Copying tables from Perplexity AI isn’t always easy. If you’ve tried the usual Ctrl+C & Ctrl+V, you might have noticed formatting issues, missing columns, or broken table structures.
The quickest solution? You can:
- Use built-in copy-paste with manual formatting adjustments.
- Try browser extensions for smoother table extraction.
- Export data to Excel or CSV for better compatibility.
This guide will show you step-by-step methods to copy structured data from Perplexity AI without losing formatting. Let’s get started!
Method 1: Direct Copy-Paste Approach
Step 1: Generate the Table
Ask Perplexity AI to create your table with a clear prompt like “Create a table of [your specific request]”.
Step 2: Select the Table
Click and drag to highlight the entire table, making sure you’ve selected all rows and columns.
Step 3: Copy the Table
Press Ctrl+C (Windows) or Cmd+C (Mac) to copy the selected table.
Step 4: Paste into Your Document
Paste the table (Ctrl+V/Cmd+V) into your destination document – works best with spreadsheet applications like Excel or Google Sheets.
If the formatting breaks:
- In Google Docs: Try “Paste without formatting” (Ctrl+Shift+V). You can even try “Paste from Markdown” by right click on the word canvas.
- In Word: Look for “Keep Table Formatting” paste option
- In Excel: Use “Text to Columns” feature to separate data properly
Method 2: HTML Workaround for Stubborn Tables
When the direct approach fails, try this alternative:
- Copy the table from Perplexity AI
- Paste into a text editor like Notepad
- Save as a .CSV file
- Open the CSV file in Excel
- Use Excel’s “Text to Columns” feature under the Data tab
Method 3: Using Browser Extensions
For frequent table copying, these tools save time:
- Table Capture: Extracts tables from webpages while maintaining structure
- Copytables: Works with Chrome and Firefox for easy table extraction
These extensions automatically preserve formatting and work well with large tables.
Method 4: Screenshots and OCR
When tables aren’t selectable:
- Take a screenshot of the table using Snipping Tool (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+4 (Mac)
- Use OCR (Optical Character Recognition) tools to extract the text:
- Google Drive (has built-in OCR)
- Adobe Acrobat
- Free online OCR services
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Table Loses Formatting
This happens because Perplexity AI generates tables dynamically. Try pasting into Excel first, then moving to your final destination.
Merged Cells Breaking Structure
Check for merged cells that might disrupt alignment. Sometimes manually recreating the table structure works better than direct copying.
Large Tables Not Copying Completely
Use browser extensions like Table Capture for more reliable extraction of large data sets.
Best Practices
- Always verify the copied data matches the original
- For complex tables, consider CSV export method
- Use “Paste Special” options when available
- When working with data-heavy tables, spreadsheet applications handle them better than word processors
With these methods, you’ll save time and frustration when working with Perplexity AI’s tables. The right approach depends on your specific needs and the complexity of your table.
