TableCrafter Documentation

Install TableCrafter from the WordPress.org directory or a ZIP, activate it, meet the WordPress 5.0+ / PHP 8.0+ requirements, and find where its settings live.

Build your first TableCrafter table in minutes using the [tablecrafter] shortcode or the admin visual generator, from a Google Sheet or JSON endpoint.

Use TableCrafter's admin Visual Shortcode Generator to configure a data source, columns, and options, preview live data, and copy a ready-to-paste [tablecrafter] shortcode.

TableCrafter 3.5.6 requirements: PHP 8.0+, WordPress 5.0+ (tested to 7.0), themes, Gutenberg/Elementor, hosting (ZipArchive for XLSX), and multisite notes.

How to update TableCrafter safely, what changes between minor and major versions, PHP/WordPress compatibility, and the free-to-Pro upgrade path.

How TableCrafter turns any CSV, JSON, Google Sheet, or API into a fast WordPress table: fetch, stale-while-revalidate cache, server render, then client hydrate.

How TableCrafter maps a JSON, CSV, or Airtable source into table rows and columns, including header generation and flat vs. nested data with the root path.

How TableCrafter renders crawlable HTML tables on the server, then hydrates them in the browser for search, sort, pagination, and export.

How TableCrafter's stale-while-revalidate caching works: transient layers, one-hour lifetime, the 5-minute stale window, background refresh, and manual purge.

Compare every TableCrafter data source: remote JSON APIs, local JSON/CSV files, Google Sheets, and Airtable. Learn which source type to use and when.

Display a published Google Sheet as a live WordPress table with TableCrafter. Paste the sheet link, pick a tab with gid, and configure auto-refresh.

Connect Google Sheets to TableCrafter via the public CSV export and gviz endpoints. How link-sharing, the key-in-URL model, and SSRF protection really work.

Connect TableCrafter to any REST API or JSON endpoint: map nested responses to rows and columns, send auth headers, and stay protected by built-in SSRF defenses.

How TableCrafter authenticates REST/JSON data sources: Bearer tokens for Airtable, query-string API keys, encrypted token storage, and SSRF-safe fetching.

Point TableCrafter at nested JSON with the root attribute, flatten objects and arrays into table columns, and fix common path errors.

Connect any JSON file or API URL to TableCrafter, drill into nested arrays with the root path attribute, and rename columns with include aliasing.

Connect a hosted or uploaded CSV file to TableCrafter. Learn the source URL format, header-row and delimiter behavior, and a working [tablecrafter] example.

Choose which TableCrafter data fields become table columns, set their order, and relabel headers using the include, exclude, and root shortcode attributes.

Keep TableCrafter tables live with SWR caching, configurable auto-refresh intervals, smart interaction pausing, visual indicators, and data-source health monitoring.

Fix TableCrafter data source errors: unreachable or blocked URLs, SSRF blocks, CORS, Airtable auth failures, invalid JSON, and empty or malformed data.

Add TableCrafter data tables in the WordPress block editor with the tablecrafter/data-table block: sidebar controls, demo sources, and a server-rendered live preview.

Complete reference for every attribute on the TableCrafter Gutenberg block (tablecrafter/data-table): data source, columns, search, filters, export, pagination, and auto-refresh.

Place TableCrafter data tables anywhere with the [tablecrafter] shortcode. Full attribute reference, examples, widget and PHP usage for any WordPress theme.

Add the TableCrafter Data Table widget in Elementor with visual controls and true live data preview in the editor. Full control reference and setup guide.

Render TableCrafter data tables directly in WordPress theme templates with do_shortcode( '[tablecrafter source="..."] ') — every real attribute, hook, and class.

Add a live search box and clickable multi-column sorting to TableCrafter tables. Learn the search attribute, server-side sort, and accessibility behavior.

Filter TableCrafter tables with global search and auto-detected per-column filters (text, multi-select, date range, number range). Real attributes and CSS only.

Add client-side pagination to TableCrafter tables with the per_page attribute. Set page size, handle large datasets, and use auto-optimization for 1,000+ rows.

Control which columns appear in TableCrafter tables: include/exclude keys, set column order, and rename headers with the include attribute's alias syntax.

How TableCrafter auto-formats cell values — links, emails, images, dates, booleans and tags — plus the real CSS classes you override to restyle them.

TableCrafter's mobile-first card layout, 768/900/1200 breakpoints, swipe-right to expand, swipe-left for actions, 44px touch targets, and 60fps interactions.

TableCrafter is WCAG 2.1 AA compliant out of the box: 44px touch targets, ARIA labels, screen reader announcements, keyboard navigation, and high contrast.

Theme TableCrafter tables with .tc- CSS classes, target columns by data-field, and use the high-contrast and reduced-motion CSS variables and modes.

How TableCrafter handles dark mode, high-contrast CSS variables, and reduced motion, plus how to theme a full dark table by overriding real .tc- classes.

How TableCrafter renders loading skeletons, empty-table messages, and error states for the [tablecrafter] shortcode, plus the CSS classes and JS hooks you can style.

Export TableCrafter tables to genuine CSV, Excel (XLSX) and PDF files, or copy to the clipboard. Server-side generation that respects current filters and search.

Export TableCrafter tables to genuine OOXML .xlsx workbooks built with ZipArchive. What's inside the file and how to open it in Excel or Google Sheets.

Export TableCrafter tables to a genuine, server-generated PDF 1.4 document. Covers the export shortcode flow, single-page layout, limits, and cleanup.

Add CSV download and copy-to-clipboard to TableCrafter tables. UTF-8 BOM encoding, RFC 4180 quoting, filter-aware exports, and the export attribute, classes, and AJAX flow.

How TableCrafter secures table exports: the tc_export_data AJAX action, tc_export_nonce verification, the read capability check, and signed one-time download URLs.

Complete reference for the [tablecrafter] shortcode: every supported attribute with its type, default, and behavior, plus real examples and admin paths.

TableCrafter developer reference for PHP filters (tc_export_templates, trusted IP headers) and frontend JavaScript CustomEvents with full signatures and examples.

Hook into TableCrafter's frontend JavaScript: the tablecrafter:cardTap/cardView/cardEdit DOM events, auto-init flow, and public instance methods like setData, refreshNow, and destroy.

Reference for the real CSS class names TableCrafter emits on tables, cards, controls, and state, plus the CSS variables exposed for theming and styling.

How TableCrafter outputs HTML: the [tablecrafter] container, server-rendered table markup, JS-built toolbar/pagination, CSS classes, and theming hooks.

How TableCrafter protects remote fetches with SSRF guards, WordPress capability checks, nonce verification, rate limiting, and output escaping against XSS.

How TableCrafter delivers sub-100ms tables with SWR transient caching, server-side rendering for SEO, zero-latency hydration, and a zero database footprint.

Tune TableCrafter for large datasets: pagination thresholds, virtual scrolling, SWR cache lifetime, and auto-refresh interval trade-offs with real shortcode attributes.

How developers extend TableCrafter data sources: the URL-protocol source pattern, real WordPress filters, the cache-refresh cron action, JS events, and CSS theming.

Build a polished WordPress pricing table from a public Google Sheet using the [tablecrafter] shortcode, with curated columns, aliases, sorting, and export.

Build a self-updating WordPress status dashboard from a REST/JSON API using TableCrafter's [tablecrafter] shortcode and Smart Auto-Refresh.

Build a searchable team/staff directory with avatar photos in TableCrafter, pulling names, roles and image URLs straight from a CSV or Google Sheet.

Build a sortable, searchable event schedule in WordPress from a Google Sheet using the TableCrafter [tablecrafter] shortcode. No code required.

Build a searchable, paginated product catalog in WordPress from a JSON or CSV file using the TableCrafter [tablecrafter] shortcode. Worked example included.

Build a self-updating, sorted leaderboard in WordPress with TableCrafter's [tablecrafter] shortcode using auto_refresh, refresh_interval, and the sort attribute.

Build a searchable, filterable member directory in WordPress from a hosted CSV or Google Sheet using the TableCrafter [tablecrafter] shortcode.

Build a feature comparison table in WordPress with TableCrafter: pick columns, rename headers, set order, and sort with the [tablecrafter] shortcode.

Fix the most common TableCrafter issues: blocked/unreachable sources, CORS, empty tables, stale cache, missing columns, and Elementor/Gutenberg quirks.

Answers to common TableCrafter questions: supported data sources, caching, security, export formats, performance limits, styling, and licensing.

Every real TableCrafter error string explained: meaning, where it appears, and the exact fix for data-source, export, Airtable, and AJAX failures.

Debug TableCrafter tables: enable WP_DEBUG and TABLECRAFTER_DEBUG, inspect the source response, purge the SWR cache, and read console errors.

An honest guide to TableCrafter Pro: the Advanced Data Tables for Gravity Forms upgrade adds frontend editing, role-based permissions, bulk actions and Pro export.

How TableCrafter's frontend editing works: inline cell editing, role permissions, validation, and the onEdit save flow. A Pro (Gravity Tables) feature.

How TableCrafter controls access with WordPress capabilities and hides columns site-wide using the include and exclude shortcode attributes.

How TableCrafter's free GPL licensing works and how to activate the Pro upgrade (Advanced Data Tables for Gravity Forms) through Freemius.

Move from wpDataTables to TableCrafter: how the database-table model maps to TableCrafter's no-database, live-source [tablecrafter] shortcode.

Move from TablePress to TableCrafter: export your tables to a live source URL, swap the shortcode, and gain real-time data, exports, and mobile cards.

Move from Ninja Tables to TableCrafter: an honest concept map, what carries over, and how to re-point your tables at a CSV, Google Sheet, JSON, or Airtable source.