diff --git a/pandas/core/generic.py b/pandas/core/generic.py
index 5231fa82c1a73..056b1fe7cde4b 100644
--- a/pandas/core/generic.py
+++ b/pandas/core/generic.py
@@ -1084,6 +1084,10 @@ def to_hdf(self, path_or_buf, key, **kwargs):
                        / selecting subsets of the data
         append   : boolean, default False
             For Table formats, append the input data to the existing
+        data_columns : list of columns, or True, default None
+            This will create additional indexed columns for on-disk queries,
+            by default only 'index' and 'columns' are indexed. True will index
+            all columns.
         complevel : int, 1-9, default 0
             If a complib is specified compression will be applied
             where possible
diff --git a/pandas/io/pytables.py b/pandas/io/pytables.py
index 854843ffdd152..b5a7c5ede0219 100644
--- a/pandas/io/pytables.py
+++ b/pandas/io/pytables.py
@@ -892,8 +892,10 @@ def append(self, key, value, format=None, append=True, columns=None,
                        / selecting subsets of the data
         append       : boolean, default True, append the input data to the
             existing
-        data_columns : list of columns to create as data columns, or True to
-            use all columns
+        data_columns : list of columns, or True, default None
+            This will create additional indexed columns for on-disk queries,
+            by default only 'index' and 'columns' are indexed. True will index
+            all columns.
         min_itemsize : dict of columns that specify minimum string sizes
         nan_rep      : string to use as string nan represenation
         chunksize    : size to chunk the writing