Redefine \percent unit in siunitx to "percent" in running text only

Question

I need to redefine the \percent unit in siunitx so that it reads "percent" in running text but remains as "%" in tables and equations. I assume there must be an option for this, but I looked into the package documentation and couldn't find any.

Answer 1

I do not know if there is a method to decide if you are in a table or not. What does exist is a way to check if your are in math mode or not; you can do something like this:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{siunitx}

\DeclareSIUnit{\textpercent}{percent}
\newcommand{\autopercent}{\ifmmode\,\si{\percent}\else\si{\textpercent}\fi}

\begin{document}

This is in text: 12~\autopercent; and you have to use \verb|{}| after the 
command as in 5~\autopercent{} if you have a space after. In equation:
\[
A = 14\autopercent
\]

\end{document}