Shiny - Package array Error: Illegal pream-token-

Question

I have the following table that is compiling when I use TeXnicCentre (running on MiKTeX):

\begin{table}[H]
\begin{center}
\begin{tabular}{\textwidth}
\Large{\textcolor{Gray}{DATE:}}& \\
\Large{\textcolor{Gray}{COUNTRIES:}}& \\
\Large{\textcolor{Gray}{DEVICES:}}& \\
\Large{\textcolor{Gray}{CHANNELS:}}& \\
\end{tabular}
\end{center}
\end{table}

However, I am trying to create reporting tool that compiles the PDF using Shiny R and I end up with the following error:

Running 'texi2dvi' on 'pdf_shell.tex' failed.
LaTeX errors:
! Package array Error:  Illegal pream-token (\textwidth): `c' used.

See the array package documentation for explanation.
Type  H <return>  for immediate help.
 ...                                              
! Extra alignment tab has been changed to \cr.
<recently read> \endtemplate 

l.136 \Large{\textcolor{Gray}{DATE:}}&
                                       \\
! Extra alignment tab has been changed to \cr.
<recently read> \endtemplate 

l.138 \Large{\textcolor{Gray}{COUNTRIES:}}&
                                            \\
! Extra alignment tab has been changed to \cr.
<recently read> \endtemplate 

l.140 \Large{\textcolor{Gray}{DEVICES:}}&
                                          \\
! Extra alignment tab has been changed to \cr.
<recently read> \endtemplate 

l.142 \Large{\textcolor{Gray}{CHANNELS:}}&
                                           \\

As far as I am concerned it might be related to the fact that I am using TeXnicCentre and shiny.io is running texlive-xetex and texlive-latex-recommended version 2009-15 for Ubuntu 12.04.

Does anyone have an idea how I could make my simple table work within the Shiny R, so it would be possible to create it on their TeX Live version?

Maybe I am wrong and something else is causing the problem.

Answer 1

The syntax for tabular is

\begin{tabular}[<pos>]{<col spec>}
  <tabular body>
\end{tabular}

where [<pos>] (optional) denotes a vertical alignment position or anchor. Options are [t]op, [c]entre (default) or [b]ottom. <col spec> (mandatory) defines a specification of the columns.

Your usage

\begin{tabular}{<width>}
  <tabular body>
\end{tabular}

uses <width> instead of <col spec> results in the error as LaTeX expects something like l, c, r or |.

It seems like you're using a two-column tabular, so you're probably after

\begin{tabular}{ l l }
  <tabular body>
\end{tabular}

---

The syntax for tabular* is similar, but includes a width specification:

\begin{tabular*}{<width>}[<pos>]{<col spec>}
  <tabular body>
\end{tabular*}