WP Table Manager: Common Use

The main idea of WP Table Manager is to manage all the tables from the editor although you have a plugin view. WP Table Manager works on every WordPress WYSIWYG editor, both for frontend and backend. For example, you can use it in a custom WordPress module.

1. Manage tables from article

When WP Table Manager is installed you have an editor button displayed on your editor. Click on it to open the main WP Table Manager view.

Table manager in a lightbox opened from a post/page, you can press on the title to view the content of the table/chart or just click on the space beside to select one then hit the Insert This Table button

Then, the table will be materialized with a grey area and an Excel / a chart like an icon corresponding.

If you click on the area then on the WP Table Manager button again the table previously added will be loaded.

However, Gutenberg is the default editor in WordPress now, so you can take a look at 7. Blocks in Gutenberg

2. Manage tables and categories

Tables are classified inside categories. You can have as many tables as you want inside categories.

In order to create a table category, click on Create New >> Category button on the dashboard header. To create a new table click on Create New >> Table button.

Note: a default category and table is already created during plugin install

On the left panel, the category can be managed by putting your mouse on it, you’ll be able to edit the name or delete it by right-clicking on the category.

To order the categories you can use drag’n drop feature.

On the right main panel, you can edit, duplicate, rename and remove table. The icons are on the top of dashboard when clicking on a table. You can also find them if right clicking on a table.

3. Table edition

To add data in tables you have to act like you are in a spreadsheet. Double click on a cell will bring you the possibility to update content, a single click to select one/some cells (and to apply style for example).

To add lines or columns, use the right click. Then you can insert rows/columns on the left or right.

To copy cells you can use CTRL+C / CTRL+V (or the apple stuff that does the same J) or you can also put your mouse on the bottom right corner of the cell and bring it into the direction you want.

Note that all you’re doing is saved automatically with a message on the top right

You have an option to undo/redo the latest modification.

WP Table Manager keeps a backup of the modification you’ve done with cells content edition and is able to restore it.

4. Advanced content edition

HTML cells

You can add HTML content with a WYSIWYG editor inside each cell. Select a cell, on the toolbar click the < > icon.

Now when you edit the cell, you’ll have HTML editor inside. Image and HTML are available.

Merge cells

The cells can also be merged. Select 2 cells or more then do a right click, a menu will allows you to do the merging.

Or you can use Merge cells icon on the toolbar.

Columns types

In order to change the data type of columns, you can go to Menu Format >> Columns types. Then pick a type for a corresponding column.

Or right click on any cell, on the context menu you can select Column type for that column.

Note: After changing the data type of the column, the old data in the current column may be lost!

Hide columns on front-end

In order to hide a column of a table on frontend, you can right-clicking on the column header, then select the "Hide column on front-end" option. The green tick will appear at the end of the option. Finally, users can not see that column on front-end. You can hide as many as columns you want.

5. Excel and spreadsheet export

You can export spreadsheet in WP Table Manager by using our dedicated tool. Navigate to Menu Table >> Export table, select Data + styles or Data only. Then click on Export Excel button.

The export can be done in Excel 2003 or 2007 format. You can find at plugin Configuration >> Main Settings.

6. Shortcode

Table shortcode

On the dashboard, you can see the shortcode of each table. The copy buttons are next to the shortcode, you can use it to share the tables easily, e.g: [wptm id=8]

Cells shortcode

User can insert several rows and columns using a shortcode instead of a whole table. First, you should select cells that you want to insert. Then right click on that and select Cell insertion shortcode option in the context menu.

After selecting the options on the popup, click on Copy icon. Then you can paste the shortcode to your posts/pages.

e.g: [wptm id=258 download="1" align="none" range="B1-D8"]

Chart shortcode

After creating a chart, you can find the shortcode of chart on the right panel, then you can Copy it and paste to your posts/pages.

e.g: [wptm id-chart=42]

7. Blocks in Gutenberg editor

You can show your tables or charts on your site using Gutenberg editor now. These two WP Table Manager blocks are WP Table Manager and WP Table Manager Chart.

In order to add a table in Gutenberg editor, search and then click the WP Table Manager block in the Widgets category. Once located, click on the field and there will be a table list you created that appear, then you select a table you want to display on the frontend. After selecting the table, a preview table will show immediately.

It's similar to adding a table, by searching and then clicking the WP Table Manager Chart block in the Widgets category. Then you pick one chart on dropdown list.