Preserve empty cells in tables

3 files changed, 21 insertions, 2 deletions

diff --git a/mammoth/conversion.py b/mammoth/conversion.py
index fa1333b..0349774 100644
--- a/mammoth/conversion.py
+++ b/mammoth/conversion.py
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ class DocumentConverter(object):
     
     
     def _convert_table_cell(self, table_cell, html_generator):
-        html_generator.start("td")
+        html_generator.start("td", always_write=True)
         for child in table_cell.children:
             child_generator = HtmlGenerator()
             self.convert_element_to_html(child, child_generator)
diff --git a/mammoth/html_generation.py b/mammoth/html_generation.py
index 8395a3d..32a0d62 100644
--- a/mammoth/html_generation.py
+++ b/mammoth/html_generation.py
@@ -12,8 +12,11 @@ class HtmlGenerator(object):
             self._write_all()
             self._fragments.append(_escape_html(text))
     
-    def start(self, name, attributes=None):
+    def start(self, name, attributes=None, always_write=False):
         self._stack.append(_Element(name, attributes))
+        
+        if always_write:
+            self._write_all()
 
     def end(self):
         element = self._stack.pop()
diff --git a/tests/conversion_tests.py b/tests/conversion_tests.py
index 3c5ff88..9cb8757 100644
--- a/tests/conversion_tests.py
+++ b/tests/conversion_tests.py
@@ -192,6 +192,22 @@ def docx_table_is_converted_to_table_in_html():
 
 
 @istest
+def empty_cells_are_preserved_in_table():
+    table = documents.table([
+        documents.table_row([
+            documents.table_cell([_paragraph_with_text("")]),
+            documents.table_cell([_paragraph_with_text("Top right")]),
+        ]),
+    ])
+    result = convert_document_element_to_html(table)
+    expected_html = (
+        "<table>" +
+        "<tr><td></td><td><p>Top right</p></td></tr>" +
+        "</table>")
+    assert_equal(expected_html, result.value)
+
+
+@istest
 def images_are_converted_to_img_tags_with_data_uri():
     image = documents.image(alt_text=None, content_type="image/png", open=lambda: io.BytesIO(b"abc"))
     result = convert_document_element_to_html(image)