<TABLE ID="tbl" CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="1" BORDER="1"> <TR id="r"> <TH>(1,1) </TH> <TH>(1,2) </TH> <TH>(1,3) </TH> <TH>(1,4) </TH> <TH>(1,5) </TH> </TR> </TABLE> <script> var text = document.getElementById("r").innerText.replace(/\t/g, "[tab]"); document.write("<pre>xxx" + text + "xxx</pre>"); </script>