# Show a table, a spec or a comparison

> Have the assistant answer with a table, a spec sheet or a side-by-side comparison through the show tools, and steer when it uses them.

The show tools let the assistant answer with structure instead of prose. `AssistedProvider` lends all three on every page, so there is nothing to install. This page is about getting the answers you want from them.

| Tool              | Shows                                                       | Card                                                  |
| ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| `show_table`      | Records of one kind as rows, their shared fields as columns | [Table card](https://superassist.app/components/cards/table-card.md)           |
| `show_spec`       | One thing's properties as label and value rows              | [Spec card](https://superassist.app/components/cards/spec-card.md)             |
| `show_comparison` | Two or three options side by side, with a recommendation    | [Comparison card](https://superassist.app/components/cards/comparison-card.md) |

A show tool changes nothing on the page. Its call answers `Showed the user a table.`, `a spec sheet.` or `a comparison.`, and the card renders the model's arguments.

## Know when the model reaches for them

The universal instructions tell the model when, in this line:

```txt wrap
Answer with a card when it saves the user typing or reading: show_links when several pages are worth opening, like what to look at next; offer_choices when your question has two to four short answers; and when the user asks to see data laid out, show_table for records of one kind, show_spec for one thing's properties, show_comparison for two or three options side by side. End the turn with at least one sentence, after a card too.
```

So the model shows a card when the user asks to see data laid out, and writes a sentence after it. In the example shop:

| The user asks, on                           | The assistant calls                        |
| ------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| Orders: "List the open orders as a table"   | `get_page_content`, then `show_table`      |
| Settings: "Show the settings as a sheet"    | `get_page_content`, then `show_spec`       |
| Orders: "Compare orders #1042 and #1043"    | `get_page_content`, then `show_comparison` |
| Dashboard: "What needs my attention today?" | `get_page_content`, then `show_table`      |

## Give it the data

The model fills a card from what it has read, so the page has to lend the values. Return them from `content`, with the fields a user would scan:

```tsx
<AssistedPage
  name="Orders"
  instructions="Every order of the shop. Ship an order that is waiting to ship by its id."
  content={() => orders.map(({ id, customer, total, status }) => ({ id, customer, total, status }))}
>
```

The model calls `get_page_content` first and copies ids and values from its answer, as the universal instructions require.

## Steer it from the page

A page's `instructions` win over the universal ones. Say which card fits the page, or that it should answer in prose:

```tsx
<AssistedPage
  name="Orders"
  instructions="Every order of the shop. When the user asks about several orders, show them with show_table: customer, total and status."
  content={() => orders}
>
```

## Change how they look

The cards are the package's. To render a call your own way, pass `cards.table`, `cards.spec` or `cards.comparison` to `AssistedProvider`. See [Swap a card](https://superassist.app/how-to/swap-a-card.md).

The tools' parameters are listed on each card's page and in [Model context](https://superassist.app/reference/model-context.md#built-in-tools).