Improve ascii table, add --ofs flag, enhance documentation (#67)

* enhanced documentation
* added --ofs parameter
  use 2 spaces for ascii output but it is customizable with --ofs,
  which is also being used by CSV mode (whose defaults remains unchanged)
* improve ascii table output, use 2 spaces as OFS by default

README.md

@@ -28,12 +28,12 @@ Operational Flags:
   -n, --numbering                    Enable header numbering
   -N, --no-color                     Disable pattern highlighting
   -H, --no-headers                   Disable headers display
-  -s, --separator string            Custom field separator
+  -s, --separator <string>           Custom field separator
-  -k, --sort-by int|name            Sort by column (default: 1)
+  -k, --sort-by <int|name>           Sort by column (default: 1)
   -z, --fuzzy                        Use fuzzy search [experimental]
-  -F, --filter field[!]=reg         Filter given field with regex, can be used multiple times
+  -F, --filter <field[!]=reg>        Filter given field with regex, can be used multiple times
   -T, --transpose-columns string     Transpose the speficied columns (separated by ,)
-  -R, --regex-transposer /from/to/  Apply /search/replace/ regexp to fields given in -T
+  -R, --regex-transposer </from/to/> Apply /search/replace/ regexp to fields given in -T
   -I, --interactive                  Interactively filter and select rows
 
 Output Flags (mutually exclusive):
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ Output Flags (mutually exclusive):
   -L, --hightlight-lines             Use alternating background colors for tables
   -y, --yank-columns                 Yank specified columns (separated by ,) to clipboard,
                                      space separated
+      --ofs <char>                   Output field separator, used by -A and -C. 
 
 Sort Mode Flags (mutually exclusive):
   -a, --sort-age                     sort according to age (duration) string
@@ -55,6 +56,7 @@ Sort Mode Flags (mutually exclusive):
   -t, --sort-time                    sort according to time string
 
 Other Flags:
+  -r  --read-file <file>             Use <file> as input instead of STDIN
       --completion <shell>           Generate the autocompletion script for <shell>
   -f, --config <file>                Configuration file (default: ~/.config/tablizer/config)
   -d, --debug                        Enable debugging
@@ -77,13 +79,13 @@ to do this with tablizer:
 
 ```
 % kubectl get pods | tablizer 
-NAME(1)                      READY(2) STATUS(3)  RESTARTS(4)    AGE(5)
+NAME                         READY    STATUS     RESTARTS       AGE
 repldepl-7bcd8d5b64-7zq4l    1/1      Running    1 (69m ago)    5h26m
 repldepl-7bcd8d5b64-m48n8    1/1      Running    1 (69m ago)    5h26m
 repldepl-7bcd8d5b64-q2bf4    1/1      Running    1 (69m ago)    5h26m
 
 % kubectl get pods | tablizer -c 1,3
-NAME(1)                      STATUS(3)
+NAME                         STATUS
 repldepl-7bcd8d5b64-7zq4l    Running
 repldepl-7bcd8d5b64-m48n8    Running
 repldepl-7bcd8d5b64-q2bf4    Running 
@@ -121,14 +123,14 @@ You can also specify a regex pattern to reduce the output:
 
 ```
 % kubectl get pods | tablizer q2bf4
-NAME(1)                      READY(2) STATUS(3)  RESTARTS(4)    AGE(5)
+NAME                         READY    STATUS     RESTARTS       AGE
 repldepl-7bcd8d5b64-q2bf4    1/1      Running    1 (69m ago)    5h26m
 ```
 
 Sometimes a filter regex is to broad  and you wish to filter only on a
 particular column. This is possible using `-F`:
 ```
-% kubectl get pods | tablizer -n -Fname=2
+% kubectl get pods | tablizer -Fname=2
 NAME                            READY   STATUS  RESTARTS        AGE
 repldepl-7bcd8d5b64-q2bf4       1/1     Running 1 (69m ago)     5h26m
 ```
@@ -142,7 +144,7 @@ You can also use it to modify certain cells using regular expression
 matching. For example:
 
 ```shell
-kubectl get pods | tablizer -n -T4 -R '/ /-/'
+kubectl get pods | tablizer -T4 -R '/ /-/'
 NAME                            READY   STATUS  RESTARTS        AGE
 repldepl-7bcd8d5b64-7zq4l       1/1     Running 1-(69m-ago)     5h26m
 repldepl-7bcd8d5b64-m48n8       1/1     Running 1-(69m-ago)     5h26m
@@ -153,6 +155,11 @@ Here, we modified the 4th column (`-T4`) by replacing every space with
 a dash. If you need to work with `/` characters, you can also use any
 other separator, for instance: `-R '| |-|'`.
 
+There's also an interactive mode, invoked with the option B<-I>, where
+you can interactively filter and select rows:
+
+<img width="937" height="293" alt="interactive" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/0d4d65e2-d156-43ed-8021-39047c7939ed" />
+
 
 
 ## Installation

cfg/config.go

@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 const DefaultSeparator string = `(\s\s+|\t)`
-const Version string = "v1.5.4"
+const Version string = "v1.5.5"
 const MAXPARTS = 2
 
 var DefaultConfigfile = os.Getenv("HOME") + "/.config/tablizer/config"
@@ -112,6 +112,8 @@ type Config struct {
 
 	// -r <file>
 	InputFile string
+
+	OFS string
 }
 
 // maps outputmode short flags to output mode, ie. -O => -o orgtbl

cmd/root.go

@@ -132,6 +132,8 @@ func Execute() {
 		"Transpose the speficied columns (separated by ,)")
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&conf.Interactive, "interactive", "I", false,
 		"interactive mode (experimental)")
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&conf.OFS, "ofs", "", "",
+		"Output field separator (' ' for ascii table, ',' for CSV)")
 
 	// sort options
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&conf.SortByColumn, "sort-by", "k", "",

cmd/tablizer.go

@@ -14,12 +14,12 @@ SYNOPSIS
           -n, --numbering                    Enable header numbering
           -N, --no-color                     Disable pattern highlighting
           -H, --no-headers                   Disable headers display
-          -s, --separator string            Custom field separator
+          -s, --separator <string>           Custom field separator
-          -k, --sort-by int|name            Sort by column (default: 1)
+          -k, --sort-by <int|name>           Sort by column (default: 1)
           -z, --fuzzy                        Use fuzzy search [experimental]
-          -F, --filter field[!]=reg         Filter given field with regex, can be used multiple times
+          -F, --filter <field[!]=reg>        Filter given field with regex, can be used multiple times
           -T, --transpose-columns string     Transpose the speficied columns (separated by ,)
-          -R, --regex-transposer /from/to/  Apply /search/replace/ regexp to fields given in -T
+          -R, --regex-transposer </from/to/> Apply /search/replace/ regexp to fields given in -T
           -I, --interactive                  Interactively filter and select rows
 
         Output Flags (mutually exclusive):
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ SYNOPSIS
           -L, --hightlight-lines             Use alternating background colors for tables
           -y, --yank-columns                 Yank specified columns (separated by ,) to clipboard,
                                              space separated
+              --ofs <char>                   Output field separator, used by -A and -C. 
 
         Sort Mode Flags (mutually exclusive):
           -a, --sort-age                     sort according to age (duration) string
@@ -75,16 +76,16 @@ DESCRIPTION
        kubectl get pods | tablizer
 
        # read a file
-       tablizer filename
+       tablizer -r filename
 
        # search for pattern in a file (works like grep)
-       tablizer regex filename
+       tablizer regex -r filename
 
        # search for pattern in STDIN
        kubectl get pods | tablizer regex
 
-    The output looks like the original one but every header field will have
+    The output looks like the original one. You can add the option -n, then
-    a numer associated with it, e.g.:
+    every header field will have a numer associated with it, e.g.:
 
        NAME(1) READY(2) STATUS(3) RESTARTS(4) AGE(5)
 
@@ -96,7 +97,13 @@ DESCRIPTION
     You can specify the numbers in any order but output will always follow
     the original order.
 
-    The numbering can be suppressed by using the -n option.
+    However, you may also just use the header names instead of numbers, eg:
+
+       kubectl get pods | tablizer -cname,status
+
+    You can also use regular expressions with -c, eg:
+
+       kubectl get pods | tablizer -c '[ae]'
 
     By default tablizer shows a header containing the names of each column.
     This can be disabled using the -H option. Be aware that this only
@@ -450,12 +457,12 @@ Operational Flags:
   -n, --numbering                    Enable header numbering
   -N, --no-color                     Disable pattern highlighting
   -H, --no-headers                   Disable headers display
-  -s, --separator string            Custom field separator
+  -s, --separator <string>           Custom field separator
-  -k, --sort-by int|name            Sort by column (default: 1)
+  -k, --sort-by <int|name>           Sort by column (default: 1)
   -z, --fuzzy                        Use fuzzy search [experimental]
-  -F, --filter field[!]=reg         Filter given field with regex, can be used multiple times
+  -F, --filter <field[!]=reg>        Filter given field with regex, can be used multiple times
   -T, --transpose-columns string     Transpose the speficied columns (separated by ,)
-  -R, --regex-transposer /from/to/  Apply /search/replace/ regexp to fields given in -T
+  -R, --regex-transposer </from/to/> Apply /search/replace/ regexp to fields given in -T
   -I, --interactive                  Interactively filter and select rows
 
 Output Flags (mutually exclusive):
@@ -469,6 +476,7 @@ Output Flags (mutually exclusive):
   -L, --hightlight-lines             Use alternating background colors for tables
   -y, --yank-columns                 Yank specified columns (separated by ,) to clipboard,
                                      space separated
+      --ofs <char>                   Output field separator, used by -A and -C. 
 
 Sort Mode Flags (mutually exclusive):
   -a, --sort-age                     sort according to age (duration) string

lib/printer.go

@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func printData(writer io.Writer, conf cfg.Config, data *Tabdata) {
 	case cfg.Yaml:
 		printYamlData(writer, data)
 	case cfg.CSV:
-		printCSVData(writer, data)
+		printCSVData(writer, conf, data)
 	default:
 		printASCIIData(writer, conf, data)
 	}
@@ -194,6 +194,11 @@ func printMarkdownData(writer io.Writer, conf cfg.Config, data *Tabdata) {
 Simple ASCII table without any borders etc, just like the input we expect
 */
 func printASCIIData(writer io.Writer, conf cfg.Config, data *Tabdata) {
+	OFS := "  "
+	if conf.OFS != "" {
+		OFS = conf.OFS
+	}
+
 	tableString := &strings.Builder{}
 
 	styleTSV := tw.NewSymbolCustom("space").WithColumn("\t")
@@ -213,14 +218,14 @@ func printASCIIData(writer io.Writer, conf cfg.Config, data *Tabdata) {
 				Formatting: tw.CellFormatting{
 					AutoFormat: tw.Off,
 				},
-				Padding: tw.CellPadding{Global: tw.Padding{Left: "", Right: " "}},
+				Padding: tw.CellPadding{Global: tw.Padding{Left: "", Right: OFS}},
 			},
 			Row: tw.CellConfig{
 				Formatting: tw.CellFormatting{
 					AutoWrap:  tw.WrapNone,
 					Alignment: tw.AlignLeft,
 				},
-				Padding: tw.CellPadding{Global: tw.Padding{Right: " "}},
+				Padding: tw.CellPadding{Global: tw.Padding{Right: OFS}},
 			},
 
 			Debug: true,
@@ -323,8 +328,14 @@ func printYamlData(writer io.Writer, data *Tabdata) {
 	output(writer, string(yamlstr))
 }
 
-func printCSVData(writer io.Writer, data *Tabdata) {
+func printCSVData(writer io.Writer, conf cfg.Config, data *Tabdata) {
+	OFS := ","
+	if conf.OFS != "" {
+		OFS = conf.OFS
+	}
+
 	csvout := csv.NewWriter(writer)
+	csvout.Comma = []rune(OFS)[0]
 
 	if err := csvout.Write(data.headers); err != nil {
 		log.Fatalln("error writing record to csv:", err)

lib/printer_test.go

@@ -280,6 +280,11 @@ func TestPrinter(t *testing.T) {
 				Numbering:      testdata.numberize,
 				UseColumns:     testdata.usecol,
 				NoColor:        true,
+				OFS:            " ",
+			}
+
+			if conf.OutputMode == cfg.CSV {
+				conf.OFS = ","
 			}
 
 			if testdata.column > 0 {
@@ -304,8 +309,10 @@ func TestPrinter(t *testing.T) {
 
 			if got != exp {
 				t.Errorf("not rendered correctly:\n+++ got:\n%s\n+++ want:\n%s",
-					strings.ReplaceAll(got, " ", "_"),
+					got, exp,
-					strings.ReplaceAll(exp, " ", "_"))
+					// strings.ReplaceAll(got, " ", "_"),
+					// strings.ReplaceAll(exp, " ", "_")
+				)
 			}
 		})
 	}

tablizer.1

@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@
 .\" ========================================================================
 .\"
 .IX Title "TABLIZER 1"
-.TH TABLIZER 1 "2025-09-11" "1" "User Commands"
+.TH TABLIZER 1 "2025-09-30" "1" "User Commands"
 .\" For nroff, turn off justification.  Always turn off hyphenation; it makes
 .\" way too many mistakes in technical documents.
 .if n .ad l
@@ -152,12 +152,12 @@ tablizer \- Manipulate tabular output of other programs
 \&      \-n, \-\-numbering                    Enable header numbering
 \&      \-N, \-\-no\-color                     Disable pattern highlighting
 \&      \-H, \-\-no\-headers                   Disable headers display
-\&      \-s, \-\-separator string            Custom field separator
+\&      \-s, \-\-separator <string>           Custom field separator
-\&      \-k, \-\-sort\-by int|name            Sort by column (default: 1)
+\&      \-k, \-\-sort\-by <int|name>           Sort by column (default: 1)
 \&      \-z, \-\-fuzzy                        Use fuzzy search [experimental]
-\&      \-F, \-\-filter field[!]=reg         Filter given field with regex, can be used multiple times
+\&      \-F, \-\-filter <field[!]=reg>        Filter given field with regex, can be used multiple times
 \&      \-T, \-\-transpose\-columns string     Transpose the speficied columns (separated by ,)
-\&      \-R, \-\-regex\-transposer /from/to/  Apply /search/replace/ regexp to fields given in \-T
+\&      \-R, \-\-regex\-transposer </from/to/> Apply /search/replace/ regexp to fields given in \-T
 \&      \-I, \-\-interactive                  Interactively filter and select rows
 \&
 \&    Output Flags (mutually exclusive):
@@ -171,6 +171,7 @@ tablizer \- Manipulate tabular output of other programs
 \&      \-L, \-\-hightlight\-lines             Use alternating background colors for tables
 \&      \-y, \-\-yank\-columns                 Yank specified columns (separated by ,) to clipboard,
 \&                                         space separated
+\&          \-\-ofs <char>                   Output field separator, used by \-A and \-C. 
 \&
 \&    Sort Mode Flags (mutually exclusive):
 \&      \-a, \-\-sort\-age                     sort according to age (duration) string
@@ -217,17 +218,17 @@ pattern. Hence:
 \&   kubectl get pods | tablizer
 \&
 \&   # read a file
-\&   tablizer filename
+\&   tablizer \-r filename
 \&
 \&   # search for pattern in a file (works like grep)
-\&   tablizer regex filename
+\&   tablizer regex \-r filename
 \&
 \&   # search for pattern in STDIN
 \&   kubectl get pods | tablizer regex
 .Ve
 .PP
-The output  looks like the  original one  but every header  field will
+The output looks like the original  one. You can add the option \fB\-n\fR,
-have a numer associated with it, e.g.:
+then every header field will have a numer associated with it, e.g.:
 .PP
 .Vb 1
 \&   NAME(1) READY(2) STATUS(3) RESTARTS(4) AGE(5)
@@ -243,7 +244,18 @@ columns you want to have in your output (see \s-1COLUMNS\s0:
 You can specify the numbers in any order but output will always follow
 the original order.
 .PP
-The numbering can be suppressed by using the \fB\-n\fR option.
+However, you may also just use the header names instead of numbers,
+eg:
+.PP
+.Vb 1
+\&   kubectl get pods | tablizer \-cname,status
+.Ve
+.PP
+You can also use regular expressions with \fB\-c\fR, eg:
+.PP
+.Vb 1
+\&   kubectl get pods | tablizer \-c \*(Aq[ae]\*(Aq
+.Ve
 .PP
 By  default tablizer  shows  a  header containing  the  names of  each
 column.  This can  be disabled using the \fB\-H\fR option.   Be aware that

tablizer.pod

@@ -13,12 +13,12 @@ tablizer - Manipulate tabular output of other programs
       -n, --numbering                    Enable header numbering
       -N, --no-color                     Disable pattern highlighting
       -H, --no-headers                   Disable headers display
-      -s, --separator string            Custom field separator
+      -s, --separator <string>           Custom field separator
-      -k, --sort-by int|name            Sort by column (default: 1)
+      -k, --sort-by <int|name>           Sort by column (default: 1)
       -z, --fuzzy                        Use fuzzy search [experimental]
-      -F, --filter field[!]=reg         Filter given field with regex, can be used multiple times
+      -F, --filter <field[!]=reg>        Filter given field with regex, can be used multiple times
       -T, --transpose-columns string     Transpose the speficied columns (separated by ,)
-      -R, --regex-transposer /from/to/  Apply /search/replace/ regexp to fields given in -T
+      -R, --regex-transposer </from/to/> Apply /search/replace/ regexp to fields given in -T
       -I, --interactive                  Interactively filter and select rows
 
     Output Flags (mutually exclusive):
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ tablizer - Manipulate tabular output of other programs
       -L, --hightlight-lines             Use alternating background colors for tables
       -y, --yank-columns                 Yank specified columns (separated by ,) to clipboard,
                                          space separated
+          --ofs <char>                   Output field separator, used by -A and -C. 
 
     Sort Mode Flags (mutually exclusive):
       -a, --sort-age                     sort according to age (duration) string
@@ -78,16 +79,16 @@ pattern. Hence:
    kubectl get pods | tablizer
 
    # read a file
-   tablizer filename
+   tablizer -r filename
 
    # search for pattern in a file (works like grep)
-   tablizer regex filename
+   tablizer regex -r filename
 
    # search for pattern in STDIN
    kubectl get pods | tablizer regex
 
-The output  looks like the  original one  but every header  field will
+The output looks like the original  one. You can add the option B<-n>,
-have a numer associated with it, e.g.:
+then every header field will have a numer associated with it, e.g.:
 
    NAME(1) READY(2) STATUS(3) RESTARTS(4) AGE(5)
 
@@ -99,7 +100,14 @@ columns you want to have in your output (see L<COLUMNS>:
 You can specify the numbers in any order but output will always follow
 the original order.
 
-The numbering can be suppressed by using the B<-n> option.
+However, you may also just use the header names instead of numbers,
+eg:
+
+   kubectl get pods | tablizer -cname,status
+
+You can also use regular expressions with B<-c>, eg:
+
+   kubectl get pods | tablizer -c '[ae]'  
 
 By  default tablizer  shows  a  header containing  the  names of  each
 column.  This can  be disabled using the B<-H> option.   Be aware that