Here’s a step-by-step tutorial on embedding a sortable spreadsheet into a WordPress post. This guide will show you how to create a spreadsheet (with sorting functionality) and insert it cleanly into a post or page.
🔧 What You’ll Need:
- A WordPress site
- A Google Sheet or Excel file
- Optional plugin: TablePress (for advanced control, styling, and sorting)
Method 1: Embed Google Sheets (Basic Sorting)
✅ Step 1: Create Your Google Sheet
- Go to Google Sheets.
- Create your spreadsheet and format your data.
- Use the Data > Create a filter option to allow sorting in the live embed.
✅ Step 2: Publish the Sheet
- Click File > Share > Publish to the web.
- Select either the entire document or a specific sheet.
- Click Embed and copy the iframe code provided.
⚠️ Sorting may not work in the embed unless users open it in a full view (i.e., not all sorting functionality is supported directly in iframes).
✅ Step 3: Embed in WordPress
- Go to Posts > Add New or Pages > Add New.
- Add a Custom HTML block.
- Paste the iframe code like this:
htmlCopyEdit<iframe src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQxyz.../pubhtml?widget=true&headers=false" width="100%" height="400"></iframe>
- Preview the post to confirm it loads correctly.
Method 2: Use TablePress Plugin (Best Sorting Support)
TablePress allows you to build sortable, searchable tables inside WordPress, with no coding required.
✅ Step 1: Install TablePress
- Go to your WordPress dashboard.
- Navigate to Plugins > Add New.
- Search for TablePress.
- Click Install and then Activate.
✅ Step 2: Import or Create a Table
- Go to TablePress > Import.
- Upload your Excel or CSV file (or create a new table manually).
- Name your table and assign an ID (e.g.,
Table ID: 1).
✅ Step 3: Configure Sorting
- Under Features, make sure to enable:
- Sorting
- Search/Filter
- Pagination (if your table is large)
✅ Step 4: Embed the Table in a Post
- Copy the shortcode, e.g.
[table id=1 /]. - Go to Posts > Add New or Pages > Add New.
- Paste the shortcode into the Paragraph block.
🧠 TablePress will automatically render a fully sortable and searchable table on the front-end.
🔄 Optional: Add Responsive Tables
For smaller screens:
- Go to TablePress > Plugin Options
- Enable DataTables JavaScript library
- Optionally add custom CSS like:
cssCopyEdit@media screen and (max-width: 600px) {
.tablepress {
overflow-x: auto;
display: block;
}
}
✅ Summary
| Method | Sorting | Responsive | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Sheets | ✅ (limited) | ❌ | Quick sharing |
| TablePress | ✅ (full) | ✅ | Full control & styling |
✨ Pro Tip:
Use TablePress Extensions for extra functionality like row filtering, row grouping, advanced sorting, or frontend editing.