diff --git a/resources/assets/js/components/ColumnEditor.vue b/resources/assets/js/components/ColumnEditor.vue
index 2f49319..96ea5e7 100644
--- a/resources/assets/js/components/ColumnEditor.vue
+++ b/resources/assets/js/components/ColumnEditor.vue
@@ -50,10 +50,10 @@
 
   td, th {
     @include pr(1);
+    @include py(1);
   }
 
   td .btn {
-    @include py(1);
     @include mr(1);
   }
 </style>
@@ -77,11 +77,10 @@ export default {
       this.columns.splice(n, 1)
     },
     addCol() {
-      let nth = this.columns.length+1
       this.columns.push({
-        name: `column-${nth}`,
+        name: '',
         type: 'string',
-        title: `Column ${nth}`,
+        title: '',
       })
     }
   }
diff --git a/resources/assets/sass/_fa-utils.scss b/resources/assets/sass/_fa-utils.scss
index ae3661e..bdf1a35 100644
--- a/resources/assets/sass/_fa-utils.scss
+++ b/resources/assets/sass/_fa-utils.scss
@@ -1,30 +1,30 @@
 
 // padding right for icons (must not use space next to it!)
 .fa-pr::before {
-	margin-right: $sp1;
+	margin-right: dist(2);
 }
 .fa-pl::before {
-	margin-left: $sp1;
+	margin-left: dist(2);
 }
 
 .fa-pr2::before {
-	 margin-right: $sp2;
+	 margin-right: dist(4);
  }
 .fa-pl2::before {
-	margin-left: $sp2;
+	margin-left: dist(4);
 }
 
 .fa-px::before {
-	margin-left: $sp1;
-	margin-right: $sp1;
+	margin-left: dist(2);
+	margin-right: dist(2);
 }
 .fa-px2::before {
-	margin-left: $sp2;
-	margin-right: $sp2;
+	margin-left: dist(4);
+	margin-right: dist(4);
 }
 
 .fa-large.fa-pr::before {
-	margin-right: $sp2;
+	margin-right: dist(4);
 }
 
 .fa-large {
diff --git a/resources/assets/sass/app.scss b/resources/assets/sass/app.scss
index e93ce8f..1b0a595 100644
--- a/resources/assets/sass/app.scss
+++ b/resources/assets/sass/app.scss
@@ -23,6 +23,6 @@ html {
 
 .bio-table {
 	td {
-		padding-top: $sp1;
+		padding-top: dist(2);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/resources/assets/sass/bootstrap-customizations/_card.scss b/resources/assets/sass/bootstrap-customizations/_card.scss
index 56ddeb1..7587e02 100644
--- a/resources/assets/sass/bootstrap-customizations/_card.scss
+++ b/resources/assets/sass/bootstrap-customizations/_card.scss
@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@
 }
 
 .card-body .close {
-	margin-top:-$sp1;
-	margin-right:-$sp1;
+	margin-top: dist(-2);
+	margin-right: dist(-2);
 	min-width: 1.5rem;
 	text-align:center;
 }
diff --git a/resources/assets/sass/bootstrap-customizations/_navbar.scss b/resources/assets/sass/bootstrap-customizations/_navbar.scss
index a070142..622dbe2 100644
--- a/resources/assets/sass/bootstrap-customizations/_navbar.scss
+++ b/resources/assets/sass/bootstrap-customizations/_navbar.scss
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@
 }
 
 .nav-link {
-	padding: $sp1 $sp3;
+	@include py(2);
+	@include px(6);
 	display: inline-block;
 }
 
diff --git a/resources/assets/sass/bootstrap-customizations/_variables.scss b/resources/assets/sass/bootstrap-customizations/_variables.scss
index 49fd85a..91eb3c8 100644
--- a/resources/assets/sass/bootstrap-customizations/_variables.scss
+++ b/resources/assets/sass/bootstrap-customizations/_variables.scss
@@ -1,15 +1,3 @@
-$sp0: 0;
-$sp1_2: $spacer*.25;
-
-$sp1_4: $spacer*.125;
-$sp2_4: $sp1_2;
-$sp3_4: $spacer*.75;
-
-$sp1: $spacer*.5;
-$sp2: $spacer*1;
-$sp3: $spacer*1.5;
-$sp4: $spacer*2;
-
 // Body
 $body-bg: white;
 
@@ -35,5 +23,5 @@ $tooltip-max-width: 300px;
 $tooltip-bg: darken($primary, 20%);
 $tooltip-arrow-color: $tooltip-bg;
 
-$pagination-padding-y-sm: $sp1_2;
-$pagination-padding-x-sm: $sp3_4;
+$pagination-padding-y-sm: dist(1);
+$pagination-padding-x-sm: dist(3);
diff --git a/resources/views/table/create.blade.php b/resources/views/table/create.blade.php
index 9eb9602..743603f 100644
--- a/resources/views/table/create.blade.php
+++ b/resources/views/table/create.blade.php
@@ -71,7 +71,8 @@
       {!! Widget::textarea('data', 'Initial data')->value($exampleData)->height('12em')
             ->help('
               Initial table data in CSV format, columns corresponding to the
-              specification you entered above.') !!}
+              specification you entered above. This is optional; you can fill the table
+              later, e.g. by uploading a CSV file.') !!}
 
       <div class="row form-group">
         <div class="col-md-7 offset-md-3">