It seems that xtable doesn't export @rows and @columns This patch to tabl-xtb.mkvi works, not sure if it is a good style. \unexpanded\def\tabl_x_start_cell_construct_yes[#settings]% {\dostarttagged\t!tablecell\empty % can't we just tag the box \setbox\b_tabl_x\hbox\bgroup \setupcurrentxtable[#settings] \letxtableparameter\c!width \d_tabl_x_width % overloads given width \letxtableparameter\c!height\d_tabl_x_height % overloads given height \ctxcommand{x_table_init_construct()}% \inheritedxtableframed\bgroup \tabl_x_begin_of_cell \def\tablecellcolumns{% \ifnum\csname \m_mult_interfaces_namespace nx\endcsname>\csname \m_mult_interfaces_namespace nc\endcsname% \csname \m_mult_interfaces_namespace nx\endcsname% \else \csname \m_mult_interfaces_namespace nc\endcsname% \fi}% \def\tablecellrows{% \ifnum\csname \m_mult_interfaces_namespace ny\endcsname>\csname \m_mult_interfaces_namespace nr\endcsname% \csname \m_mult_interfaces_namespace ny\endcsname% \else \csname \m_mult_interfaces_namespace nr\endcsname% \fi} \dotagxtablecell} -- luigi