Convert RST to TSV

Why Convert RST to TSV?

Converting reStructuredText (RST) documents to TSV (Tab-Separated Values) format is essential when you need to extract tabular data from documentation for use in spreadsheets, databases, or data analysis tools. RST's table format is great for documentation display, but TSV makes that data accessible to data processing applications.

TSV is often preferred over CSV when your data contains commas, quotes, or other special characters commonly found in text. Since tabs rarely appear in natural text, TSV files are less prone to parsing errors. This makes TSV ideal for extracting text-heavy documentation tables.

The conversion is particularly useful for teams that maintain reference tables in their Sphinx documentation. Configuration options, API parameters, feature comparisons, and specification tables can all be converted to TSV for import into Excel, Google Sheets, or database management tools.

Data analysts frequently need to work with information stored in documentation. By converting RST tables to TSV, you can easily load the data into pandas, R, or other statistical tools for analysis, visualization, or transformation.

Key Benefits of Converting RST to TSV:

• Spreadsheet Import: Open directly in Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice
• Database Loading: Bulk import into PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite
• Data Analysis: Process with pandas, R, or other tools
• Clean Parsing: Tabs avoid comma/quote escaping issues
• Universal Format: Supported by virtually all data tools
• Compact Size: Minimal overhead compared to structured formats
• Easy Processing: Simple line-by-line and split parsing

Practical Examples

Example 1: Configuration Options Table

Input RST file (config.rst):

Configuration Options
=====================

+----------------+----------+-------------------------+
| Option         | Default  | Description             |
+================+==========+=========================+
| debug          | false    | Enable debug mode       |
+----------------+----------+-------------------------+
| max_retries    | 3        | Maximum retry attempts  |
+----------------+----------+-------------------------+
| timeout        | 30       | Request timeout (sec)   |
+----------------+----------+-------------------------+

Output TSV file (config.tsv):

Option	Default	Description
debug	false	Enable debug mode
max_retries	3	Maximum retry attempts
timeout	30	Request timeout (sec)

Example 2: API Reference Table

Input RST file (api.rst):

API Endpoints
=============

+-----------+------------------+----------------+
| Method    | Endpoint         | Description    |
+===========+==================+================+
| GET       | /api/users       | List users     |
+-----------+------------------+----------------+
| POST      | /api/users       | Create user    |
+-----------+------------------+----------------+
| GET       | /api/users/{id}  | Get user       |
+-----------+------------------+----------------+
| DELETE    | /api/users/{id}  | Delete user    |
+-----------+------------------+----------------+

Output TSV file (api.tsv):

Method	Endpoint	Description
GET	/api/users	List users
POST	/api/users	Create user
GET	/api/users/{id}	Get user
DELETE	/api/users/{id}	Delete user

Example 3: Feature Comparison

Input RST file (features.rst):

Plan Comparison
===============

+-----------+-------+----------+-----------+
| Feature   | Free  | Pro      | Enterprise|
+===========+=======+==========+===========+
| Storage   | 1GB   | 100GB    | Unlimited |
+-----------+-------+----------+-----------+
| Users     | 1     | 10       | Unlimited |
+-----------+-------+----------+-----------+
| Support   | Email | Priority | Dedicated |
+-----------+-------+----------+-----------+
| Price     | $0    | $29/mo   | Custom    |
+-----------+-------+----------+-----------+

Output TSV file (features.tsv):

Feature	Free	Pro	Enterprise
Storage	1GB	100GB	Unlimited
Users	1	10	Unlimited
Support	Email	Priority	Dedicated
Price	$0	$29/mo	Custom

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is TSV format?

A: TSV (Tab-Separated Values) is a simple text format for tabular data where each row is a line and columns are separated by tab characters. It's similar to CSV but uses tabs instead of commas, making it better for text data that may contain commas.

Q: Why use TSV instead of CSV?

A: TSV is preferred when your data contains commas, quotes, or other characters that require escaping in CSV. Since tabs rarely appear in natural text, TSV parsing is simpler and more reliable. Many databases and tools handle TSV more consistently than CSV.

Q: What RST content converts to TSV?

A: Tables in RST (both grid and simple tables) convert to TSV rows and columns. Each table row becomes a TSV line, and table cells become tab-separated values. Non-table content like paragraphs and headers is typically not included in TSV output.

Q: Can I open TSV files in Excel?

A: Yes! Excel fully supports TSV files. You can either open the file directly (Excel will detect the tab delimiter) or use Data > From Text/CSV and specify tab as the delimiter. Google Sheets and LibreOffice Calc also support TSV natively.

Q: How do I load TSV in pandas?

A: Use pandas.read_csv() with the sep parameter: `df = pd.read_csv('file.tsv', sep='\t')`. Alternatively, use `pd.read_table('file.tsv')` which defaults to tab separation. Both methods work equally well for TSV files.

Q: What happens to merged cells in RST tables?

A: TSV doesn't support merged cells. Spanning cells in RST grid tables are typically expanded, with the content appearing in the first cell and subsequent cells left empty. Complex merged structures may need manual adjustment.

Q: How do I import TSV into a database?

A: Most databases support TSV import. In PostgreSQL, use COPY with DELIMITER E'\t'. In MySQL, use LOAD DATA INFILE with FIELDS TERMINATED BY '\t'. SQLite uses .import with .separator '\t'. GUI tools like pgAdmin and DBeaver also support TSV import.

Q: Can I convert TSV back to RST?

A: While not as common, you can convert TSV to RST tables using scripts or tools. Python with the tabulate library can generate RST tables from TSV data. Pandoc also supports conversion from TSV-like formats to RST with proper configuration.