The SparseTable [MpiPlugins "mpi plugin"] allows you to write larger tables in a assignment oriented fashion, thus allowing to leave out some cells. As an example:

  <pre>

  <?plugi&#110; SparseTable

  columns="column1, col2, third, 4th"

  column1="_first column here_"

  col2="second"

  third="number 3"

  4th="last"

  column1="row1"

  third="1"

  4th="1"

  column1="another row"

  col2="filled cell"

  4th="0"

  ...

  ?>

  </pre>

  So you always assign values to the table cells row-wise by giving a block of assignment to the column names you defined forst with the columns= plugin parameter. The column names are free-form and you should of course use short ones to reduce typing effort. Often the first block of assignments was used to define table headlines (like shown above).