RMarkdown pdf_output of ztable | xtable | htmlTable - r

Question

I successfully generate tables using either ztable, xtable or htmlTable packages with no problems. But, I'd like to know whether these tables may be output as pdf documents. When I try to knit a pdf_output, the table is not displayed. Instead the information is displayed as several strings. I've tried changing the latex engine (using ztable) and other methods with no luck.
I've looked here:
http://www.mzan.com/article/29773068-rmarkdown-latex-table-output-difficulties.shtml
I've also looked in the vignettes, etc.
Example (RMarkdown):
---
output: pdf_document
---
```{r, message = F, results = 'asis'}
# will throw out Error: pandoc document conversion failed with error 43
library(ztable)
data(iris)
options(ztable.type="latex")
zt <- ztable(iris[1:5,], caption = "ztable")
zt <- addcgroup(zt,
cgroup = c("group 1", "group 2"),
n.cgroup = c(2,3))
print(zt)
```
```{r, message = F }
# since it's html, will produce text only
library(htmlTable)
data(mtcars)
colnames(mtcars) <- NULL
htmlTable(mtcars[1:5,], caption = "htmlTable",
cgroup = c("group 1", "group 2"),
n.cgroup = c(5,6))
```

Answer 1

Adding header-includes: \usepackage{colortbl} resolves the error for ztable. I don't think htmlTable has a latex engine.
full code:
---
output: pdf_document
header-includes: \usepackage{colortbl}
---
```{r, message = F, results = 'asis'}
library(ztable)
data(iris)
options(ztable.type="latex")
zt <- ztable(iris[1:5,], caption = "ztable")
zt <- addcgroup(zt,
cgroup = c("group 1", "group 2"),
n.cgroup = c(2,3))
print(zt)
```
```{r, message = F }
# since it's html, will produce text only
library(htmlTable)
data(mtcars)
colnames(mtcars) <- NULL
htmlTable(mtcars[1:5,], caption = "htmlTable",
cgroup = c("group 1", "group 2"),
n.cgroup = c(5,6))
```