We would like to display uneditable tables to users that are updated daily from xlsx or csv by FTPing and overwriting the existing file to update the table being displayed on the front end. I've reviewed your video documentation library but this type of scenario isn't specifically addressed.
There are two ways you can use Excel files to create tables:
1. Create a table linked to an existing Excel file
2. Create a table by importing an existing Excel file.
Option 1 will create a table that is linked to the selected file. The plugin will create a copy of that file, and store it in ../wp-content/uploads/YEAR/MONTH/ folder. To modify the table by updating the file, you need to overwrite that file. However, when you do, you need to make sure you don't change the structure, so adding new, deleting existing, rearranging or renaming columns in the source file will cause the table to break, and it will have to be created again. If you keep the structure, you can simply overwrite the file, and after the page where the table is displayed is refreshed, you will see the changes. These tables are not editable, so this may just work for your use case.
Option 2 will use the source file and create a manual table in the database from the data of the Excel file. That table will not be connected to the source file anymore, and any changes in it will not be reflected in the source file or vice-versa. Manual tables can only be updated manually, or by uploading a CSV file in it, in the database.
Thanks for that info. Both options fall just shy of what I'm hoping to accomplish.
Creating a table linked to an existing Excel file (option 1) comes close and is great for handling the daily updates to the data but it doesn't appear to filter the data based on user ID. I need to control what data is shown based on the user ID. Is there a way to do this using option 1?
Option 2 allows filtering by user ID which is good but I would need to create a new table daily to display new data.
Is there a way to combine features of options 1 and 2?
Unfortunately, no - you can't filter per User ID with option 1.
To update the imported file, you would need to overwrite the database table. Every new imported table is actually a manual table in the database, and it's default name is wp_wpdatatable_#, where # is it's database ID.
There, you can add new data by importing the csv file with only the new values (without column headers).
We would like to display uneditable tables to users that are updated daily from xlsx or csv by FTPing and overwriting the existing file to update the table being displayed on the front end. I've reviewed your video documentation library but this type of scenario isn't specifically addressed.
Hello Bil
Thank you for your interest in our plugin.
There are two ways you can use Excel files to create tables:
1. Create a table linked to an existing Excel file
2. Create a table by importing an existing Excel file.
Option 1 will create a table that is linked to the selected file. The plugin will create a copy of that file, and store it in ../wp-content/uploads/YEAR/MONTH/ folder. To modify the table by updating the file, you need to overwrite that file. However, when you do, you need to make sure you don't change the structure, so adding new, deleting existing, rearranging or renaming columns in the source file will cause the table to break, and it will have to be created again. If you keep the structure, you can simply overwrite the file, and after the page where the table is displayed is refreshed, you will see the changes. These tables are not editable, so this may just work for your use case.
Option 2 will use the source file and create a manual table in the database from the data of the Excel file. That table will not be connected to the source file anymore, and any changes in it will not be reflected in the source file or vice-versa. Manual tables can only be updated manually, or by uploading a CSV file in it, in the database.
Kind Regards,
Aleksandar Vuković
[email protected]
Rate my support
wpDataTables: FAQ | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Front-end and back-end demo | Docs
Amelia: FAQ | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Amelia demo sites | Docs | Discord Community
You can try wpDataTables add-ons before purchasing on these sandbox sites:
Powerful Filters | Gravity Forms Integration for wpDataTables | Formidable Forms Integration for wpDataTables | Master-Detail Tables
Hi Aleksandar,
Thanks for that info. Both options fall just shy of what I'm hoping to accomplish.
Creating a table linked to an existing Excel file (option 1) comes close and is great for handling the daily updates to the data but it doesn't appear to filter the data based on user ID. I need to control what data is shown based on the user ID. Is there a way to do this using option 1?
Option 2 allows filtering by user ID which is good but I would need to create a new table daily to display new data.
Is there a way to combine features of options 1 and 2?
Thanks for your time and consideration!
-Bil
Hi again Bil
Unfortunately, no - you can't filter per User ID with option 1.
To update the imported file, you would need to overwrite the database table. Every new imported table is actually a manual table in the database, and it's default name is wp_wpdatatable_#, where # is it's database ID.
There, you can add new data by importing the csv file with only the new values (without column headers).
Kind Regards,
Aleksandar Vuković
[email protected]
Rate my support
wpDataTables: FAQ | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Front-end and back-end demo | Docs
Amelia: FAQ | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Amelia demo sites | Docs | Discord Community
You can try wpDataTables add-ons before purchasing on these sandbox sites:
Powerful Filters | Gravity Forms Integration for wpDataTables | Formidable Forms Integration for wpDataTables | Master-Detail Tables