Parse OneNote Tables in Python

Microsoft OneNote lets users embed structured tables directly in pages, perfect for task lists, schedules, comparison matrices, and data collection forms. Aspose.Note FOSS for Python makes it possible to extract all of this tabular data programmatically, with no Microsoft Office installation required.

Install

pip install aspose-note

Load the Document and Find Tables

GetChildNodes(Table) performs a recursive search across the entire document and returns every table as a Table object:

from aspose.note import Document, Table

doc = Document("MyNotes.one")
tables = doc.GetChildNodes(Table)
print(f"Found {len(tables)} table(s)")

Read Cell Values

Tables follow a three-level hierarchy: Table → TableRow → TableCell. Each cell contains RichText nodes whose .Text gives the plain-text content:

from aspose.note import Document, Table, TableRow, TableCell, RichText

doc = Document("MyNotes.one")

for t_num, table in enumerate(doc.GetChildNodes(Table), start=1):
    print(f"\nTable {t_num}:")
    for r_num, row in enumerate(table.GetChildNodes(TableRow), start=1):
        cells = row.GetChildNodes(TableCell)
        row_values = [
            " ".join(rt.Text for rt in cell.GetChildNodes(RichText)).strip()
            for cell in cells
        ]
        print(f"  Row {r_num}: {row_values}")

Inspect Column Widths

Table.ColumnWidths returns the stored width of each column in points:

from aspose.note import Document, Table

doc = Document("MyNotes.one")
for i, table in enumerate(doc.GetChildNodes(Table), start=1):
    print(f"Table {i}: {len(table.ColumnWidths)} column(s)")
    print(f"  Widths (pts): {table.ColumnWidths}")
    print(f"  Borders visible: {table.BordersVisible}")

Export All Tables to CSV

Convert every table in the document to CSV format:

import csv, io
from aspose.note import Document, Table, TableRow, TableCell, RichText

doc = Document("MyNotes.one")
output = io.StringIO()
writer = csv.writer(output)

for table in doc.GetChildNodes(Table):
    for row in table.GetChildNodes(TableRow):
        values = [
            " ".join(rt.Text for rt in cell.GetChildNodes(RichText)).strip()
            for cell in row.GetChildNodes(TableCell)
        ]
        writer.writerow(values)
    writer.writerow([])   # blank row between tables

with open("tables.csv", "w", encoding="utf-8", newline="") as f:
    f.write(output.getvalue())

print("Saved tables.csv")

Export Tables to a Python Dict / JSON

import json
from aspose.note import Document, Table, TableRow, TableCell, RichText

doc = Document("MyNotes.one")
result = []

for table in doc.GetChildNodes(Table):
    rows = []
    for row in table.GetChildNodes(TableRow):
        cells = [
            " ".join(rt.Text for rt in cell.GetChildNodes(RichText)).strip()
            for cell in row.GetChildNodes(TableCell)
        ]
        rows.append(cells)
    result.append({"rows": rows, "column_widths": table.ColumnWidths})

print(json.dumps(result, indent=2))

Use the First Row as Headers

from aspose.note import Document, Table, TableRow, TableCell, RichText

doc = Document("MyNotes.one")

for table in doc.GetChildNodes(Table):
    rows = table.GetChildNodes(TableRow)
    if not rows:
        continue

    def row_text(row):
        return [
            " ".join(rt.Text for rt in cell.GetChildNodes(RichText)).strip()
            for cell in row.GetChildNodes(TableCell)
        ]

    headers = row_text(rows[0])
    print("Headers:", headers)
    for row in rows[1:]:
        record = dict(zip(headers, row_text(row)))
        print("  Record:", record)

What the Library Supports for Tables

Feature	Supported
`Table.ColumnWidths`	Yes: column widths in points
`Table.BordersVisible`	Yes
`Table.Tags`	Yes: OneNote tags on tables
Cell text via `RichText`	Yes
Cell images via `Image`	Yes
Merged cells (rowspan/colspan metadata)	Not exposed in public API
Write/edit tables and save to `.one`	No