wpDataTables is a WordPress plugin which makes working with tables and managing financial, numerical, statistical and any other type of data easier than ever before. The wpDataTables are one of the most popular plugins and this popularity is due to the fact that the plugin itself is of a very high quality and is developed by a reputed company TMS. For anyone needing to make highly functional data tables, this plugin is their best solution and it has a variety of add-ons that can help the user's experience go as smoothly as possible.
wpDataTables Features
The basic gist of the wpDataTables plugin is quite simple to grasp and the amount of documentation and support available for this plugin is enough for even a beginner to make use of the plugin in an easy manner. This plugin is mostly applied in websites which require tables with large amounts of data, including e-commerce websites, online shopping and so on. wpDataTables plugin contains the following features which allow for a smooth and highly convenient experience for website developers when making their data tables:- MySQL compatibility (real-time data from queries can be directly visualized in tables and charts)
- Compatibility with 3 different chart making engines, including Google Sheets, Highcharts, and Charts.js,
- Interactive tables which change when website visitors filter or sort through them,
- WP Admin can be used to make the tables,
- Data from Microsoft Excel files, Google Spreadsheets, or CSV can be shown directly in tables and charts, or imported to MySQL,
- Formatting tools make it easier to analyze and edit the data (e.g. colored rows and columns),
- No complex configuration is required,
- 2 editing modes, including a standard editor (ideal for smaller amounts of data) and an Excel-like editor (used for larger amounts of data),
- Free lifetime updates and 6 months of support are provided,
- Tables can be customized according to the website's needs,
- This plugin can calculate totals, averages, min and max values when needed,,
- The query generator helps those who do not understand SQL,
- Plugin can pull data from remote MySQL servers,
- A wizard helps to create charts and tables,
- 11 date formats are provided,
- The design can be customized to the website developer's preference,
- Filters can be put in a widget,
- Tables can be edited when needed,
- Advanced filters and search allow for greater accuracy and less time wastage for website visitors,
- The tables are 100% responsive,
- They are compatible with all devices (like laptops, smartphones, tablets, etc.).
How Can a Beginner Use it?
When using this plugin to create tables, there is a simple 4 step process which needs to be followed (which makes it something user-friendly for even beginners):- Provide the data for the table by either using the on-screen wizard to manually enter the data or importing the data from the list provided;
- Choose the settings of the table (whether it should be editable, mobile compatible, have conditional formatting, etc.);
- Choose the place where the table should be displayed on the website (a specific post or page where it would be most suited);
- Copy and paste the shortcode that is automatically generated by the plugin on to the place the table should be displayed and the table will immediately appear.
wpDataTables Add-Ons
The add-ons that are provided with this plugin include the following:- Formidable Forms Integration – Once this add-on is downloaded, Formidable Forms Integration allows users to create a table using an existing data source. Each form's addressed field will be shown as a separate column. The settings of the formidable forms can also be changed to filter the data by date or a specific time period. However, it should be kept in mind that once this add-on is used to make a table, the data in the table cannot be edited.
- Gravity Forms Integration – This is a table type which (similar to the Formidable Forms Integration add-on) contains fields which will appear as separate columns on the table and form entries, which will appear as rows on the finished table. What makes this add-on different from the formidable forms add-on is that the user must create at least one form entry. With two different form field options (Common Fields and Form Fields), users can make customized Gravity Forms to integrate with their wpDatatables for their website. This add-on also allows for date and time period filters, like that available in the formidable forms add-on. Again, the data entered through this add-on cannot be edited.
- Powerful Filters – This add-on makes use of Cascade Filters and allows website developers and website visitors to filter through the data on a table to make searching for something specific easier. This add-on also allows website visitors to hide the rest of the table while using the filter. The Cascade Filters feature of this add-on allows for users to make choices in a chain of filters, for example, on a makeup website, selecting the "lips" filter, then choosing "lipstick", then selecting a specific line of lipstick products.
- Report Builder – This add-on allows website developers to create templates as an easy way to generate documents. Configuration and coding are not required in this add-on and this is one of the many reasons why this add-on is one of the most convenient ones found for the wpDataTables plugin. Another factor which makes Report Builder so convenient is its capacity to download over 100 files in a ZIP file. This add-on is compatible with Microsoft Word and Excel, which makes it easier for the website developer to import data. Reports are easy to generate and the website's information can be accessed within seconds.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Here are some of the pros of installing and using this plugin for a WordPress website:- This plugin is highly trusted and because of this, it is one of the most popular plugins available for download through WordPress;
- Free updates are available for life and 6 months of support for free with each update (no matter what the price of the update is);
- The number of features makes this plugin worth every dollar paid;
- The add-ons are optional and make for the perfect accompaniment to the main plugin;
- This plugin allows for website developers to easily publish tons of data in the form of a table or chart on their websites at any place they want;
- wpDataTables also allows for tables to be edited as the website developer pleases, making for a more updated and accurate presentation of data;
- It is easy to learn because of the amount of support, documentation, and tutorials available;
- It is highly flexible to use and gives complete control to the website developer (leaving nothing to chance);
- This plugin is not time-consuming at all once the user gets the hang of it;
- The filters and search can be used by website visitors to save time and narrow their search through a table to specific items that they would like to view;
- No complicated configuration is needed (which is a huge plus point for WordPress beginners).
Cons
However, the cons of this plugin include:- It may be a bit difficult for beginners to grasp (especially for those who have never made use of WordPress plugins before);
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If one needs specific functionalities, like creating customized downloadable reports, or tables based on Gravity Forms data, add-ons are a must" - 90% users do not need these features and their experience isn't limited.
- Users need to be acquainted with website developer lingo in order to fully understand this plugin's functions and capabilities;
- The price tag may seem a little hefty for people who have not yet fully grasped WordPress;
- Its use is limited to that of creating tables and charts that present data to website visitors;
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