fix(pdf-inspector): recover borderless region tables

* emit ItemType::Image bboxes for Image XObjects (was: silently dropped)

Background. ItemType::Image, MarkdownOptions::include_images, and the
markdown emitter's image-collection path have all been in the tree
for a while, but no producer ever populated them — content_stream.rs
explicitly `// Skip images — text extraction only` at the Do
operator, and the nested Form-XObject walker in xobjects.rs only
matched XObjectType::Form, silently dropping Image entries. The
declared types were dead code.

This PR lights them up. At every Do that resolves to an Image
XObject (both top-level and nested inside Form XObjects), we now
compute the page-space bbox from the current CTM via a new
`image_bbox_from_ctm` helper — handling both axis-aligned and
rotated/sheared placements via 4-corner AABB — and emit a TextItem
with `item_type: ItemType::Image` and the legacy `[Image: <name>]`
text payload that the markdown emitter already knows how to render.

Callers can now find raster figures via `extract_text_with_positions`
(and the `_mem` variant, newly re-exported at the crate root) without
needing to re-parse the PDF or run a vision/layout model. The intended
consumer is layout-aware text pipelines that want to crop figures and
caption them out-of-band.

Two backstops to avoid silent breakage for existing callers:

  1. `MarkdownOptions::include_images` default flipped `true → false`.
     If it stayed at `true`, every existing user of
     `extract_pages_markdown` would suddenly see `![Image: Im0](image)`
     placeholders inserted throughout their output the moment they
     upgraded. Image data is still available structurally via
     `extract_text_with_positions`; rendering it into markdown is now
     an opt-in. New regression test asserts `extract_pages_markdown`
     output is unchanged for the image-bearing fixture.

  2. Image items now also skip the layout heuristics
     (`detect_columns`, `detect_tables_from_rects`) via a new
     `is_text_layout_item` predicate. Without this filter, an image's
     left edge would land in the column-projection profile and skew
     table column detection — surfaced by
     `vector_grid_tests::upstage_key_functions_four_cols` going from 4
     detected columns to 5 in CI before the filter was added.

Re-exporting `extract_text_with_positions_mem` at the crate root —
strictly additive; mirrors how `extract_pages_markdown_mem` is already
available there.

Tests:

  - test_extract_text_with_positions_emits_image_bboxes — minimal PDF
    with one 200×100 image at (50, 600); asserts one Image item with
    correct bbox + page + text.
  - test_image_xobject_bbox_handles_rotated_ctm — 90° rotated image
    via shear-component CTM; asserts AABB is correct (handles non-
    axis-aligned placements via 4-corner clamp).
  - test_image_emission_does_not_change_default_markdown — asserts no
    `Image:` token leaks into default markdown output, regression
    guard for the include_images flip.
  - test_markdown_options_default_has_include_images_false — explicit
    sentinel so anyone flipping it back catches it in CI.

* Bump version from 1.8.15 to 1.9.0

.github/workflows/ci.yml

@@ -20,17 +20,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
 
       - name: Cache cargo
-        uses: actions/cache@v4
-        with:
-          path: |
-            ~/.cargo/bin/
-            ~/.cargo/registry/index/
-            ~/.cargo/registry/cache/
-            ~/.cargo/git/db/
-            target/
-          key: ${{ runner.os }}-cargo-${{ hashFiles('**/Cargo.lock') }}
-          restore-keys: |
-            ${{ runner.os }}-cargo-
+        uses: Swatinem/rust-cache@v2
 
       - name: Run tests
         run: cargo test --verbose
@@ -61,17 +51,9 @@ jobs:
           components: clippy
 
       - name: Cache cargo
-        uses: actions/cache@v4
+        uses: Swatinem/rust-cache@v2
         with:
-          path: |
-            ~/.cargo/bin/
-            ~/.cargo/registry/index/
-            ~/.cargo/registry/cache/
-            ~/.cargo/git/db/
-            target/
-          key: ${{ runner.os }}-cargo-clippy-${{ hashFiles('**/Cargo.lock') }}
-          restore-keys: |
-            ${{ runner.os }}-cargo-clippy-
+          key: clippy
 
       - name: Run clippy
         run: cargo clippy -- -D warnings
@@ -89,17 +71,9 @@ jobs:
         uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
 
       - name: Cache cargo
-        uses: actions/cache@v4
+        uses: Swatinem/rust-cache@v2
         with:
-          path: |
-            ~/.cargo/bin/
-            ~/.cargo/registry/index/
-            ~/.cargo/registry/cache/
-            ~/.cargo/git/db/
-            target/
-          key: ${{ runner.os }}-cargo-build-${{ hashFiles('**/Cargo.lock') }}
-          restore-keys: |
-            ${{ runner.os }}-cargo-build-
+          key: build
 
       - name: Build
         run: cargo build --release --verbose

SECURITY.md

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+# Security Policy
+
+## Reporting a Vulnerability
+
+If you believe you've found a security vulnerability in pdf-inspector, please
+report it privately so we can fix it before public disclosure.
+
+**Preferred:** Email **help@firecrawl.dev** with:
+
+- A description of the issue and its impact
+- Steps to reproduce (a minimal PDF or input that triggers the bug is ideal)
+- The version or commit hash of pdf-inspector you tested against
+
+**Alternative:** Use GitHub's private vulnerability reporting under the
+[Security tab](https://github.com/firecrawl/pdf-inspector/security/advisories/new).
+
+We'll acknowledge your report in a timely manner and keep you updated on
+remediation progress. Please do not open a public GitHub issue for security
+bugs.
+
+## Scope
+
+In scope:
+- Memory-safety issues (panics, OOB reads, UB) reachable from a crafted PDF
+- Denial-of-service vectors (unbounded allocation, infinite loops) on
+  reasonably-sized inputs
+- Bugs in the `pdf2md` / `detect-pdf` binaries or the `pdf-inspector` crate
+  that affect downstream consumers
+
+Out of scope:
+- Bugs in upstream dependencies (`lopdf`, etc.) — please report those upstream
+- Extraction quality issues (wrong text, missing tables) — open a regular
+  GitHub issue instead

napi/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@firecrawl/pdf-inspector",
-  "version": "1.8.5",
+  "version": "1.9.2",
   "description": "Fast PDF classification and text extraction. Detect text-based vs scanned PDFs, extract text by region with quality checks. Native Rust performance via napi-rs.",
   "main": "index.js",
   "types": "index.d.ts",

napi/probe-indent.mjs

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+import { readFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import { createRequire } from "node:module";
+
+const require = createRequire(import.meta.url);
+const { detectVectorGridInRegion } = require("./index.js");
+
+const pdfPath =
+  process.argv[2] ?? "/tmp/pdf_inspector_indent_fixtures/cis_edge_benchmark.pdf";
+const pdf = readFileSync(pdfPath);
+const dpi = Number(process.argv[3] ?? 200);
+
+const crops = [
+  { pageIdx: 29, box: [0, 0, 612, 792], label: "page30-full" },
+  { pageIdx: 16, box: [0, 0, 612, 792], label: "page17-full" },
+  { pageIdx: 23, box: [0, 0, 612, 792], label: "page24-full" },
+];
+
+for (const { pageIdx, box, label } of crops) {
+  const result = detectVectorGridInRegion(pdf, pageIdx, box, dpi);
+  if (!result) {
+    console.log(`${label}: null`);
+    continue;
+  }
+  const rows = result.structureTokens.filter((token) => token === "<tr>").length;
+  const cols = rows > 0 ? result.cellBboxes.length / rows : 0;
+  console.log(
+    `${label}: cells=${result.cellBboxes.length} rows=${rows} cols=${cols}`,
+  );
+}

src/extractor/content_stream.rs

@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ use super::fonts::{
     get_font_file2_obj_num, get_operand_bytes, CMapDecisionCache,
 };
 use super::xobjects::{extract_form_xobject_text, get_page_xobjects, XObjectType};
-use super::{get_number, multiply_matrices};
+use super::{get_number, image_bbox_from_ctm, multiply_matrices};
 
 /// Strip PDF comments (% to end of line) from content stream bytes.
 ///
@@ -664,7 +664,29 @@ pub(crate) fn extract_page_text_items(
                         if let Some(xobj_type) = xobjects.get(&xobj_name) {
                             match xobj_type {
                                 XObjectType::Image => {
-                                    // Skip images — text extraction only
+                                    // Emit a positional placeholder for the image
+                                    // so downstream consumers (layout-aware
+                                    // pipelines, figure-OCR routers) can locate
+                                    // raster figures without parsing the PDF
+                                    // again. The text field carries the
+                                    // XObject resource name in the legacy
+                                    // `[Image: Im0]` format that the markdown
+                                    // emitter already recognizes.
+                                    let (x, y, width, height) = image_bbox_from_ctm(&ctm);
+                                    items.push(TextItem {
+                                        text: format!("[Image: {}]", xobj_name),
+                                        x,
+                                        y,
+                                        width,
+                                        height,
+                                        font: String::new(),
+                                        font_size: 0.0,
+                                        page: page_num,
+                                        is_bold: false,
+                                        is_italic: false,
+                                        item_type: ItemType::Image,
+                                        mcid: current_mcid(&marked_content_stack),
+                                    });
                                 }
                                 XObjectType::Form(form_id) => {
                                     // Extract text from Form XObject

src/extractor/layout.rs

@@ -29,8 +29,12 @@ pub(crate) fn detect_columns(
     const MIN_ITEMS_PER_COLUMN: usize = 10;
     const NOISE_FRACTION: f32 = 0.15;
 
-    // Get items for this page
-    let page_items: Vec<&TextItem> = items.iter().filter(|i| i.page == page).collect();
+    // Get items for this page. Strip Image placeholders — an image's left edge
+    // would otherwise count toward the column projection profile.
+    let page_items: Vec<&TextItem> = items
+        .iter()
+        .filter(|i| i.page == page && crate::extractor::is_text_layout_item(i))
+        .collect();
 
     if page_items.is_empty() {
         return vec![];

src/extractor/mod.rs

@@ -227,6 +227,69 @@ fn extract_positioned_text_impl(
 // Shared helpers (used by submodules via `super::`)
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+/// Return true when this item should participate in text-layout
+/// heuristics (column detection, table grid detection, line grouping).
+///
+/// Image XObjects emit a positional placeholder via
+/// `extract_text_with_positions` (so layout-aware callers can crop +
+/// caption figures), but their bboxes don't carry text glyphs and would
+/// skew column/row clustering if they reached the heuristics. Hyperlinks
+/// and form fields *do* participate — the existing logic treats them as
+/// text-like and we keep that.
+pub(crate) fn is_text_layout_item(item: &crate::types::TextItem) -> bool {
+    !matches!(item.item_type, crate::types::ItemType::Image)
+}
+
+/// Map a (u, v) point in unit-square coordinates through the 6-element CTM
+/// to page-space. CTM format is `[a, b, c, d, e, f]` per
+/// [`multiply_matrices`].
+fn apply_ctm_point(ctm: &[f32; 6], u: f32, v: f32) -> (f32, f32) {
+    (
+        u * ctm[0] + v * ctm[2] + ctm[4],
+        u * ctm[1] + v * ctm[3] + ctm[5],
+    )
+}
+
+/// Compute the page-space axis-aligned bounding box of an Image XObject
+/// invoked under the given CTM.
+///
+/// Per the PDF spec, an image XObject is always rendered into a unit
+/// square `(0,0)–(1,1)` in its local coordinate system, and the `Do`
+/// operator applies the current CTM to position/scale/rotate that square
+/// onto the page. For the common axis-aligned case (no rotation/shear),
+/// the CTM reduces to `[w, 0, 0, h, x, y]` and the bbox is just
+/// `(x, y, w, h)`. For rotated/sheared images we transform all four
+/// corners and return their axis-aligned bbox so the caller always gets
+/// an upright rectangle.
+///
+/// Coordinates are PDF user space (origin at bottom-left, y-up). Width
+/// and height are non-negative.
+pub(crate) fn image_bbox_from_ctm(ctm: &[f32; 6]) -> (f32, f32, f32, f32) {
+    let corners = [
+        apply_ctm_point(ctm, 0.0, 0.0),
+        apply_ctm_point(ctm, 1.0, 0.0),
+        apply_ctm_point(ctm, 1.0, 1.0),
+        apply_ctm_point(ctm, 0.0, 1.0),
+    ];
+    let (mut x_min, mut x_max) = (corners[0].0, corners[0].0);
+    let (mut y_min, mut y_max) = (corners[0].1, corners[0].1);
+    for (cx, cy) in corners.iter().skip(1) {
+        if *cx < x_min {
+            x_min = *cx;
+        }
+        if *cx > x_max {
+            x_max = *cx;
+        }
+        if *cy < y_min {
+            y_min = *cy;
+        }
+        if *cy > y_max {
+            y_max = *cy;
+        }
+    }
+    (x_min, y_min, x_max - x_min, y_max - y_min)
+}
+
 /// Multiply two 2D transformation matrices
 /// Matrix format: [a, b, c, d, e, f] representing:
 /// | a  b  0 |

src/extractor/xobjects.rs

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ use super::fonts::{
     build_font_encodings, build_font_widths, compute_string_width_ts, extract_text_from_operand,
     get_font_file2_obj_num, get_operand_bytes, CMapDecisionCache,
 };
-use super::{get_number, multiply_matrices};
+use super::{get_number, image_bbox_from_ctm, multiply_matrices};
 
 const MAX_FORM_XOBJECT_DEPTH: u8 = 5;
 
@@ -262,19 +262,43 @@ fn extract_form_xobject_text_inner(
                 if !op.operands.is_empty() {
                     if let Ok(name) = op.operands[0].as_name() {
                         let xobj_name = String::from_utf8_lossy(name).to_string();
-                        if let Some(XObjectType::Form(nested_id)) = form_xobjects.get(&xobj_name) {
-                            if depth < MAX_FORM_XOBJECT_DEPTH {
-                                let nested_items = extract_form_xobject_text_inner(
-                                    doc,
-                                    *nested_id,
-                                    page_num,
-                                    font_cmaps,
-                                    &ctm,
-                                    cmap_decisions,
-                                    depth + 1,
-                                );
-                                items.extend(nested_items);
+                        match form_xobjects.get(&xobj_name) {
+                            Some(XObjectType::Form(nested_id)) => {
+                                if depth < MAX_FORM_XOBJECT_DEPTH {
+                                    let nested_items = extract_form_xobject_text_inner(
+                                        doc,
+                                        *nested_id,
+                                        page_num,
+                                        font_cmaps,
+                                        &ctm,
+                                        cmap_decisions,
+                                        depth + 1,
+                                    );
+                                    items.extend(nested_items);
+                                }
                             }
+                            Some(XObjectType::Image) => {
+                                // Mirror the top-level Image-XObject emission
+                                // in content_stream.rs so figures embedded
+                                // inside Form XObjects (common in print-to-PDF
+                                // workflows) aren't silently dropped.
+                                let (x, y, width, height) = image_bbox_from_ctm(&ctm);
+                                items.push(TextItem {
+                                    text: format!("[Image: {}]", xobj_name),
+                                    x,
+                                    y,
+                                    width,
+                                    height,
+                                    font: String::new(),
+                                    font_size: 0.0,
+                                    page: page_num,
+                                    is_bold: false,
+                                    is_italic: false,
+                                    item_type: ItemType::Image,
+                                    mcid: None,
+                                });
+                            }
+                            None => {}
                         }
                     }
                 }

src/markdown/mod.rs

@@ -422,7 +422,16 @@ impl Default for MarkdownOptions {
             fix_hyphenation: true,
             detect_bold: true,
             detect_italic: true,
-            include_images: true,
+            // `include_images: false` is intentional. The content-stream walker
+            // now emits `ItemType::Image` `TextItem`s for every Image XObject
+            // it encounters (see `extractor/content_stream.rs`). If we rendered
+            // those into markdown by default, every existing caller would
+            // suddenly see `![Image: Im0](image)` placeholders inserted
+            // throughout their output — a silent regression for anyone who
+            // upgrades. Image bboxes are still available via
+            // `extract_text_with_positions` for callers (e.g. layout-aware
+            // pipelines) that want to crop + caption figures themselves.
+            include_images: false,
             include_links: true,
             include_page_numbers: false,
             strip_headers_footers: true,

src/tables/detect_lines.rs

@@ -4,11 +4,74 @@
 //! gridlines.  Many IRS forms and government PDFs use these instead of
 //! `re` (rectangle) operators.
 
+use std::collections::HashSet;
+
 use crate::tables::Table;
 use crate::types::{PdfLine, TextItem};
 
 use super::detect_rects::{assign_items_to_grid, snap_edges};
 
+/// Derive column edges from the x-endpoints of horizontal-rule
+/// segments when no vertical lines were drawn.
+///
+/// Catalog and archival-finding-aid tables are commonly drawn with
+/// per-row horizontal rules broken into N segments (one segment per
+/// cell), with no vertical dividers at all. The segment break points
+/// (e.g. `[50, 127], [127, 485], [485, 562]` per row) implicitly
+/// encode the column boundaries.
+///
+/// Returns column edges if ≥3 distinct x-positions each show up as a
+/// segment endpoint on ≥50% of the unique horizontal-line rows.
+/// Returns `None` otherwise — decorative rules with varying widths
+/// shouldn't be mistaken for a table.
+fn derive_columns_from_horizontal_segments(horizontals: &[(f32, f32, f32)]) -> Option<Vec<f32>> {
+    if horizontals.len() < 3 {
+        return None;
+    }
+
+    let mut endpoints: Vec<f32> = Vec::with_capacity(horizontals.len() * 2);
+    for &(_, x_min, x_max) in horizontals {
+        endpoints.push(x_min);
+        endpoints.push(x_max);
+    }
+    let clusters = snap_edges(&endpoints, 5.0);
+    if clusters.len() < 3 {
+        return None;
+    }
+
+    // Bucket y-values to count unique rows. Tolerance ~0.1pt (×10
+    // rounding) tolerates the snap_edges 3pt clustering used later
+    // for row edges.
+    let unique_rows: HashSet<i32> = horizontals
+        .iter()
+        .map(|&(y, _, _)| (y * 10.0).round() as i32)
+        .collect();
+    if unique_rows.len() < 2 {
+        return None;
+    }
+    let min_rows = (unique_rows.len() as f32 * 0.5).ceil() as usize;
+
+    let qualifying: Vec<f32> = clusters
+        .iter()
+        .copied()
+        .filter(|&cluster_x| {
+            let rows_touched: HashSet<i32> = horizontals
+                .iter()
+                .filter(|&&(_, x_min, x_max)| {
+                    (x_min - cluster_x).abs() < 5.0 || (x_max - cluster_x).abs() < 5.0
+                })
+                .map(|&(y, _, _)| (y * 10.0).round() as i32)
+                .collect();
+            rows_touched.len() >= min_rows
+        })
+        .collect();
+
+    if qualifying.len() < 3 {
+        return None;
+    }
+    Some(qualifying)
+}
+
 /// Detect tables from line segments on a given page.
 ///
 /// Lines are classified as horizontal or vertical, snapped into grid edges,
@@ -52,25 +115,50 @@ pub fn detect_tables_from_lines(items: &[TextItem], lines: &[PdfLine], page: u32
         // Diagonal lines are ignored
     }
 
-    if horizontals.len() < 3 || verticals.len() < 2 {
+    if horizontals.len() < 3 {
         return Vec::new();
     }
 
+    // If no/very-few vertical lines are drawn, try to derive column edges
+    // from the x-endpoints of the horizontal-rule segments. Catalog and
+    // archival-finding-aid layouts commonly draw each row's horizontal
+    // rule as N segments (one per cell), with no vertical dividers at
+    // all — the segment break points encode the column boundaries.
+    let implicit_col_edges: Option<Vec<f32>> = if verticals.len() < 2 {
+        derive_columns_from_horizontal_segments(&horizontals)
+    } else {
+        None
+    };
+    if verticals.len() < 2 && implicit_col_edges.is_none() {
+        return Vec::new();
+    }
+    let cols_from_segments = implicit_col_edges.is_some();
+
     log::debug!(
-        "detect_lines p{}: {} horiz, {} vert lines (of {} total on page)",
+        "detect_lines p{}: {} horiz, {} vert lines (of {} total on page){}",
         page,
         horizontals.len(),
         verticals.len(),
-        page_lines.len()
+        page_lines.len(),
+        if cols_from_segments {
+            " — columns from horizontal segments"
+        } else {
+            ""
+        }
     );
 
     // Snap Y-values of horizontal lines → row edges
     let h_ys: Vec<f32> = horizontals.iter().map(|(y, _, _)| *y).collect();
     let row_edges = snap_edges(&h_ys, 3.0);
 
-    // Snap X-values of vertical lines → column edges
-    let v_xs: Vec<f32> = verticals.iter().map(|(x, _, _)| *x).collect();
-    let col_edges = snap_edges(&v_xs, 3.0);
+    // Column edges from drawn verticals when present, else from the
+    // horizontal-segment endpoints derived above.
+    let col_edges = if let Some(c) = implicit_col_edges {
+        c
+    } else {
+        let v_xs: Vec<f32> = verticals.iter().map(|(x, _, _)| *x).collect();
+        snap_edges(&v_xs, 3.0)
+    };
 
     log::debug!(
         "detect_lines p{}: {} row edges, {} col edges after snap",
@@ -110,15 +198,21 @@ pub fn detect_tables_from_lines(items: &[TextItem], lines: &[PdfLine], page: u32
         return Vec::new();
     }
 
-    // Reject page-spanning frames: if the grid covers >90% of a standard page
-    // dimension in both axes, it's a border frame, not a table.
+    // Reject page-spanning frames: a decorative outer border has just 4
+    // edges (top/bottom/left/right). Real full-page tables — common in
+    // governmental ledgers, financial reports, etc. — span the same A4 /
+    // Letter dimensions but have many internal row/column rules. Only
+    // reject when the line set looks like a bare frame, not a grid.
     // Standard pages are ~595×842 (A4) or ~612×792 (Letter).
-    if table_width > 500.0 && table_height > 700.0 {
+    if table_width > 500.0 && table_height > 700.0 && horizontals.len() <= 4 && verticals.len() <= 4
+    {
         log::debug!(
-            "detect_lines p{}: rejected — page-spanning frame ({:.0}×{:.0})",
+            "detect_lines p{}: rejected — page-spanning frame ({:.0}×{:.0}, {} h + {} v)",
             page,
             table_width,
-            table_height
+            table_height,
+            horizontals.len(),
+            verticals.len()
         );
         return Vec::new();
     }
@@ -146,24 +240,33 @@ pub fn detect_tables_from_lines(items: &[TextItem], lines: &[PdfLine], page: u32
 
     // Validate vertical lines: at least 2 should span a meaningful height.
     // Full spanning (>30%) is ideal, but accept many shorter lines (>10%)
-    // for tables with partial column separators.
-    let spanning_v = verticals
-        .iter()
-        .filter(|(_, y_min, y_max)| (y_max - y_min) > table_height * 0.3)
-        .count();
-    let partial_v = verticals
-        .iter()
-        .filter(|(_, y_min, y_max)| (y_max - y_min) > table_height * 0.10)
-        .count();
-    if spanning_v < 2 && partial_v < 4 {
-        log::debug!(
-            "detect_lines p{}: rejected — {} spanning + {} partial V lines",
-            page,
-            spanning_v,
-            partial_v
-        );
-        return Vec::new();
-    }
+    // for tables with partial column separators. Skipped entirely when
+    // columns came from horizontal-segment endpoints — there are no
+    // vertical lines to validate against, and the segment-endpoint
+    // consistency check in `derive_columns_from_horizontal_segments`
+    // is the equivalent guard.
+    let spanning_v = if cols_from_segments {
+        0
+    } else {
+        let s = verticals
+            .iter()
+            .filter(|(_, y_min, y_max)| (y_max - y_min) > table_height * 0.3)
+            .count();
+        let p = verticals
+            .iter()
+            .filter(|(_, y_min, y_max)| (y_max - y_min) > table_height * 0.10)
+            .count();
+        if s < 2 && p < 4 {
+            log::debug!(
+                "detect_lines p{}: rejected — {} spanning + {} partial V lines",
+                page,
+                s,
+                p
+            );
+            return Vec::new();
+        }
+        s
+    };
 
     // Row edges need to be in descending order (top of page = higher Y first)
     let mut row_edges_desc = row_edges;
@@ -410,6 +513,135 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(tables.is_empty());
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn test_horizontal_segments_only_implicit_columns_accepted() {
+        // Catalog/finding-aid pattern: each row's horizontal rule is
+        // drawn as 3 segments at consistent x-endpoints (50, 127, 485,
+        // 562), with no vertical lines anywhere. The segment break
+        // points must be inferred as column edges.
+        let mut lines = Vec::new();
+        // Slightly uneven row spacing so the chart-gridline rejector
+        // (CV < 0.02) doesn't fire.
+        let row_ys = [80.0_f32, 145.0, 215.0, 280.0, 350.0, 415.0, 485.0];
+        for &y in &row_ys {
+            lines.push(make_hline(y, 50.0, 127.0, 1));
+            lines.push(make_hline(y, 127.0, 485.0, 1));
+            lines.push(make_hline(y, 485.0, 562.0, 1));
+        }
+        // Populate every cell so capture / density checks pass.
+        let mut items = Vec::new();
+        for w in row_ys.windows(2) {
+            let row_y = (w[0] + w[1]) / 2.0;
+            items.push(make_item("id", 80.0, row_y, 1));
+            items.push(make_item("description here", 200.0, row_y, 1));
+            items.push(make_item("date", 510.0, row_y, 1));
+        }
+        let tables = detect_tables_from_lines(&items, &lines, 1);
+        assert_eq!(
+            tables.len(),
+            1,
+            "horizontal-segment-only grid should be accepted"
+        );
+        let t = &tables[0];
+        assert!(
+            t.cells.len() >= 4,
+            "expected ≥4 rows, got {}",
+            t.cells.len()
+        );
+        assert_eq!(t.cells[0].len(), 3, "expected 3 columns");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_horizontal_segments_with_inconsistent_endpoints_rejected() {
+        // Decorative rules of varying widths shouldn't be detected as a
+        // table — each line has its own x-endpoints, no consistent
+        // column boundary survives the 50%-of-rows threshold.
+        let lines = vec![
+            make_hline(100.0, 50.0, 150.0, 1),
+            make_hline(200.0, 50.0, 220.0, 1),
+            make_hline(300.0, 50.0, 310.0, 1),
+            make_hline(400.0, 50.0, 470.0, 1),
+        ];
+        let items = vec![
+            make_item("decorative", 100.0, 150.0, 1),
+            make_item("text", 100.0, 250.0, 1),
+        ];
+        let tables = detect_tables_from_lines(&items, &lines, 1);
+        assert!(
+            tables.is_empty(),
+            "varying-width decorative rules should not be detected"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_page_spanning_bare_frame_rejected() {
+        // Just an outer A4-sized rectangle: 2 horizontals + 2 verticals.
+        // No internal structure → decorative border, not a table.
+        let lines = vec![
+            make_hline(20.0, 20.0, 575.0, 1),  // top
+            make_hline(820.0, 20.0, 575.0, 1), // bottom
+            make_vline(20.0, 20.0, 820.0, 1),  // left
+            make_vline(575.0, 20.0, 820.0, 1), // right
+        ];
+        let items = vec![
+            make_item("title", 100.0, 100.0, 1),
+            make_item("body", 100.0, 200.0, 1),
+        ];
+        let tables = detect_tables_from_lines(&items, &lines, 1);
+        assert!(
+            tables.is_empty(),
+            "Page-sized 4-edge frame should be rejected as decoration"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_page_spanning_grid_with_internal_lines_accepted() {
+        // Full-page table (governmental-ledger pattern): A4-sized grid
+        // that previously hit the "page-spanning frame" early reject
+        // before downstream validation could even look at it.
+        // Verticals span the full table height so we isolate the
+        // frame-vs-grid decision under test.
+        let mut lines = Vec::new();
+        // 13 horizontal rules: header + 12 row separators
+        let h_ys = [
+            22.5, 37.9, 95.5, 144.5, 184.9, 233.9, 291.7, 340.7, 415.8, 499.6, 574.7, 623.7, 698.8,
+        ];
+        for &y in &h_ys {
+            lines.push(make_hline(y, 22.6, 566.6, 1));
+        }
+        // 7 column dividers spanning full table height.
+        let v_xs = [22.6, 66.3, 116.3, 186.6, 263.1, 493.5, 566.5];
+        for &x in &v_xs {
+            lines.push(make_vline(x, 22.5, 698.8, 1));
+        }
+        // Populate every cell so the capture-ratio + density checks pass.
+        let mut items = Vec::new();
+        for r in 0..(h_ys.len() - 1) {
+            let row_y = (h_ys[r] + h_ys[r + 1]) / 2.0;
+            for c in 0..(v_xs.len() - 1) {
+                let col_x = (v_xs[c] + v_xs[c + 1]) / 2.0;
+                items.push(make_item("x", col_x, row_y, 1));
+            }
+        }
+        let tables = detect_tables_from_lines(&items, &lines, 1);
+        assert_eq!(
+            tables.len(),
+            1,
+            "Full-page table with internal grid should be accepted"
+        );
+        let t = &tables[0];
+        assert!(
+            t.cells.len() >= 6,
+            "expected ≥6 rows, got {}",
+            t.cells.len()
+        );
+        assert!(
+            t.cells[0].len() >= 3,
+            "expected ≥3 columns, got {}",
+            t.cells[0].len()
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn test_single_column_rejected() {
         // Only 2 col edges (1 column) — not a table even with verticals

src/tables/detect_rects.rs

@@ -231,6 +231,15 @@ pub fn detect_tables_from_rects(
     rects: &[PdfRect],
     page: u32,
 ) -> (Vec<Table>, Vec<RectHintRegion>) {
+    // Strip Image placeholders before column/row clustering — an image's bbox
+    // would otherwise show up as a spurious column edge. See `is_text_layout_item`.
+    let items_owned: Vec<TextItem> = items
+        .iter()
+        .filter(|i| crate::extractor::is_text_layout_item(i))
+        .cloned()
+        .collect();
+    let items = items_owned.as_slice();
+
     // Filter rects on this page; normalize negative widths/heights; skip tiny rects.
     let mut page_rects: Vec<(f32, f32, f32, f32)> = Vec::new(); // (x, y, w, h) normalized
     for r in rects {
@@ -1394,13 +1403,15 @@ fn detect_row_stripe_table(
         .max()
         .unwrap_or(0);
     // Allow longer cells for multi-column tables (descriptions in one column
-    // are common).  Single-column or 2-column "tables" with giant cells are
-    // almost always layout backgrounds.
+    // are common). Narrow grids with giant cells are usually layout
+    // backgrounds — but only when the row count is also small. A 4+-row
+    // key/value table with one descriptive column reads as a real table
+    // on every other gate, so don't reject it on cell length alone.
     let max_allowed = if num_cols >= 3 { 2000 } else { 500 };
-    if max_cell_len > max_allowed {
+    if max_cell_len > max_allowed && non_empty_rows < 4 {
         debug!(
-            "  row-stripe rejected: max cell length {} > {} (layout background)",
-            max_cell_len, max_allowed
+            "  row-stripe rejected: max cell length {} > {} (layout background, {} rows)",
+            max_cell_len, max_allowed, non_empty_rows
         );
         return None;
     }
@@ -1632,17 +1643,59 @@ fn detect_row_stripe_table_from_cell_rects(
         }
     };
 
-    let col_edges = match (rect_col_edges, text_col_edges) {
+    // For wired-grid tables whose header text is centered/right-aligned but
+    // whose data is left-aligned, cluster_x_positions can drop the header-only
+    // x-cluster in its singleton-filter pass and merge adjacent data clusters
+    // when the gap is below threshold, losing a column. Rect borders are
+    // ground truth in that case — but only when each rect column actually
+    // holds text. Decorative or background rects (prose laid out in a frame,
+    // cell-fill rects with extra borders) can produce more rect-derived
+    // columns than the text supports; preferring rects there would split a
+    // logical column into spurious sub-columns.
+    let rect_cols_match_text = match (&rect_col_edges, &text_col_edges) {
+        (Some(rect_edges), _) if rect_edges.len() >= 4 => {
+            let num_rect_cols = rect_edges.len() - 1;
+            let mut col_item_counts = vec![0usize; num_rect_cols];
+            for (_, item) in &page_items {
+                let cx = item.x + item.width / 2.0;
+                for c in 0..num_rect_cols {
+                    if cx >= rect_edges[c] - 2.0 && cx <= rect_edges[c + 1] + 2.0 {
+                        col_item_counts[c] += 1;
+                        break;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            // Require every rect column to hold multiple text items. A rect
+            // column with no (or only one) item is decorative or the rect grid
+            // is detecting a spurious column the data does not need; in those
+            // cases the old text-cluster preference is the safer fallback.
+            col_item_counts.iter().all(|&n| n >= 2)
+        }
+        _ => false,
+    };
+
+    let (col_edges, columns_from_text) = match (rect_col_edges, text_col_edges) {
+        (Some(rect_edges), text_edges_opt) if rect_cols_match_text => {
+            debug!(
+                "  cell-rect using {} rect-derived columns (text clusters: {}; rect cols well-distributed)",
+                rect_edges.len() - 1,
+                text_edges_opt
+                    .as_ref()
+                    .map(|e| (e.len() - 1) as i32)
+                    .unwrap_or(-1)
+            );
+            (rect_edges, false)
+        }
         (Some(rect_edges), Some(text_edges)) if rect_edges.len() <= text_edges.len() => {
             debug!(
                 "  cell-rect using {} rect-derived columns over {} text clusters",
                 rect_edges.len() - 1,
                 text_edges.len() - 1
             );
-            rect_edges
+            (rect_edges, false)
         }
-        (_, Some(text_edges)) => text_edges,
-        (Some(rect_edges), None) => rect_edges,
+        (_, Some(text_edges)) => (text_edges, true),
+        (Some(rect_edges), None) => (rect_edges, false),
         (None, None) => {
             debug!(
                 "  cell-rect rejected: only {} columns from text clustering",
@@ -1667,12 +1720,25 @@ fn detect_row_stripe_table_from_cell_rects(
         page_items.len()
     );
 
-    let (cells, item_indices) = assign_items_to_grid(items, &col_edges, &row_edges, page);
+    let (mut cells, item_indices) = assign_items_to_grid(items, &col_edges, &row_edges, page);
 
     if item_indices.is_empty() {
         return None;
     }
 
+    let mut row_edges = row_edges;
+    let (collapsed_cells, collapsed_row_edges, collapsed_rows) =
+        collapse_multiline_description_rows(cells, row_edges, &col_edges);
+    let has_wrapped_description_rows = collapsed_rows > 0;
+    cells = collapsed_cells;
+    row_edges = collapsed_row_edges;
+    if collapsed_rows > 0 {
+        debug!(
+            "  cell-rect collapsed {} wrapped description rows",
+            collapsed_rows
+        );
+    }
+
     // Validate: >=2 non-empty rows, >=25% density
     let non_empty_rows = cells
         .iter()
@@ -1686,6 +1752,7 @@ fn detect_row_stripe_table_from_cell_rects(
         return None;
     }
 
+    let num_rows = cells.len();
     let total_cells = (num_cols * num_rows) as f32;
     let non_empty_cells = cells
         .iter()
@@ -1705,17 +1772,21 @@ fn detect_row_stripe_table_from_cell_rects(
         return None;
     }
 
-    // Reject tables with paragraph-length cells (layout backgrounds, not tables)
+    // Reject tables with paragraph-length cells — typically layout
+    // backgrounds (sidebars, banners) where a single big rectangle
+    // contains a wall of prose.  Spare multi-row key/value tables where
+    // the value column is a multi-bullet description: those pass every
+    // other gate and shouldn't get killed on cell length alone.
     let max_cell_len = cells
         .iter()
         .flat_map(|row| row.iter())
         .map(|c| c.len())
         .max()
         .unwrap_or(0);
-    if max_cell_len > 500 {
+    if max_cell_len > 500 && non_empty_rows < 4 {
         debug!(
-            "  cell-rect rejected: max cell length {} > 500",
-            max_cell_len
+            "  cell-rect rejected: max cell length {} > 500 ({} rows, layout background)",
+            max_cell_len, non_empty_rows
         );
         return None;
     }
@@ -1742,7 +1813,7 @@ fn detect_row_stripe_table_from_cell_rects(
     // well-distributed-cols check (both cols populated), so we need a
     // content-based signal to tell them apart.
     //
-    // Two layered checks combine after the 20%-of-cells prose-word
+    // Layered checks combine after the 20%-of-cells prose-word
     // trigger fires:
     //   (a) Long-cell content: prose-in-a-frame averages ~70-100 chars
     //       per non-empty cell (sentence fragments); real data tables
@@ -1753,7 +1824,10 @@ fn detect_row_stripe_table_from_cell_rects(
     //       overrides the well-distributed relaxation — long cells
     //       are the strongest prose signal even when both cols are
     //       populated.
-    //   (b) Well-distributed columns: ≥75% of cols hold ≥2 non-empty
+    //   (b) Two-column text-only scaffold: when both columns were inferred
+    //       from text starts rather than rect edges, prose fragments can look
+    //       perfectly balanced. Require rect evidence for this relaxed shape.
+    //   (c) Well-distributed columns: ≥75% of cols hold ≥2 non-empty
     //       cells. Catches the prose-paragraph-as-many-cols shape
     //       while admitting real "label / value / description /
     //       benefit"-style tables.
@@ -1793,15 +1867,31 @@ fn detect_row_stripe_table_from_cell_rects(
             // discriminator.
             const PROSE_MEAN_CHAR_THRESHOLD: usize = 65;
             let mean_chars = total_chars / counted;
-            if mean_chars > PROSE_MEAN_CHAR_THRESHOLD {
+            if mean_chars > PROSE_MEAN_CHAR_THRESHOLD && !has_wrapped_description_rows {
                 debug!(
                     "  cell-rect rejected: prose-in-frame, mean non-empty cell {} chars > {} (prose words {}/{})",
                     mean_chars, PROSE_MEAN_CHAR_THRESHOLD, prose_cells, counted
                 );
                 return None;
+            } else if mean_chars > PROSE_MEAN_CHAR_THRESHOLD {
+                debug!(
+                    "  cell-rect prose check relaxed: wrapped description rows, mean {} chars (prose words {}/{})",
+                    mean_chars, prose_cells, counted
+                );
             }
 
-            // (b) Well-distributed columns.
+            // (b) Two text-derived columns are not enough vector evidence once
+            // the content looks prose-like. Real 2-col rect tables still pass
+            // when the column scaffold comes from drawn cell geometry.
+            if columns_from_text && num_cols == 2 {
+                debug!(
+                    "  cell-rect rejected: prose-in-frame with text-derived 2-col scaffold (mean {} chars, prose words {}/{})",
+                    mean_chars, prose_cells, counted
+                );
+                return None;
+            }
+
+            // (c) Well-distributed columns.
             let filled_cols = (0..num_cols)
                 .filter(|&c| {
                     cells
@@ -1849,6 +1939,132 @@ fn detect_row_stripe_table_from_cell_rects(
     Some(Table::new(column_centers, row_centers, cells, item_indices))
 }
 
+/// Merge wrapped description-line bands back into their visual data rows.
+///
+/// Some Word/PDF exports draw enough rectangle geometry to prove a table exists
+/// but expose Y bands per wrapped text line instead of per cell row. In the
+/// common mapping-table shape, a narrow row-label column precedes one wide
+/// description column, and wrapped continuation bands have content only in that
+/// wide column. Merge only that high-confidence shape so framed prose still
+/// falls through the existing prose guards.
+fn collapse_multiline_description_rows(
+    cells: Vec<Vec<String>>,
+    row_edges: Vec<f32>,
+    col_edges: &[f32],
+) -> (Vec<Vec<String>>, Vec<f32>, usize) {
+    let num_rows = cells.len();
+    let num_cols = col_edges.len().saturating_sub(1);
+    if num_rows < 3 || num_cols < 3 || row_edges.len() != num_rows + 1 {
+        return (cells, row_edges, 0);
+    }
+
+    let table_width = col_edges[num_cols] - col_edges[0];
+    if table_width <= 0.0 {
+        return (cells, row_edges, 0);
+    }
+
+    let Some((description_col, description_width)) = (0..num_cols)
+        .map(|c| (c, col_edges[c + 1] - col_edges[c]))
+        .max_by(|a, b| a.1.total_cmp(&b.1))
+    else {
+        return (cells, row_edges, 0);
+    };
+
+    // Require a preceding row-label column. Without it (e.g. a prose frame
+    // split into text-start columns), "one populated wide column" is not enough
+    // evidence to find visual row starts safely.
+    if description_col == 0 || description_width < table_width * 0.35 {
+        return (cells, row_edges, 0);
+    }
+
+    let row_has_left_label = |row: &[String]| {
+        row.iter()
+            .take(description_col)
+            .any(|cell| !cell.trim().is_empty())
+    };
+    let labeled_rows = cells.iter().filter(|row| row_has_left_label(row)).count();
+    if labeled_rows < 2 {
+        return (cells, row_edges, 0);
+    }
+
+    let mut merged_rows = 0usize;
+    let mut wrapped_description_rows = 0usize;
+    let mut new_cells: Vec<Vec<String>> = Vec::with_capacity(num_rows);
+    let mut new_edges = Vec::with_capacity(row_edges.len());
+    new_edges.push(row_edges[0]);
+
+    for (row_idx, row) in cells.into_iter().enumerate() {
+        let desc_text = row
+            .get(description_col)
+            .map(String::as_str)
+            .unwrap_or("")
+            .trim();
+        let left_label = row_has_left_label(&row);
+        let non_desc_non_empty = row
+            .iter()
+            .enumerate()
+            .filter(|(col, cell)| *col != description_col && !cell.trim().is_empty())
+            .count();
+
+        // Wrapped continuation bands contain only description-column text.
+        // The preceding label/marker column is empty because the visual row's
+        // label cell spans the whole wrapped block.
+        let is_description_continuation = row_idx > 0
+            && !desc_text.is_empty()
+            && !left_label
+            && non_desc_non_empty == 0
+            && !new_cells.is_empty();
+
+        // Header cells are often split as "Controls" / "Version" in the first
+        // column while the other header labels sit on the first band.
+        let only_first_col = row
+            .iter()
+            .enumerate()
+            .all(|(col, cell)| col == 0 || cell.trim().is_empty());
+        let is_header_continuation = row_idx > 0
+            && only_first_col
+            && row
+                .first()
+                .is_some_and(|cell| !cell.trim().is_empty() && cell.chars().count() <= 24)
+            && !new_cells.is_empty()
+            && new_cells
+                .last()
+                .is_some_and(|prev| prev.iter().filter(|c| !c.trim().is_empty()).count() >= 2);
+
+        if is_description_continuation || is_header_continuation {
+            if let Some(prev) = new_cells.last_mut() {
+                for (col, cell) in row.iter().enumerate() {
+                    let text = cell.trim();
+                    if text.is_empty() {
+                        continue;
+                    }
+                    if !prev[col].trim().is_empty() {
+                        prev[col].push(' ');
+                    }
+                    prev[col].push_str(text);
+                }
+            }
+            merged_rows += 1;
+            if is_description_continuation {
+                wrapped_description_rows += 1;
+            }
+        } else {
+            if !new_cells.is_empty() {
+                new_edges.push(row_edges[row_idx]);
+            }
+            new_cells.push(row);
+        }
+    }
+
+    new_edges.push(*row_edges.last().unwrap());
+
+    if merged_rows == 0 || new_cells.len() < 2 || new_edges.len() != new_cells.len() + 1 {
+        return (new_cells, row_edges, 0);
+    }
+
+    (new_cells, new_edges, wrapped_description_rows)
+}
+
 /// Detect a table by merging all cluster rects into one group.
 ///
 /// This handles clip-path PDFs where each column's cell rects form a separate
@@ -1984,18 +2200,20 @@ fn detect_merged_cluster_table(
         return None;
     }
 
-    // Reject if any cell has excessive text — layout background rects produce
-    // "cells" containing paragraphs, not short data-table values.
+    // Reject if any cell has excessive text — layout background rects
+    // produce "cells" containing paragraphs, not short data-table values.
+    // Multi-row key/value tables can legitimately have one column of
+    // long descriptive text, so only reject narrow-row layouts here.
     let max_cell_len = cells
         .iter()
         .flat_map(|row| row.iter())
         .map(|c| c.len())
         .max()
         .unwrap_or(0);
-    if max_cell_len > 500 {
+    if max_cell_len > 500 && non_empty_rows < 4 {
         debug!(
-            "  merged-cluster rejected: max cell length {} > 500 (layout background)",
-            max_cell_len
+            "  merged-cluster rejected: max cell length {} > 500 ({} rows, layout background)",
+            max_cell_len, non_empty_rows
         );
         return None;
     }
@@ -2425,6 +2643,46 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn test_row_stripe_accepts_multi_row_key_value_long_cells() {
+        // Multi-row 2-column key/value table where one value cell holds
+        // a paragraph (>500 chars).  The old `max_cell_len > 500` check
+        // rejected this shape as a "layout background"; with the
+        // multi-row guard, it should be accepted.
+        let mut rects = Vec::new();
+        let row_h = 25.0_f32;
+        let y_top = 700.0_f32;
+        for i in 0..8 {
+            let y = y_top - (i as f32) * row_h;
+            rects.push((40.0, y, 510.0, row_h));
+        }
+        let mut items = Vec::new();
+        for i in 0..8 {
+            let row_center_y = y_top - (i as f32) * row_h + row_h / 2.0;
+            // Left column: short label
+            items.push(make_item(&format!("Field {}", i), 45.0, row_center_y, 10.0));
+            // Right column: short value, except the last row which is a paragraph
+            let value = if i == 7 {
+                "X".repeat(800)
+            } else {
+                "value".to_string()
+            };
+            items.push(make_item(&value, 300.0, row_center_y, 10.0));
+        }
+        let result = detect_row_stripe_table(&items, &rects, 1);
+        assert!(
+            result.is_some(),
+            "multi-row key/value table with one long cell should be accepted"
+        );
+        let t = result.unwrap();
+        assert!(
+            t.cells.len() >= 4,
+            "expected ≥4 rows, got {}",
+            t.cells.len()
+        );
+        assert_eq!(t.cells[0].len(), 2, "expected 2 columns");
+    }
+
     // --- propagate_merged_cells ---
 
     #[test]
@@ -3039,6 +3297,232 @@ mod tests {
         // If tables were detected, that's also acceptable
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn text_derived_two_col_prose_is_not_cell_rect_table() {
+        let page = 1;
+        let mut rects = Vec::new();
+        for row in 0..8 {
+            rects.push(PdfRect {
+                x: 50.0,
+                y: 100.0 + row as f32 * 20.0,
+                width: 180.0,
+                height: 18.0,
+                page,
+            });
+        }
+
+        let mut items = Vec::new();
+        let left = [
+            "the annual plan was revised",
+            "and the team noted changes",
+            "this section explains limits",
+            "with additional notes below",
+            "the policy was reviewed",
+            "and results are summarized",
+            "this appendix describes scope",
+            "with examples for reference",
+        ];
+        let right = [
+            "for each area in the review",
+            "as part of the assessment",
+            "that were applied in context",
+            "to support the conclusion",
+            "for use by the committee",
+            "as shown in the narrative",
+            "that remain under discussion",
+            "to clarify the method",
+        ];
+        for row in 0..8 {
+            let y = 104.0 + row as f32 * 20.0;
+            let mut left_item = make_item(left[row], 60.0, y, 9.0);
+            left_item.width = 50.0;
+            items.push(left_item);
+            let mut right_item = make_item(right[row], 150.0, y, 9.0);
+            right_item.width = 50.0;
+            items.push(right_item);
+        }
+
+        let (tables, _hints) = detect_tables_from_rects(&items, &rects, page);
+        assert!(
+            tables.is_empty(),
+            "text-derived two-column prose must not be accepted as a rect table; got {:?}",
+            tables
+                .iter()
+                .map(|t| (t.rows.len(), t.columns.len()))
+                .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn multiline_indented_description_rows_collapse_to_visual_rows() {
+        let page = 1;
+        let col_edges = [0.0, 60.0, 420.0, 460.0, 500.0, 540.0];
+        let row_edges = [
+            340.0, 320.0, 300.0, 270.0, 250.0, 230.0, 200.0, 180.0, 160.0,
+        ];
+
+        let mut rects = Vec::new();
+        for row in 0..row_edges.len() - 1 {
+            let y_top = row_edges[row];
+            let y_bot = row_edges[row + 1];
+            for col in 0..col_edges.len() - 1 {
+                rects.push((
+                    col_edges[col],
+                    y_bot,
+                    col_edges[col + 1] - col_edges[col],
+                    y_top - y_bot,
+                ));
+            }
+        }
+
+        let mut items = vec![
+            make_item("Controls", 8.0, 330.0, 9.0),
+            make_item("Control", 70.0, 330.0, 9.0),
+            make_item("IG 1", 428.0, 330.0, 9.0),
+            make_item("IG 2", 468.0, 330.0, 9.0),
+            make_item("IG 3", 508.0, 330.0, 9.0),
+            make_item("Version", 8.0, 310.0, 9.0),
+            make_item("v8", 20.0, 285.0, 9.0),
+            make_item(
+                "4.5 Implement and Manage a Firewall on End-User Devices",
+                70.0,
+                285.0,
+                9.0,
+            ),
+            make_item("*", 438.0, 285.0, 9.0),
+            make_item("*", 478.0, 285.0, 9.0),
+            make_item("*", 518.0, 285.0, 9.0),
+            make_item("v7", 20.0, 215.0, 9.0),
+            make_item(
+                "9.4 Apply Host-based Firewalls or Port-Filtering",
+                70.0,
+                215.0,
+                9.0,
+            ),
+            make_item("*", 478.0, 215.0, 9.0),
+            make_item("*", 518.0, 215.0, 9.0),
+        ];
+        items.push(make_item(
+            "Implement and manage a host-based firewall or port-filtering tool",
+            84.0,
+            260.0,
+            8.0,
+        ));
+        items.push(make_item(
+            "on end-user devices with a default-deny rule",
+            84.0,
+            240.0,
+            8.0,
+        ));
+        items.push(make_item(
+            "Apply host-based firewalls or port filtering tools on end systems",
+            84.0,
+            190.0,
+            8.0,
+        ));
+        items.push(make_item(
+            "and deny unauthorized network communication",
+            84.0,
+            170.0,
+            8.0,
+        ));
+
+        let table = detect_row_stripe_table_from_cell_rects(&items, &rects, page)
+            .expect("expected multiline description table");
+        assert_eq!(table.columns.len(), 5);
+        assert_eq!(
+            table.rows.len(),
+            3,
+            "wrapped lines should collapse to header plus two data rows"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(table.cells[0][0], "Controls Version");
+        assert!(table.cells[1][1].contains("host-based firewall"));
+        assert!(table.cells[1][1].contains("default-deny rule"));
+        assert!(table.cells[2][1].contains("deny unauthorized"));
+    }
+
+    /// Wire-bordered 4-column table whose header text is centered/right-aligned
+    /// inside each cell while the data is left-aligned: cluster_x_positions
+    /// merges adjacent columns (data Item→EAN gap is below threshold) and
+    /// drops the header-only x-clusters in the filter pass, leaving only 3
+    /// text-derived columns. Rect borders are 4 columns of ground truth.
+    /// Before the fix the cell-rect path preferred text edges when they were
+    /// the smaller set — losing a column. After the fix, 3+ rect columns
+    /// always win.
+    #[test]
+    fn wired_header_data_misaligned_keeps_all_columns_from_rects() {
+        let page = 1;
+        // 4 cols: Item | EAN | Nombre | Cant
+        let col_xs = [380.0_f32, 410.0, 470.0, 660.0, 700.0];
+        // Header + 9 data rows at 15pt tall each (y descending).
+        let row_ys: Vec<f32> = (0..=10).map(|r| 400.0 - 15.0 * r as f32).collect();
+
+        let mut rects: Vec<(f32, f32, f32, f32)> = Vec::new();
+        for r in 0..10 {
+            let y_top = row_ys[r];
+            let y_bot = row_ys[r + 1];
+            for c in 0..4 {
+                rects.push((col_xs[c], y_bot, col_xs[c + 1] - col_xs[c], y_top - y_bot));
+            }
+        }
+
+        let mut items: Vec<TextItem> = Vec::new();
+        // Header row (y ≈ 392.5): headers sit further to the right than data
+        // because they are centered/right-aligned in the cells.
+        items.push(make_item("Item", 389.0, 392.5, 9.0));
+        items.push(make_item("EAN", 432.0, 392.5, 9.0));
+        items.push(make_item("Nombre", 552.0, 392.5, 9.0));
+        items.push(make_item("Cant", 672.0, 392.5, 9.0));
+
+        let names = [
+            "Arnes Frontal",
+            "Arnes Motor",
+            "Arnes Piso",
+            "Arnes Techo",
+            "Arnes Puerta",
+            "Arnes Tablero",
+            "Arnes Trasero",
+            "Arnes Lateral",
+            "Arnes Sensor",
+        ];
+        for r in 0..9 {
+            let y = 377.5 - 15.0 * r as f32;
+            items.push(make_item(&(r + 1).to_string(), 396.0, y, 9.0));
+            items.push(make_item("7701023403016", 410.0, y, 9.0));
+            items.push(make_item(names[r], 480.0, y, 9.0));
+            items.push(make_item("1", 680.0, y, 9.0));
+        }
+
+        let table = detect_row_stripe_table_from_cell_rects(&items, &rects, page)
+            .expect("wired 4-column table with header/data x-misalignment must detect");
+        assert_eq!(
+            table.columns.len(),
+            4,
+            "expected 4 columns from rect borders; cells: {:?}",
+            table.cells
+        );
+        for c in 0..4 {
+            let any_populated = table.cells.iter().any(|row| !row[c].trim().is_empty());
+            assert!(
+                any_populated,
+                "column {} empty across all rows; cells: {:?}",
+                c, table.cells
+            );
+        }
+        // Header row populated in all 4 cells.
+        let header = &table.cells[0];
+        assert_eq!(header[0].trim(), "Item");
+        assert_eq!(header[1].trim(), "EAN");
+        assert_eq!(header[2].trim(), "Nombre");
+        assert_eq!(header[3].trim(), "Cant");
+        // First data row: Item="1", EAN, name, count="1" — no Item↔EAN merge.
+        let data1 = &table.cells[1];
+        assert_eq!(data1[0].trim(), "1");
+        assert_eq!(data1[1].trim(), "7701023403016");
+        assert!(data1[2].trim().contains("Arnes"));
+        assert_eq!(data1[3].trim(), "1");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn failed_cluster_no_hint_without_items() {
         // Rects with no text items inside → no failed-cluster hint generated.

src/tables/format.rs

@@ -160,6 +160,81 @@ fn starts_with_uppercase_word(cell: &str) -> bool {
         .is_some_and(|c| c.is_uppercase())
 }
 
+fn starts_with_uppercase_alpha(cell: &str) -> bool {
+    cell.chars()
+        .find(|c| c.is_alphabetic())
+        .is_some_and(|c| c.is_uppercase())
+}
+
+fn starts_with_lowercase_alpha(cell: &str) -> bool {
+    cell.chars()
+        .find(|c| c.is_alphabetic())
+        .is_some_and(|c| c.is_lowercase())
+}
+
+fn starts_with_numbered_label(cell: &str) -> bool {
+    let trimmed = cell.trim_start();
+    let digit_count = trimmed.chars().take_while(|c| c.is_ascii_digit()).count();
+
+    digit_count > 0
+        && digit_count <= 3
+        && trimmed
+            .chars()
+            .nth(digit_count)
+            .is_some_and(|c| matches!(c, '.' | ')' | '-' | ':'))
+}
+
+fn alpha_word_count(cell: &str) -> usize {
+    cell.split_whitespace()
+        .filter(|word| word.chars().any(|c| c.is_alphabetic()))
+        .count()
+}
+
+fn looks_like_compact_entry_label(cell: &str) -> bool {
+    let trimmed = cell.trim();
+    if trimmed.len() < 3 || trimmed.len() > 80 {
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    if !starts_with_uppercase_alpha(trimmed) && !starts_with_numbered_label(trimmed) {
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    if trimmed.ends_with(['.', ',', ';', ':']) {
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    let words = alpha_word_count(trimmed);
+    (1..=6).contains(&words)
+}
+
+fn looks_like_plain_section_label(cell: &str) -> bool {
+    let trimmed = cell.trim();
+    if trimmed.len() < 4 || trimmed.len() > 40 {
+        return false;
+    }
+    if trimmed.ends_with(['.', ',', ';', ':']) || trimmed.contains(|ch: char| ch.is_ascii_digit()) {
+        return false;
+    }
+    if trimmed.len() <= 4 && trimmed.chars().all(|ch| !ch.is_lowercase()) {
+        return false;
+    }
+    trimmed
+        .chars()
+        .all(|ch| ch.is_alphabetic() || ch.is_whitespace() || matches!(ch, '&' | '/' | '-'))
+        && starts_with_uppercase_alpha(trimmed)
+        && (1..=4).contains(&alpha_word_count(trimmed))
+}
+
+fn ends_like_incomplete_phrase(cell: &str) -> bool {
+    let lower = cell.trim_end().to_ascii_lowercase();
+    lower.ends_with(" and")
+        || lower.ends_with(" or")
+        || lower.ends_with(',')
+        || lower.ends_with('-')
+        || lower.ends_with('/')
+}
+
 /// Clean up table cells: merge continuation rows, extract footnotes, remove empty rows
 fn clean_table_cells(cells: &[Vec<String>]) -> (Vec<Vec<String>>, Vec<String>) {
     let mut cleaned: Vec<Vec<String>> = Vec::new();
@@ -185,6 +260,9 @@ fn clean_table_cells(cells: &[Vec<String>]) -> (Vec<Vec<String>>, Vec<String>) {
             continue;
         }
 
+        let num_cols = row.len();
+        let filled_cells = row.iter().filter(|c| !c.trim().is_empty()).count();
+
         // Check if this is a continuation row (first column is empty but others have content).
         // A row with only 1 short non-empty cell (besides the first) is more likely a
         // section sub-header (e.g. "JAN", "FEB") than overflow text — don't merge it.
@@ -222,31 +300,76 @@ fn clean_table_cells(cells: &[Vec<String>]) -> (Vec<Vec<String>>, Vec<String>) {
             .iter()
             .filter(|cell| starts_with_uppercase_word(cell))
             .count();
+        let first_non_empty_col = row.iter().position(|c| !c.trim().is_empty());
+        let first_non_empty_cell = first_non_empty_col
+            .and_then(|idx| row.get(idx))
+            .map(|c| c.trim())
+            .unwrap_or("");
+        let title_like_later_cells = first_non_empty_col
+            .map(|idx| {
+                row.iter()
+                    .skip(idx + 1)
+                    .map(|c| c.trim())
+                    .filter(|c| !c.is_empty() && starts_with_uppercase_alpha(c))
+                    .count()
+            })
+            .unwrap_or(0);
+        let prev_first_cell_empty = cleaned
+            .last()
+            .and_then(|r| r.first())
+            .is_some_and(|c| c.trim().is_empty());
+        let prev_first_cell = cleaned
+            .last()
+            .and_then(|r| r.first())
+            .map(|c| c.trim())
+            .unwrap_or("");
+        let header_filled = cleaned
+            .first()
+            .map(|r| r.iter().filter(|c| !c.trim().is_empty()).count())
+            .unwrap_or(num_cols);
         let looks_like_spanning_first_column_row = first_cell.is_empty()
             && row.len() >= 4
             && non_first_cells.len() == row.len().saturating_sub(1)
             && uppercase_leading_cells >= non_first_cells.len().saturating_sub(1);
+        // Hierarchical tables often use a row-spanned first column: sub-rows
+        // leave column 0 blank, then start a compact title-like label in
+        // column 1.  Wrapped continuations in the existing fixtures start
+        // mid-sentence/lowercase ("continued text here", "with 3.5%...") or
+        // carry lowercase fragments in the later cells, so keep those mergeable.
+        let looks_like_hierarchical_subrow = first_cell.is_empty()
+            && row.len() >= 3
+            && first_non_empty_col == Some(1)
+            && looks_like_compact_entry_label(first_non_empty_cell)
+            && ((non_first_cells.len() >= 2 && title_like_later_cells > 0)
+                || (non_first_cells.len() == 1
+                    && prev_first_cell_empty
+                    && alpha_word_count(first_non_empty_cell) >= 2));
+        let looks_like_new_first_column_entry = !first_cell.is_empty()
+            && (starts_with_numbered_label(first_cell) || starts_with_uppercase_alpha(first_cell))
+            && filled_cells >= 2
+            && non_first_cells
+                .iter()
+                .any(|cell| looks_like_compact_entry_label(cell));
+        let looks_like_section_label_row = !first_cell.is_empty()
+            && filled_cells == 1
+            && header_filled >= 3
+            && looks_like_plain_section_label(first_cell);
         // Classic continuation: first cell empty, content in other cells
         let is_classic_continuation = first_cell.is_empty()
             && !non_first_cells.is_empty()
             && !is_short_subheader
             && !looks_like_data_row
             && !looks_like_spanning_first_column_row
+            && !looks_like_hierarchical_subrow
             && cleaned.len() > 1;
 
         // Wrapped-cell continuation: row has fewer filled cells than the header
         // row, suggesting it's overflow text from the previous row's cells.
         // Only trigger when the previous row has significantly more filled cells.
-        let num_cols = row.len();
-        let filled_cells = row.iter().filter(|c| !c.trim().is_empty()).count();
         let prev_filled = cleaned
             .last()
             .map(|r| r.iter().filter(|c| !c.trim().is_empty()).count())
             .unwrap_or(0);
-        let header_filled = cleaned
-            .first()
-            .map(|r| r.iter().filter(|c| !c.trim().is_empty()).count())
-            .unwrap_or(num_cols);
         // Merge when the row has significantly fewer filled cells than header.
         // For wide tables (5+ cols), require ≤50% of header cells.
         // For narrow tables (2-4 cols), require fewer than header cells.
@@ -257,11 +380,18 @@ fn clean_table_cells(cells: &[Vec<String>]) -> (Vec<Vec<String>>, Vec<String>) {
         } else {
             header_filled.saturating_sub(1)
         };
+        let continues_wrapped_first_column_label = !first_cell.is_empty()
+            && starts_with_lowercase_alpha(first_cell)
+            && ends_like_incomplete_phrase(prev_first_cell);
         let is_wrapped_continuation = cleaned.len() > 1
             && filled_cells <= max_filled_for_merge
-            && prev_filled > filled_cells
+            && (prev_filled > filled_cells
+                || (continues_wrapped_first_column_label && prev_filled >= filled_cells))
             && !looks_like_data_row
             && !looks_like_spanning_first_column_row
+            && !looks_like_hierarchical_subrow
+            && !looks_like_new_first_column_entry
+            && !looks_like_section_label_row
             && !is_short_subheader;
 
         let is_continuation = is_classic_continuation || is_wrapped_continuation;
@@ -407,6 +537,44 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(cleaned[1][1].contains("continued text here"));
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn test_clean_table_cells_first_column_section_label_not_merged() {
+        let cells = vec![
+            vec![
+                "Properties".into(),
+                "Conditions".into(),
+                "Method".into(),
+                "Typical values".into(),
+                "Units".into(),
+            ],
+            vec![
+                "Melt Flow Rate".into(),
+                "230 C/2.16 kg".into(),
+                "ASTM D1238".into(),
+                "3.0".into(),
+                "g/10 min".into(),
+            ],
+            vec![
+                "Mechanical".into(),
+                "".into(),
+                "".into(),
+                "".into(),
+                "".into(),
+            ],
+            vec![
+                "Tensile Stress at Yield".into(),
+                "50 mm/min".into(),
+                "ASTM D638".into(),
+                "31".into(),
+                "MPa".into(),
+            ],
+        ];
+        let (cleaned, _) = clean_table_cells(&cells);
+
+        assert_eq!(cleaned.len(), 4);
+        assert_eq!(cleaned[2][0], "Mechanical");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn test_clean_table_cells_short_subheader_not_merged() {
         let cells = vec![
@@ -459,6 +627,100 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(cleaned[2][1], "Uncertainty around other copies");
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn test_clean_table_cells_numbered_hierarchy_rows_not_overmerged() {
+        let cells = vec![
+            vec![
+                "Group".into(),
+                "Task".into(),
+                "Detail".into(),
+                "Benefit".into(),
+            ],
+            vec![
+                "1. Group alpha".into(),
+                "Task setup and".into(),
+                "Begin setup".into(),
+                "Faster start".into(),
+            ],
+            vec![
+                "".into(),
+                "management".into(),
+                "recommended profile".into(),
+                "with saved defaults".into(),
+            ],
+            vec![
+                "2. Group beta and".into(),
+                "Storage setup".into(),
+                "Provides upload tools".into(),
+                "".into(),
+            ],
+            vec![
+                "fine-tuning".into(),
+                "".into(),
+                "for filtered inputs".into(),
+                "service".into(),
+            ],
+            vec![
+                "".into(),
+                "Label workspace".into(),
+                "Creates review sets".into(),
+                "Lets teams review".into(),
+            ],
+            vec![
+                "".into(),
+                "Model training".into(),
+                "".into(),
+                "Supports custom model".into(),
+            ],
+        ];
+        let (cleaned, _) = clean_table_cells(&cells);
+
+        assert_eq!(cleaned.len(), 5);
+        assert_eq!(cleaned[1][0], "1. Group alpha");
+        assert_eq!(cleaned[1][1], "Task setup and management");
+        assert_eq!(cleaned[2][0], "2. Group beta and fine-tuning");
+        assert_eq!(cleaned[2][1], "Storage setup");
+        assert_eq!(cleaned[3][1], "Label workspace");
+        assert_eq!(cleaned[4][1], "Model training");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_clean_table_cells_partial_hierarchical_subrow_not_merged() {
+        let cells = vec![
+            vec![
+                "Group".into(),
+                "Task".into(),
+                "Detail".into(),
+                "Benefit".into(),
+            ],
+            vec![
+                "Group A".into(),
+                "Alpha task".into(),
+                "Initial detail".into(),
+                "Initial benefit".into(),
+            ],
+            vec![
+                "".into(),
+                "Beta task".into(),
+                "Parallel detail".into(),
+                "".into(),
+            ],
+            vec![
+                "".into(),
+                "second line".into(),
+                "additional detail".into(),
+                "".into(),
+            ],
+        ];
+        let (cleaned, _) = clean_table_cells(&cells);
+
+        assert_eq!(cleaned.len(), 3);
+        assert_eq!(cleaned[1][1], "Alpha task");
+        assert_eq!(cleaned[2][0], "");
+        assert_eq!(cleaned[2][1], "Beta task second line");
+        assert_eq!(cleaned[2][2], "Parallel detail additional detail");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn test_clean_table_cells_full_width_continuation_row_still_merges_when_lowercase() {
         let cells = vec![

src/tables/mod.rs

@@ -460,6 +460,7 @@ pub(crate) fn try_build_table_from_columns(items: &[TextItem], page: u32) -> Opt
             item_indices.push(item_idx);
         }
     }
+    merge_superscript_marker_rows(&mut row_ys, &mut cells);
 
     // Validate: need reasonable fill rate
     let total_cells = row_ys.len() * columns.len();
@@ -547,6 +548,60 @@ pub(crate) fn try_build_table_from_columns(items: &[TextItem], page: u32) -> Opt
     Some(Table::new(col_xs, row_ys, cells, item_indices))
 }
 
+fn merge_superscript_marker_rows(row_ys: &mut Vec<f32>, cells: &mut Vec<Vec<String>>) {
+    let mut row_idx = 0;
+    while row_idx < cells.len() {
+        let non_empty: Vec<(usize, String)> = cells[row_idx]
+            .iter()
+            .enumerate()
+            .filter_map(|(col_idx, cell)| {
+                let trimmed = cell.trim();
+                (!trimmed.is_empty()).then_some((col_idx, trimmed.to_string()))
+            })
+            .collect();
+
+        if non_empty.len() != 1 || !is_superscript_marker_cell(&non_empty[0].1) {
+            row_idx += 1;
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        let (marker_col, marker) = &non_empty[0];
+        let prev =
+            (row_idx > 0).then(|| (row_idx - 1, (row_ys[row_idx - 1] - row_ys[row_idx]).abs()));
+        let next = (row_idx + 1 < cells.len())
+            .then(|| (row_idx + 1, (row_ys[row_idx] - row_ys[row_idx + 1]).abs()));
+        let target = [prev, next]
+            .into_iter()
+            .flatten()
+            .filter(|(_, gap)| *gap <= 10.0)
+            .min_by(|(_, gap_a), (_, gap_b)| gap_a.total_cmp(gap_b))
+            .map(|(idx, _)| idx);
+
+        let Some(target_idx) = target else {
+            row_idx += 1;
+            continue;
+        };
+
+        let target_cell = &mut cells[target_idx][*marker_col];
+        if target_cell.trim().is_empty() {
+            *target_cell = marker.to_string();
+        } else {
+            target_cell.push_str(marker);
+        }
+        cells.remove(row_idx);
+        row_ys.remove(row_idx);
+    }
+}
+
+fn is_superscript_marker_cell(value: &str) -> bool {
+    let trimmed = value.trim();
+    !trimmed.is_empty()
+        && trimmed.chars().count() <= 2
+        && trimmed
+            .chars()
+            .all(|ch| matches!(ch, '*' | '#' | 'o' | 'O' | '°' | 'º' | '†' | '‡'))
+}
+
 /// What kind of structure a detected `Table` represents. Classification is
 /// computed once at construction so consumers don't have to re-analyze the
 /// cells (and stay consistent across detection backends).
@@ -689,6 +744,69 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(md.contains("|Cell 1|"));
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn test_merge_superscript_marker_rows() {
+        let mut rows = vec![506.0, 500.0, 480.0];
+        let mut cells = vec![
+            vec!["".into(), "".into(), "*".into()],
+            vec!["Name".into(), "Method".into(), "Typical values".into()],
+            vec!["Flow".into(), "ASTM D1238".into(), "3.0".into()],
+        ];
+
+        merge_superscript_marker_rows(&mut rows, &mut cells);
+
+        assert_eq!(rows, vec![500.0, 480.0]);
+        assert_eq!(cells[0][2], "Typical values*");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_column_builder_handles_borderless_specs_table() {
+        let items = vec![
+            make_char("*", 458.1, 544.2, 8.0, 4.4),
+            make_char("Properties", 36.0, 538.6, 12.0, 53.1),
+            make_char("Conditions", 195.8, 538.6, 12.0, 55.0),
+            make_char("Method", 297.2, 538.6, 12.0, 39.4),
+            make_char("Typical values", 384.1, 538.6, 12.0, 74.0),
+            make_char("Units", 510.6, 538.6, 8.0, 17.9),
+            make_char("Rheology", 36.0, 508.3, 10.0, 40.6),
+            make_char("o", 209.8, 492.5, 6.5, 3.5),
+            make_char("Melt Flow Rate", 36.0, 488.0, 10.0, 65.2),
+            make_char("230 ", 190.4, 488.0, 10.0, 19.4),
+            make_char("C/2.16 kg", 213.3, 488.0, 10.0, 42.8),
+            make_char("ASTM D1238", 288.4, 488.0, 10.0, 56.8),
+            make_char("3.0 ", 416.4, 488.0, 10.0, 16.9),
+            make_char("g/10 min", 504.1, 488.0, 10.0, 39.5),
+            make_char("Mechanical", 36.0, 451.5, 10.0, 48.3),
+            make_char("Tensile Stress at Yield", 36.0, 431.3, 10.0, 96.7),
+            make_char("50 mm/min", 197.9, 431.3, 10.0, 50.8),
+            make_char("ASTM D638", 291.2, 431.3, 10.0, 51.3),
+            make_char("31 ", 417.9, 431.3, 10.0, 13.9),
+            make_char("MPa", 514.7, 431.3, 10.0, 18.4),
+            make_char("Elongation at Yield", 36.0, 403.0, 10.0, 82.2),
+            make_char("50 mm/min", 197.9, 403.0, 10.0, 50.8),
+            make_char("ASTM D638", 291.2, 403.0, 10.0, 51.3),
+            make_char("8 ", 420.6, 403.0, 10.0, 8.5),
+            make_char("%", 519.1, 403.0, 10.0, 9.7),
+            make_char("Flexural Modulus", 36.0, 374.6, 10.0, 74.0),
+            make_char("ASTM D790", 291.2, 374.6, 10.0, 51.3),
+            make_char("1400", 412.4, 374.6, 10.0, 21.8),
+            make_char("MPa", 514.7, 374.6, 10.0, 18.4),
+        ];
+
+        let table = try_build_table_from_columns(&items, 1).unwrap();
+        let md = table_to_markdown(&table);
+
+        assert!(
+            md.contains("|Properties|Conditions|Method|Typical values*|Units|"),
+            "{md}"
+        );
+        assert!(md.contains("|Mechanical|||||"), "{md}");
+        assert!(
+            md.contains("|Flexural Modulus||ASTM D790|1400|MPa|"),
+            "{md}"
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn test_body_font_table_detected() {
         let items = vec![

tests/integration_tests.rs

@@ -2,13 +2,14 @@
 
 use pdf_inspector::detector::{estimate_page_count_from_bytes, DetectionConfig, ScanStrategy};
 use pdf_inspector::extractor::group_into_lines;
+use pdf_inspector::types::ItemType;
 use pdf_inspector::types::TextLine;
 use pdf_inspector::{
     detect_pdf_type, detect_vector_grid_in_region_mem, extract_pages_markdown,
     extract_pages_markdown_mem, extract_tables_in_regions_mem, extract_text,
-    extract_text_in_regions_mem, extract_text_with_positions, process_pdf_mem,
-    process_pdf_with_options, to_markdown, MarkdownOptions, PdfError, PdfOptions, PdfType,
-    TextItem,
+    extract_text_in_regions_mem, extract_text_with_positions, extract_text_with_positions_mem,
+    process_pdf_mem, process_pdf_with_options, to_markdown, MarkdownOptions, PdfError, PdfOptions,
+    PdfType, TextItem,
 };
 use std::collections::HashSet;
 
@@ -1648,6 +1649,33 @@ fn test_bits_pilani_page8_table_detection() {
     assert!(!region.needs_ocr, "Page 8 table should still be detected");
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn test_extract_tables_in_regions_uses_line_grid() {
+    // Stroked-grid table (m/l/S path operators forming a 2x2 grid).
+    // The heuristic text-only detector handles the same cells already,
+    // so this guards that the line-backed path doesn't regress: the
+    // markdown still contains all four data cells.
+    let buf = synthetic_vector_grid_pdf(false);
+    let results =
+        extract_tables_in_regions_mem(&buf, &[(0, vec![[40.0, 50.0, 220.0, 760.0]])]).unwrap();
+    let region = &results[0].regions[0];
+    assert!(
+        !region.needs_ocr,
+        "stroked-grid table should be extracted, got needs_ocr=true"
+    );
+    for tok in ["A1", "B1", "A2", "B2"] {
+        assert!(
+            region.text.contains(tok),
+            "expected '{tok}' in output, got: {}",
+            region.text
+        );
+    }
+    assert!(
+        region.text.contains('|'),
+        "expected pipe-delimited markdown"
+    );
+}
+
 // =========================================================================
 // extract_tables_with_structure_mem tests (TSR-aware path)
 // =========================================================================
@@ -3364,3 +3392,186 @@ fn test_synthetic_type0_broken_tounicode_emits_fffd_not_latin1_mojibake() {
         result.pages_needing_ocr
     );
 }
+
+// ============================================================================
+// Image XObject emission
+// ============================================================================
+
+/// Build a minimal PDF containing one Image XObject placed at a known CTM.
+/// `image_ctm` is the 6-element matrix applied to the unit square by the
+/// `Do` operator (per PDF spec section 8.9.5 "Image Coordinate System").
+/// For an axis-aligned image at `(x, y)` with size `w × h`, that's
+/// `[w, 0, 0, h, x, y]`.
+fn make_pdf_with_image(image_ctm: [f32; 6]) -> Vec<u8> {
+    let mut pdf = b"%PDF-1.4\n".to_vec();
+    let mut offsets = vec![0usize];
+
+    fn add_object(pdf: &mut Vec<u8>, offsets: &mut Vec<usize>, id: usize, body: &str) {
+        offsets.push(pdf.len());
+        pdf.extend_from_slice(format!("{id} 0 obj\n").as_bytes());
+        pdf.extend_from_slice(body.as_bytes());
+        pdf.extend_from_slice(b"\nendobj\n");
+    }
+    fn add_stream_object(
+        pdf: &mut Vec<u8>,
+        offsets: &mut Vec<usize>,
+        id: usize,
+        dict: &str,
+        stream_bytes: &[u8],
+    ) {
+        offsets.push(pdf.len());
+        pdf.extend_from_slice(format!("{id} 0 obj\n").as_bytes());
+        pdf.extend_from_slice(
+            format!("<< {} /Length {} >>\nstream\n", dict, stream_bytes.len()).as_bytes(),
+        );
+        pdf.extend_from_slice(stream_bytes);
+        pdf.extend_from_slice(b"\nendstream\nendobj\n");
+    }
+
+    // 1: catalog → 2: pages → 3: page with XObject /Im0 → 4: content stream
+    // 5: font → 6: image XObject (1×1 grayscale)
+    add_object(
+        &mut pdf,
+        &mut offsets,
+        1,
+        "<< /Type /Catalog /Pages 2 0 R >>",
+    );
+    add_object(
+        &mut pdf,
+        &mut offsets,
+        2,
+        "<< /Type /Pages /Kids [3 0 R] /Count 1 >>",
+    );
+    add_object(
+        &mut pdf,
+        &mut offsets,
+        3,
+        "<< /Type /Page /Parent 2 0 R /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] \
+         /Resources << /Font << /F1 5 0 R >> /XObject << /Im0 6 0 R >> >> \
+         /Contents 4 0 R >>",
+    );
+    let [a, b, c, d, e, f] = image_ctm;
+    // BT/ET around a small text item just so the page isn't classified as
+    // image-only (which would route to a different code path). Then save
+    // graphics state, apply the image CTM, invoke Im0, restore.
+    let content = format!(
+        "BT /F1 12 Tf 100 700 Td (Hi) Tj ET\nq {} {} {} {} {} {} cm /Im0 Do Q",
+        a, b, c, d, e, f
+    );
+    add_stream_object(&mut pdf, &mut offsets, 4, "", content.as_bytes());
+    add_object(
+        &mut pdf,
+        &mut offsets,
+        5,
+        "<< /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /BaseFont /Helvetica >>",
+    );
+    // 1×1 grayscale image; the single byte is mid-gray. Contents don't
+    // matter to the extractor — it only cares about the XObject's
+    // /Subtype and the CTM at the `Do` operator.
+    let image_pixel = [128u8];
+    add_stream_object(
+        &mut pdf,
+        &mut offsets,
+        6,
+        "/Type /XObject /Subtype /Image /Width 1 /Height 1 \
+         /ColorSpace /DeviceGray /BitsPerComponent 8",
+        &image_pixel,
+    );
+
+    let xref_start = pdf.len();
+    pdf.extend_from_slice(format!("xref\n0 {}\n", offsets.len()).as_bytes());
+    pdf.extend_from_slice(b"0000000000 65535 f \n");
+    for offset in offsets.iter().skip(1) {
+        pdf.extend_from_slice(format!("{offset:010} 00000 n \n").as_bytes());
+    }
+    pdf.extend_from_slice(
+        format!(
+            "trailer\n<< /Size {} /Root 1 0 R >>\nstartxref\n{}\n%%EOF",
+            offsets.len(),
+            xref_start
+        )
+        .as_bytes(),
+    );
+    pdf
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn test_extract_text_with_positions_emits_image_bboxes() {
+    // Place a 200×100 image at (50, 600) in PDF user space (origin
+    // bottom-left). The Do operator applies the CTM to a unit square,
+    // so for an axis-aligned image, CTM = [w, 0, 0, h, x, y].
+    let pdf = make_pdf_with_image([200.0, 0.0, 0.0, 100.0, 50.0, 600.0]);
+    let items = extract_text_with_positions_mem(&pdf).expect("extract");
+
+    let images: Vec<&TextItem> = items
+        .iter()
+        .filter(|i| matches!(i.item_type, ItemType::Image))
+        .collect();
+    assert_eq!(
+        images.len(),
+        1,
+        "expected exactly one Image item, got items: {:?}",
+        items
+            .iter()
+            .map(|i| (&i.text, &i.item_type))
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+    );
+    let img = images[0];
+    assert!((img.x - 50.0).abs() < 0.01, "x={}", img.x);
+    assert!((img.y - 600.0).abs() < 0.01, "y={}", img.y);
+    assert!((img.width - 200.0).abs() < 0.01, "width={}", img.width);
+    assert!((img.height - 100.0).abs() < 0.01, "height={}", img.height);
+    assert_eq!(img.page, 1);
+    // text field carries the legacy `[Image: <resource-name>]` form that
+    // the markdown emitter already knows how to parse.
+    assert_eq!(img.text, "[Image: Im0]");
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn test_image_xobject_bbox_handles_rotated_ctm() {
+    // 90° rotation CTM: a unit square at the origin maps to a square
+    // rotated counter-clockwise about (0,0), then translated to (200, 300).
+    // For a 100×100 image, that's CTM = [0, 100, -100, 0, 200, 300]
+    // (apply the rotation: (1,0) → (0,100); (0,1) → (-100,0)).
+    // The page-space corners are:
+    //   (0,0) → (200, 300)
+    //   (1,0) → (200, 400)
+    //   (1,1) → (100, 400)
+    //   (0,1) → (100, 300)
+    // → AABB: x=100..200 (w=100), y=300..400 (h=100).
+    let pdf = make_pdf_with_image([0.0, 100.0, -100.0, 0.0, 200.0, 300.0]);
+    let items = extract_text_with_positions_mem(&pdf).expect("extract");
+    let img = items
+        .iter()
+        .find(|i| matches!(i.item_type, ItemType::Image))
+        .expect("image item");
+    assert!((img.x - 100.0).abs() < 0.01, "x={}", img.x);
+    assert!((img.y - 300.0).abs() < 0.01, "y={}", img.y);
+    assert!((img.width - 100.0).abs() < 0.01, "width={}", img.width);
+    assert!((img.height - 100.0).abs() < 0.01, "height={}", img.height);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn test_image_emission_does_not_change_default_markdown() {
+    // Default `MarkdownOptions::include_images = false` — adding image
+    // emission MUST NOT make `extract_pages_markdown` start producing
+    // `![Image: …]` placeholders for everyone. Existing callers that
+    // upgrade should see no diff in their markdown.
+    let pdf = make_pdf_with_image([200.0, 0.0, 0.0, 100.0, 50.0, 600.0]);
+    let result = extract_pages_markdown_mem(&pdf, None).expect("extract");
+    assert_eq!(result.pages.len(), 1);
+    assert!(
+        !result.pages[0].markdown.contains("Image:"),
+        "default markdown leaked an image placeholder: {:?}",
+        result.pages[0].markdown
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn test_markdown_options_default_has_include_images_false() {
+    // Explicit assertion so anyone flipping this back catches it in CI.
+    // See `MarkdownOptions::default` in src/markdown/mod.rs for the
+    // long-form rationale.
+    let opts = MarkdownOptions::default();
+    assert!(!opts.include_images);
+}