\starttext

\usemodule[ntb-to-xtb]

\asciimode

\bTABLE
    \bTR
        \bTD test # test \eTD
        \bTD \framed[height=3cm]{test} \eTD
        \bTD \dorecurse{30}{a } \eTD
        \bTD \input ward \eTD
    \eTR
    \bTR
        \bTD test \eTD
        \bTD \framed[height=3cm]{test} \eTD
        \bTD \dorecurse{30}{a } \eTD
        \bTD \input ward \eTD
    \eTR
\eTABLE

\startxtable
    \startxrow
        \startxcell test # test \stopxcell
        \startxcell \framed[height=3cm]{test} \stopxcell
        \startxcell[width=3cm] \dorecurse{30}{a } \stopxcell
        \startxcell \input ward \stopxcell
    \stopxrow
    \startxrow
        \startxcell test \stopxcell
        \startxcell \framed[height=3cm]{test} \stopxcell
        \startxcell \dorecurse{30}{a } \stopxcell
        \startxcell[height=4cm] \input ward \stopxcell
    \stopxrow
\stopxtable

\stoptext
