Creating Tables with WP DataTables

wpDataTables is a WordPress Tables and Charts manager. This WordPress table plugin is designed to make the process of data representation and interaction quick, easy, and effective. wpDataTables allows you to quickly build and insert interactive tables and charts in any of your WordPress posts or pages with such features as multi-criteria filtering, sorting, or export to PDF. Tables can be created from virtually any data source, including MySQL query, Google Spreadsheet, PHP array, Excel file, CSV file, JSON, and XML input sources.

Note that the Table Settings block header, in the table configuration page, contains the following tools and buttons:

The Table Settings block header, in the table configuration page, contains the following tools and buttons:

1. Table name input – to change the name of wpDataTable.
2. Table shortcode button – when the table is saved, a shortcode is generated. Click this button to copy the table shortcode.
3. Collapse table settings button – by clicking this button, you can show or hide the table settings block. This button can be used to keep the table settings block from getting in the way when you are editing the table data.
4. Cancel button – by clicking this button, you can cancel all unsaved changes and redirect to the Browse Tables page.
5. Save Changes button – by clicking this button you can apply all changes to see how they affect the table.
6. Description – the description of the table.

After creating a table you will need to copy and paste the shortcode into the page where you would like the table to be displayed.

First step – choose the type of table that you would like to create.

In the first wizard step, you are shown the different ways of creating a table in WP – which lead to different table types. An explanation of the differences is provided under each option. There is no configuration on this step, you simply need to choose one of the options and click “Next“.

Creating a simple table from scratch #

If you choose the first option, you will be able to create a simple table from scratch. In the second step, you’ll be able to configure the table’s structure by setting the table name, description, number of columns, and number of rows.

Once you configure the structure and click on ‘Generate table’, your empty table will be created, and you will be redirected to the table editor where you will insert your data. In there, you will find a lot of customization options like merge cells, star rating, text toolbar, insert HTML,  custom background, text colors, and a lot more.

You can read the full instructions on creating this type of table here.

Creating Tables Manually #

If you choose to create a table manually (the third option) you’ll be able to configure the table structure by setting the table name, its description, the number of columns, each column’s name, the column’s data type, and define possible values (if necessary), and the default value for the editor.

Once you configure the structure and click ‘Create the table’, your table will be created, and you will be redirected to the table configuration editor.

Creating tables from existing data sources. #

If you choose the second option, you’ll be redirected to the “Configure table” page, where you can choose the data source (SQL query, Excel, CSV, Google Spreadsheet, JSON, XML, Serialized PHP array) and create the table. You can  read more about each of them on the links below:

• Create a table from SQL query
• Create a table from Google Spreadsheet
• Create a table from an Excel file
• Create a table from a CSV file
• Create a table from JSON
• Create a table from XML
• Create a table from PHP serialized array

If you choose to create a table by importing data from a given data source (Excel or CSV file, or Google spreadsheet), you will be asked to provide a file for Excel or CSV or paste a URL if you use Google Spreadsheet.

Read here for the full instructions for creating this type of table.

When you are creating a table by importing data from a data source, in Step 3, you will preview the columns that wpDataTables fetched in the provided file or URL; see the ‘guessed’ data type (change it if necessary), preview the data, and remove some columns from import if necessary, or optionally add new ones.

You can find the full instructions on how to create wpDataTables based on importing data from different data sources here.

When you’ve finished configuring, simply click on ‘Create the table‘. A dropdown will open with options to open the table in a standard editor or an Excel-like editor. After choosing the editor type, the table will be created, the data will be imported, and you will be redirected to the table configuration page.

Adding wpDataTables Shortcodes #