I have a wpDataTable that is based upon an excel worksheet containing a column of dates. I am using the report add-on to allow visitors to my web site to filter the table content and create a word document containing fields from the table. The output can contain the content from multiple rows from the table. When I create the report using the dashboard wizard and test before saving, the dates are displayed correctly. But when I run the report from a web page, the dates appear as 01/01/2007. I don't understand why the display is correct in test mode within the dashboard but not via a web page.

I have double checked all my settings and used csv and excel files for the source data. There definitely appears to be a problem with the display of dates in word reports from datatables.

Here is a link to the web site where the table exists, http://www.powerphone.com/course-information/

Hi Miljko,

I 'fixed' the output but the problem still exists. To make the report work I have 2 data columns in the data table. One of formatted as type Date and the other is formatted as type String. To sort the table view by date, I am showing the column formatted as Date. In the report output the dates displayed are coming from the column formatted as String. I tried several timed to verify that the problem wasn't caused by the data in my table but I kept coming back to the what seemed to be a problem with the report output not being able to display date values from a table column formatted as type Date. Would you like me to send you the files I am using?

Hi Miljko,

You had me really scratching my head with this because you were correct, your report appeared to behave perfectly well while mine didn't. However, eventually I was able to replicate my problem using the table you created. In the example you created, the one thing you did not replicate was to have the table used by the report also displayed in the same page. I added a button to your report to my wp page and as you stated he date field displayed correctly in the report. But if I also added a short code within the page so your table was also displayed and then ran the report, the date information displayed in the report replicated the problem.

Please look at the page now. I have my original table displayed with two report buttons above. The first button is my original report with the date field consistently displaying the date from a column in the table that is defined as a string type. This was the only way I could get the dates in reports to appear correctly. The button below is an adapted report that shows date information from 2 date columns in my table. One column is configured as type string and the other as type date. When you run the report you will see that the type date detail is clearly showing 01/01/1970 even though in the table the dates in both fields are the same values.

Below my table is another button and table. This is the table you created and the button is the same report that was linked to button one above except the data is coming from your data table. Because the table is also in view on the page, you will now see that the dates are also shown as 01/01/1970. If you removet the short code to wpdatatable 3 from the page via the wp dashboard and then rerun the report, it works correctly. So the problem is related to situations where the source data table is displayed within the same page / post as the report button, it isn't actually anything to do with the physical data in the table! :-)

This outcome is also consistent with the test feature provided within the report generator plugin. The test feature doesn't have source table in view at the time the report is tested, so essentially the test gives a false positive outcome.

Jerry

Hi Miljko,

It looks as if you have resolved the problem, thank you. Was the problem within my WP theme or was it within the plugin?

Jerry

Hi Miljko,

Thank you for the update and your assistance resolving this matter. I use wpDataTables on a couple of web sites, it is a very good plugin.

Jerry