you could ask {% data variables.copilot.copilot_chat_short %} to use the Timezone and Availability columns to create a Mermaid graph that shows overlapping working hours for team members in different time zones. See AUTOTITLE for more information.

Further reading

{% data reusables.copilot.example-prompts.further-reading-items %}