> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://captivatehelp.newbluelive.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://captivatehelp.newbluelive.com/play-and-update-graphics/chapter-index-1/tables-overview.md).

# Tables overview

**Tables** is Captivate’s general-purpose controller for driving graphics from data you manage — a spreadsheet, CSV file, Google Sheet, Excel workbook, XML file, JSON file, plain text file, or SQLite database. Tables turns rows and columns from that source into values your graphics can display.

## Tables or a Data Controller from the catalog?

Reach for **Tables** when the data can be treated as rows and columns — rosters, schedules, speaker lists, sponsor rotations, results you type yourself, or data exported from another system.

Reach for a [Data Controller from the catalog](/play-and-update-graphics/chapter-index-3.md) when Captivate has a controller built for a specific live source — a scoreboard, a weather service, presentation software, a Zoom meeting.

## Tables: Row or Tables: Block?

Tables comes in two variants. The difference is how many records drive the graphic at once:

* **Tables: Row** — one record drives the graphic at a time. One speaker for a lower third, one player for a stats card, one sponsor for a bug. This is the common path for driving standard graphics from spreadsheet-style data. See [Drive a graphic with Tables: Row](/play-and-update-graphics/chapter-index-1/drive-a-graphic-with-tables-row.md).
* **Tables: Block** — several records drive the graphic at once. A leaderboard with the top 10, a roster card with five players, a schedule page. See [Tables: Block Controller](/play-and-update-graphics/chapter-index-1/tables-block-controller.md).

Two specialized controllers extend this workflow: [Crawls](/play-and-update-graphics/chapter-index-1/crawls-controller.md) for tickers and crawls, and [Leaderboard](/play-and-update-graphics/chapter-index-1/leaderboard-controller.md) for ranked sports lists.

## Where the data can come from

Each Tables controller loads data from the **Load New Data** screen in three ways:

* **Browse** — a local CSV, Excel (`.xlsx`), JSON, XML, plain text, or SQLite (`.db`/`.db3`) file.
* **Create CSV** — start a new CSV from inside Captivate.
* **Open URL** — a web URL, including Google Sheets links.

Some online sources require sign-in. If Captivate asks you to authenticate, follow the prompt. For account-based sources, you can also manage saved accounts from **Settings → Internet Accounts**. For XML and JSON specifics, see [Use XML or JSON with Tables](/play-and-update-graphics/chapter-index-1/use-xml-or-json-with-tables.md).

{% hint style="info" %}
A Google Sheets source must be a **native Google Sheet**, not an Excel workbook uploaded to Google Drive. An `.xlsx` file stored in Drive stays an Excel file and can’t be loaded as a Google Sheet — even if you can still open it from Captivate. To use it, open the file in Google Sheets, choose **File > Save as Google Sheets**, and load the resulting Google Sheet.
{% endhint %}

## What’s in this chapter

1. [Drive a graphic with Tables: Row](/play-and-update-graphics/chapter-index-1/drive-a-graphic-with-tables-row.md) — the most common workflow: one record at a time from a spreadsheet, CSV, Google Sheet, XML, or JSON.
2. [Use XML or JSON with Tables](/play-and-update-graphics/chapter-index-1/use-xml-or-json-with-tables.md) — format-specific loading notes and when the legacy controllers still apply.
3. [Tables: Block Controller](/play-and-update-graphics/chapter-index-1/tables-block-controller.md) — several records at once: leaderboards, rosters, schedules.
4. [Crawls Controller](/play-and-update-graphics/chapter-index-1/crawls-controller.md) — tickers and crawls fed from a Tables source.
5. [Leaderboard Controller](/play-and-update-graphics/chapter-index-1/leaderboard-controller.md) — ranked lists fed from a Tables source.

## See also

* [4. Drive a graphic from a spreadsheet or file](/play-and-update-graphics/chapter-index/4-drive-from-spreadsheet.md) — the step-by-step introduction.
* [Legacy data controllers](/play-and-update-graphics/chapter-index-2.md) — the pre-Tables Spreadsheet, JSON, and XML controllers.


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