TableCrafter Documentation

By Fahad Murtaza • Updated July 2026

TableCrafter is a WordPress plugin that turns structured data from Google Sheets, REST APIs, JSON and CSV files, Airtable, Notion, Gravity Forms, and WooCommerce into server-rendered, interactive frontend tables. WordPress powers 43% of all websites globally (W3Techs, July 2026), and TableCrafter is designed to give any WordPress site owner a live, sortable, filterable data table without custom PHP or theme modification. The free version on WordPress.org supports CSV, JSON, Google Sheets, and Excel. Pro adds Gravity Forms, Airtable, Notion, WooCommerce, REST APIs, inline cell editing, export to CSV and PDF, role-based column visibility, and auto-refresh.

Use the categories below to find setup guides, shortcode references, data source documentation, and developer hooks. If you are starting fresh, begin with Quick Start: Your First Table.

Getting Started

Installation & Activation
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.
New in v7.8
Table Creation Wizard
The fastest path to a working table. A 5-step guided flow: pick a source, connect it, choose columns, set display options, and copy your shortcode. No builder experience needed.
Quick Start: Your First Table
Build your first TableCrafter table in minutes using the [tablecrafter] shortcode or the admin visual generator, from a Google Sheet or JSON endpoint.
Visual Shortcode Generator
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.
Requirements & Compatibility
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.
Upgrading & Updates
How to update TableCrafter safely, what changes between minor and major versions, PHP/WordPress compatibility, and the free-to-Pro upgrade path.

Core Concepts

How TableCrafter Works
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.
The Data Model: Rows & Columns
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.
The Rendering Pipeline
How TableCrafter renders crawlable HTML tables on the server, then hydrates them in the browser for search, sort, pagination, and export.
The Caching Model (SWR)
How TableCrafter's stale-while-revalidate caching works: transient layers, one-hour lifetime, the 5-minute stale window, background refresh, and manual purge.

Data Sources

Data Sources Overview
Compare every TableCrafter data source: remote JSON APIs, local JSON/CSV files, Google Sheets, and Airtable. Learn which source type to use and when.
Connect Google Sheets
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.
Private & API-Key Google Sheets
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 a REST API or JSON Endpoint
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.
REST API Authentication
How TableCrafter authenticates REST/JSON data sources: Bearer tokens for Airtable, query-string API keys, encrypted token storage, and SSRF-safe fetching.
Working with Nested JSON
Point TableCrafter at nested JSON with the root attribute, flatten objects and arrays into table columns, and fix common path errors.
Connect a JSON File or URL
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 CSV File
Connect a hosted or uploaded CSV file to TableCrafter. Learn the source URL format, header-row and delimiter behavior, and a working [tablecrafter] example.
Mapping Fields to Columns
Choose which TableCrafter data fields become table columns, set their order, and relabel headers using the include, exclude, and root shortcode attributes.
Auto-Refresh & Live Data
Keep TableCrafter tables live with SWR caching, configurable auto-refresh intervals, smart interaction pausing, visual indicators, and data-source health monitoring.
Data Source Troubleshooting
Fix TableCrafter data source errors: unreachable or blocked URLs, SSRF blocks, CORS, Airtable auth failures, invalid JSON, and empty or malformed data.

Integration Methods

Gutenberg Block
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.
Block Attributes Reference
Complete reference for every attribute on the TableCrafter Gutenberg block (tablecrafter/data-table): data source, columns, search, filters, export, pagination, and auto-refresh.
Shortcodes
Place TableCrafter data tables anywhere with the [tablecrafter] shortcode. Full attribute reference, examples, widget and PHP usage for any WordPress theme.
Elementor Widget
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.
Rendering in PHP Templates
Render TableCrafter data tables directly in WordPress theme templates with do_shortcode( '[tablecrafter source="..."] '), every real attribute, hook, and class.

Table Features

Live Search & Sorting
Add a live search box and clickable multi-column sorting to TableCrafter tables. Learn the search attribute, server-side sort, and accessibility behavior.
Filtering Data
Filter TableCrafter tables with global search and auto-detected per-column filters (text, multi-select, date range, number range). Real attributes and CSS only.
Pagination
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.
Column Management
Control which columns appear in TableCrafter tables: include/exclude keys, set column order, and rename headers with the include attribute's alias syntax.
Column Formatting
How TableCrafter auto-formats cell values, links, emails, images, dates, booleans and tags, plus the real CSS classes you override to restyle them.
Responsive Design & Touch Gestures
TableCrafter's mobile-first card layout, 768/900/1200 breakpoints, swipe-right to expand, swipe-left for actions, 44px touch targets, and 60fps interactions.
Accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA)
TableCrafter is WCAG 2.1 AA compliant out of the box: 44px touch targets, ARIA labels, screen reader announcements, keyboard navigation, and high contrast.
Custom Styling & CSS Variables
Theme TableCrafter tables with .tc- CSS classes, target columns by data-field, and use the high-contrast and reduced-motion CSS variables and modes.
Dark Mode & Theming
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.
Loading & Empty States
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.
Column Visibility Picker
Let visitors show or hide table columns on the fly with TableCrafter's built-in column visibility picker. Covers the shortcode attribute, persistence, and mobile behavior.
Status Badge Cell Type
Display color-coded status labels in any column with TableCrafter's status badge cell type. Map values to badge colors, configure label text, and style with CSS variables.
Data Bars, In-Cell Visual Value Bars
Add inline horizontal data bars to numeric columns to give readers instant visual context. Configure min/max, bar color, and combine with formatted cell values.

Data Export

Data Export Overview
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.
Excel (XLSX) Export
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.
PDF Export
Export TableCrafter tables to a genuine, server-generated PDF 1.4 document. Covers the export shortcode flow, single-page layout, limits, and cleanup.
CSV & Clipboard Export
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.
Export Permissions & Security
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.

Developer Reference

Shortcode Parameter Reference
Complete reference for the [tablecrafter] shortcode: every supported attribute with its type, default, and behavior, plus real examples and admin paths.
Hooks & Filters
TableCrafter developer reference for PHP filters (tc_export_templates, trusted IP headers) and frontend JavaScript CustomEvents with full signatures and examples.
JavaScript Events & API
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.
CSS Classes Reference
Reference for the real CSS class names TableCrafter emits on tables, cards, controls, and state, plus the CSS variables exposed for theming and styling.
Markup & Template Structure
How TableCrafter outputs HTML: the [tablecrafter] container, server-rendered table markup, JS-built toolbar/pagination, CSS classes, and theming hooks.
Security: SSRF Protection & Capabilities
How TableCrafter protects remote fetches with SSRF guards, WordPress capability checks, nonce verification, rate limiting, and output escaping against XSS.
Caching & Performance Internals
How TableCrafter delivers sub-100ms tables with SWR transient caching, server-side rendering for SEO, zero-latency hydration, and a zero database footprint.
Performance Tuning
Tune TableCrafter for large datasets: pagination thresholds, virtual scrolling, SWR cache lifetime, and auto-refresh interval trade-offs with real shortcode attributes.
Extending: Custom Data Sources
How developers extend TableCrafter data sources: the URL-protocol source pattern, real WordPress filters, the cache-refresh cron action, JS events, and CSS theming.

Recipes

Recipe: Pricing Table from a Sheet
Build a polished WordPress pricing table from a public Google Sheet using the [tablecrafter] shortcode, with curated columns, aliases, sorting, and export.
Recipe: Live API Status Dashboard
Build a self-updating WordPress status dashboard from a REST/JSON API using TableCrafter's [tablecrafter] shortcode and Smart Auto-Refresh.
Recipe: Team / Staff Directory
Build a searchable team/staff directory with avatar photos in TableCrafter, pulling names, roles and image URLs straight from a CSV or Google Sheet.
Recipe: Event Schedule
Build a sortable, searchable event schedule in WordPress from a Google Sheet using the TableCrafter [tablecrafter] shortcode. No code required.
Recipe: Product Catalog
Build a searchable, paginated product catalog in WordPress from a JSON or CSV file using the TableCrafter [tablecrafter] shortcode. Worked example included.
Recipe: Live Leaderboard
Build a self-updating, sorted leaderboard in WordPress with TableCrafter's [tablecrafter] shortcode using auto_refresh, refresh_interval, and the sort attribute.
Recipe: Member Directory from CSV
Build a searchable, filterable member directory in WordPress from a hosted CSV or Google Sheet using the TableCrafter [tablecrafter] shortcode.
Recipe: Comparison Table
Build a feature comparison table in WordPress with TableCrafter: pick columns, rename headers, set order, and sort with the [tablecrafter] shortcode.

Troubleshooting & FAQ

Troubleshooting
Fix the most common TableCrafter issues: blocked/unreachable sources, CORS, empty tables, stale cache, missing columns, and Elementor/Gutenberg quirks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common TableCrafter questions: supported data sources, caching, security, export formats, performance limits, styling, and licensing.
Error Messages Reference
Every real TableCrafter error string explained: meaning, where it appears, and the exact fix for data-source, export, Airtable, and AJAX failures.
Debugging Tables
Debug TableCrafter tables: enable WP_DEBUG and TABLECRAFTER_DEBUG, inspect the source response, purge the SWR cache, and read console errors.

Pro

Pro Features Overview
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.
Pro: Frontend Editing
How TableCrafter's frontend editing works: inline cell editing, role permissions, validation, and the onEdit save flow. A Pro (Gravity Tables) feature.
Pro: Roles & Permissions
How TableCrafter controls access with WordPress capabilities and hides columns site-wide using the include and exclude shortcode attributes.
Licensing & Activation
How TableCrafter's free GPL licensing works and how to activate the Pro upgrade (Advanced Data Tables for Gravity Forms) through Freemius.
Inline Edit Validation Rules
Define per-column validation rules for inline cell edits: required fields, min/max length, regex patterns, numeric ranges, and custom error messages.
Inline Cell Diff Badge
Show a visual diff badge on cells that have been edited but not yet saved, so editors always know what has changed before they commit.
Bulk Column Fill
Set the same value across a column for all selected rows in one action. Covers the bulk-fill shortcode attribute, permission checks, and undo behavior.
One-Click Entry Duplicate
Duplicate a Gravity Forms entry directly from the table row with a single click. Covers the duplicate action, field exclusions, post-duplicate redirect, and audit log.
Column Role Visibility
Show or hide individual table columns based on WordPress user roles. Configure per-column role rules in the shortcode and keep sensitive data away from the wrong audience.
Value-Threshold Email Alerts
Trigger automated email notifications when an inline edit pushes a numeric cell value past a configured threshold. Set recipients, subject templates, and cooldown windows.

Migration

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