How to Create Dynamic Tables in Elementor: A Guide to Auto Updates and Custom Styles

Dynamic tables are a powerful way to present data that updates automatically, reducing the need for manual maintenance. Whether you’re showcasing a product catalog, live inventory data, or custom user information, dynamic tables in Elementor can transform your website into a highly interactive platform.

This guide will walk you through the process of integrating third-party plugins with Elementor to create dynamic tables, including how to update data automatically and customize table styles to fit your website’s design.

Why Use Dynamic Tables in Elementor?

Dynamic tables are ideal for showcasing up-to-date data while minimizing manual effort. Here are some common use cases:

• Displaying live updates, such as inventory or pricing.
• Presenting personalized information, such as member data.
• Dynamically listing products or services.
• Automating event or sales data updates.

With dynamic tables, your website content remains accurate and engaging, enhancing the user experience.

Tools and Plugins You’ll Need

To create dynamic tables in Elementor, you’ll need the following tools:

1. Elementor Pro: For essential dynamic content functionality.
2. TablePress or WP Data Tables: These plugins allow you to create, manage, and update dynamic tables with ease.

Steps to Create Dynamic Tables in Elementor

Step 1: Install the Necessary Plugins

1. Install and Activate Elementor Pro: Ensure Elementor Pro is installed and activated on your WordPress site.
2. Install a Table Plugin: Search for and install either TablePress or WP Data Tables from the WordPress Plugin Repository. These plugins will act as the data source for your dynamic tables.

Step 2: Add a Data Source

Option 1: Create a Table in TablePress

1. Navigate to TablePress > Add New Table in your WordPress dashboard.

2. Set the table’s name and define the number of rows and columns.

3. Click “Add Table” to open the table editor.

4. Input your data manually into the table cells.

Option 2: Use Google Sheets for Real-Time Updates

1. Create a table in Google Sheets with the data you want to display.
2. Use a plugin like WP Data Tables to connect Google Sheets as an external data source. This ensures the data in your WordPress table automatically syncs with Google Sheets.

Option 3: Import CSV Files into TablePress

1. Navigate to TablePress > Import a Table.
2. Upload your CSV file containing the data.
3. Choose whether to create a new table or update an existing one.
4. Click “Import,” and your data will populate the TablePress table.

Step 3: Embed the Table in Elementor

1. Open the page where you want to display the table and click Edit with Elementor.
2. Drag the Shortcode Widget from the Elementor panel onto your page.
3. Enter the table’s shortcode (e.g., [table id=1 /]) into the widget’s settings. Replace “1” with the actual table ID of your TablePress or WP Data Tables table.

Step 4: Customize the Table Style

You can use Elementor’s design tools and custom CSS to style the table for a polished look. Below is a CSS example for TablePress tables:

/* General Table Styles */
.tablepress {
    width: 100%; /* Full-width table */
    border-collapse: collapse; /* Remove spacing between cells */
    font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
    font-size: 14px;
}

/* Table Header Styles */
.tablepress thead th {
    background-color: #4CAF50; /* Green background */
    color: white; /* White text */
    padding: 10px;
    text-align: center; /* Center align header text */
    font-weight: bold;
}

/* Table Row Styles */
.tablepress tbody tr {
    border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd; /* Add bottom border to rows */
}

/* Zebra Stripe Effect */
.tablepress tbody tr:nth-child(odd) {
    background-color: #f9f9f9; /* Light gray for odd rows */
}

.tablepress tbody tr:nth-child(even) {
    background-color: #ffffff; /* White for even rows */
}

/* Cell Styles */
.tablepress td {
    padding: 10px;
    border: 1px solid #ddd; /* Add border to cells */
    text-align: left; /* Align text to the left */
}

/* Hover Effect */
.tablepress tbody tr:hover {
    background-color: #f1f1f1; /* Highlight row on hover */
}

Steps to Add the CSS:

1. Go to Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Paste the CSS code and click “Publish.”

Alternatively, you can use Elementor Pro’s Custom CSS feature to apply this code specifically to the table.

Advanced Settings for Dynamic Updates

1. Real-Time Data Updates:
   If your table is linked to Google Sheets or another external source, data updates will be reflected on your website automatically.
2. Pagination and Sorting:
   Enable pagination to improve load times for large tables. Many table plugins also offer built-in sorting and search functionality.
3. Cache Optimization:
   Use a caching plugin to optimize performance, ensuring fast load times for your dynamic tables.

Performance Optimization Tips

To ensure your dynamic tables load quickly and provide a seamless user experience:

• Enable Pagination: Break large datasets into smaller pages.
• Use Lazy Loading: Load table data only when it’s needed.
• Optimize Data Sources: If using external sources like Google Sheets, ensure the data syncs efficiently.

Summary

Dynamic tables are a fantastic way to display live data, automate updates, and create an engaging user experience. With Elementor and plugins like TablePress or WP Data Tables, you can easily create and style dynamic tables for a variety of use cases.

This guide covered:

• Setting up TablePress or WP Data Tables as your data source.
• Embedding dynamic tables into Elementor pages.
• Customizing table styles with CSS.
• Optimizing performance with caching, pagination, and real-time updates.

With these tools and techniques, your Elementor-powered website can present dynamic, visually appealing tables that keep users informed and engaged. Try it today and elevate your website’s functionality!