Hi, Neil 

Thanks for reaching out to us

I will give you the general information about using Excel files with our plugin.

You can use Excel files in two ways to create wpDataTables:

1. Create a table linked to an existing Excel file, in which case you get to select the file (upload it) that'll be used to pull the data. This file will be stored in ../wp-content/uploads/YEAR/MONTH/ folder. 

The file on that location can be changed, but the structure can't. 

So, if you have the file with the same title, the same number of columns, same headers, and the same order of columns - you'd be able to replace the original file with the new file, and wpDataTables would pick that up.

2. Create a table by importing the Excel file. In this case, the source file is read, and a manual table is created. So, the generated table reads the source only once, and after that, there are no relations between it and the wpDataTable. You would be able to edit the table, but the changes wouldn't be seen in the source file.

 In this case, you'd be able to save new rows in a separate Excel file (without column headers) and export it as CSV. 

Then, access the table and in the Editing tab above the table see what the "MySQL table name for editing" is. Access your database and access that table. In the "Import" tab select the new CSV file and import it. That will update the table. 

Another option would be to switch to Excel-like view, select a range of new cells from your Excel file and paste them below the last row in wpDataTables.

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Let me know how that sounds, and if you have any questions.

Thank you

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And, just wanted to point out that we have a Demo Sandbox site, where you can try out the plugin functionalities, on this link

and there is a 15-day money-back guarantee period, So if you purchase the plugin, you can safely fully test it out, and if it doesn't fit your needs you can request and receive a refund in that period. ( same goes for all plugins and add-ons)

Hi, Neil 

I forgot to add this detail.

In the free/Lite version, you can link an Excel file to a table. ( Up to 2 to 3 thousand rows, if the data is larger, we recommend to switch to the import method, because the table would most likely break due to too many rows)

-But in the Lite version you can not import the Excel file to create a new table in the database, and you can not create SQL-Queries, amongst other limitations.

Also, in premium version we have this Excel-like editor feature for Manual tables;  that is not available in Lite version.

Just wanted to add that, as well. Thank you