EasyTableCopy is an NVDA add-on designed to solve a common frustration: copying tables from the Web or lists from Windows into documents (like Word, Excel, or Outlook) without losing formatting, borders, or structure.
- Dual Copy Engine: Choose between "Standard" mode for best visual fidelity or "Reconstructed" mode for guaranteed structure integrity.
- Smart Selection: Easily select non-adjacent rows or specific columns to copy.
- Desktop & Explorer Support: Instantly convert File Explorer lists or application views into copyable tables. Copy specific columns or combinations of columns.
- Cell-Level Copying: Quickly copy individual cell content without the surrounding table structure.
- Table Statistics: Get instant information about table dimensions (row and column count) anywhere.
- Audio Feedback: Distinct sounds and speech messages keep you informed about the copying process.
This feature works in Browse Mode within web browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, etc.).
Navigate inside any table on a website and press NVDA + Alt + T to open the action menu.
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Copy Table (Standard): Uses the browser's native copy function. Pros: Preserves exact fonts, background colors, and links. Cons: Relies on the browser; empty cells might collapse in some target applications.
-
Copy Table (Reconstructed): The "Safe Mode." The add-on ignores the browser and manually rebuilds the table from scratch. Pros: Guarantees that empty cells are filled (preserving borders) and enforces grid lines. Cons: May lose complex CSS styling (like rounded corners).
-
Copy Current Row: Copies only the row where your cursor is located (Standard mode).
-
Copy Current Column: Manually extracts and copies the vertical column where your cursor is located.
You can select specific items to copy in a batch. Note: You can mark Rows OR Columns, but not both simultaneously.
- Navigate to a row you want to copy.
- Press
Control + Alt + Space. NVDA will confirm: "Row Marked." - Move to another row and repeat.
- Open the menu (
NVDA + Alt + T) and select "Copy Marked".
- Navigate to a cell within the column you want.
- Press
Control + Alt + Shift + Space. NVDA will confirm: "Column Marked." - Repeat for other columns.
- Open the menu and select "Copy Marked".
Note: To clear your selections, press
Control + Alt + Windows + Spaceor use the "Clear Selections" option in the menu.
- Copy Marked Rows as Text: After marking rows, you can copy them as plain text without table structure using the
Copy Marked as Textcommand (no default key, assign in Input Gestures). - Copy Current Cell: Quickly copy the content of the current cell using the
Copy Current Cellcommand.
EasyTableCopy also works in File Explorer and standard list views in various applications.
- Focus on a list (e.g., a folder with files).
- Press
NVDA + Alt + T. - Result: The entire list is converted into a structured table (with headers like Name, Date, Type) and copied to your clipboard.
You can copy individual columns or combinations of columns from any desktop list or Explorer view. These commands only work in desktop contexts (not in web browsers).
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| Copy Column 1 | Copies the first column (usually Name) |
| Copy Column 2 | Copies the second column (usually Size or Type) |
| Copy Column 3 | Copies the third column (usually Date Modified) |
| Copy Columns 1-2 | Copies the first and second columns together |
| Copy Columns 1-3 | Copies the first, second, and third columns together |
| Copy Columns 1 and 3 | Copies the first and third columns (skipping the second) |
How to use:
- Focus on any list or Explorer window.
- Press the key you've assigned to the desired column command (no default keys - assign in Input Gestures).
- The selected columns will be copied as a table with headers.
Press the Table Statistics command (no default key) to hear:
- Number of items in the folder/list
- Number of columns displayed
Use the Table Statistics command anywhere (web, desktop, Explorer) to get instant information about the current table or list:
- Number of rows/items
- Number of columns
The add-on intelligently samples large tables to provide quick and accurate information without performance lag.
Use the Copy Current Cell command anywhere to quickly copy just the content of the current cell without the surrounding table structure. Perfect for:
- Copying specific values from web tables
- Extracting single items from lists
- Quick data entry tasks
(You can customize all shortcuts in NVDA Menu -> Preferences -> Input Gestures -> EasyTableCopy)
| Shortcut | Function | Context |
|---|---|---|
NVDA + Alt + T |
Open Menu (Web) / Copy List (Desktop) | Everywhere |
Ctrl + Alt + Space |
Mark/Unmark Row | Web Only |
Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Space |
Mark/Unmark Column | Web Only |
Ctrl + Alt + Win + Space |
Clear All Selections | Web Only |
These commands have no default key assignments. To use them, assign your own shortcuts in NVDA's Input Gestures dialog:
| Command | Description | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Copy Column 1 | Copy first column | Desktop/Explorer Only |
| Copy Column 2 | Copy second column | Desktop/Explorer Only |
| Copy Column 3 | Copy third column | Desktop/Explorer Only |
| Copy Columns 1-2 | Copy first and second columns | Desktop/Explorer Only |
| Copy Columns 1-3 | Copy first three columns | Desktop/Explorer Only |
| Copy Columns 1 and 3 | Copy first and third columns | Desktop/Explorer Only |
| Table Statistics | Announce table dimensions | Everywhere |
| Copy Current Cell | Copy current cell content | Everywhere |
| Copy Marked as Text | Copy marked rows as plain text | Web Only |
- Excel/Calc Protection: The add-on automatically disables itself in Excel and similar applications to prevent conflicts with native copy functions.
- Selection Limitations: You cannot mix row and column selections. Choose either rows OR columns, but not both.
- Large Tables: The add-on handles large tables efficiently. For very large web tables, statistics are calculated using sampling for optimal performance.
- Web vs Desktop: Some commands are context-specific (web-only or desktop-only) to ensure reliable operation. Commands that don't apply in the current context are simply ignored.
If you encounter any issues or have suggestions for improvement, please visit the add-on's repository or contact the author.