The Table Locator detects the start of a table using table header packs or a start-of-table dictionary. Both start-of-table detection methods work in the same way. (The locator excludes all rows that precede the start of the table from the table line items.)

Although it is more difficult to add, the table header pack than a dictionary, yet it yields better results when detecting the start of a table.

If you use both methods to detect the start of a table, the table header pack always gets evaluated first. If a result is detected, the start-of-table dictionary is never evaluated. If the table header pack cannot locate the start of a table, the dictionary is evaluated.

A dictionary provides an alternative solution for detecting the start of a table if the header pack fails for any reason. As a result, you should always use a table header pack and a dictionary, if available, to ensure that the start of a table is detected.