A method for recognizing a table structure from delineated table region in an electronic document using hierarchical clustering of data strings. The cluster groupings are segregated effectively using the distances from a positional vector associated with words and groups of words rather than a minimum number of blank spaces between words. Once a data tree of the hierarchical clusterings is constructed, the tree is scanned downward from the root to find appropriate column boundaries using a columnization algorithm. Then using successive heuristic algorithms, determine column and row headers and row boundaries.