row_spec() function from kableExtra does not create a horizontal line in html output

Question

I would like to add a horizontal line under one of the rows in my kableextra table. The parameter hline_after for row_spec function is supposed to add the horizontal line under the row:

row_spec documentation

However, this does not happen, the parameter appears to have no effect at all.

Example code:

x <- knitr::kable(head(mtcars), "html")
kableExtra::row_spec(x, 2, hline_after = TRUE)

Does anyone know why this happens and is there another way to add the horizontal line to the table (using the same packages).

Thank you

EDIT As Lyngbakr pointed out, the function works when output is set to LaTeX.

Bennie

It works for me in LaTeX. It doesn't, however, for html. Looking at the code, this isn't surprising since hline_after isn't even passed to row_spec_html, the internal function that actually creates the table in html. It is passed to row_spec_latex, though. – Marplot

You are right, I had a separate issue with my latex output (I never use it otherwise). I checked the source code too now, the parameter is only for latex output, it just does not mention it in the documentation itself. I've edited the question. Thank you – Bennie

If you're not set on kable/kableExtra, you could use xtable. – Marplot

Yes, true. For my current case I don't need it, extra_css was enough. The next time I need to use more advanced formatting, I will look into it. Thanks – Bennie

Answer 1

As Lyngbakr pointed out in the comments, the function does not use the parameter hline_after in case the output is set to html. The parameter is only useful for latex output, it is just not mentioned explicitly in the documentation.

source code

An alternative to using the hline_after parameter is using extra_css:

x <- knitr::kable(head(mtcars), "html")
kableExtra::row_spec(x, 2, extra_css = "border-bottom: 1px solid")

However, in more complicated tables this will mess with other row_spec and column_spec calls that you might be using.

Bennie