GravityView – DataTables Extension
If you’re using Gravity Forms on your WordPress website to collect and manage data, you likely want an efficient and user-friendly way to display that data in a well-organized format. GravityView is a powerful plugin that allows you to display form submissions in various ways, but when paired with the GravityView DataTables Extension, it offers even more advanced functionality, enabling you to transform your form data into interactive, searchable, and sortable tables.
In this article, we’ll explore how the GravityView – DataTables Extension can help you showcase your form entries in a more dynamic and user-friendly manner, making it easier for both you and your website users to interact with data.
What is GravityView?
GravityView is an extension for Gravity Forms that allows you to display form submissions (entries) on the front end of your WordPress site. It provides various display options such as tables, lists, and maps, allowing you to present form data in a variety of engaging ways. Whether you’re collecting job applications, survey results, or event registrations, GravityView allows you to create front-end views that are both flexible and visually appealing.
While GravityView offers a range of display options by default, the DataTables Extension enhances these capabilities by providing additional features for data manipulation and interaction.
What is the GravityView DataTables Extension?
The GravityView DataTables Extension integrates the powerful DataTables JavaScript library with GravityView, enabling you to display Gravity Forms entries in highly interactive, customizable tables. DataTables is a popular tool for adding advanced features like sorting, filtering, searching, and pagination to tables, making it an ideal solution for managing large sets of data.
This extension transforms your form data into user-friendly tables that can be easily navigated and searched, enhancing the user experience and making it easier for visitors to find the information they need.
Key Features of GravityView DataTables Extension
The GravityView DataTables Extension brings a wide range of features to your Gravity Forms data presentation. Let’s take a closer look at the core features that make this extension so powerful:
1. Advanced Sorting
One of the standout features of the DataTables Extension is its ability to add advanced sorting functionality to your form data. When using the extension, users can click on any column header to sort data in ascending or descending order.
This is particularly useful when dealing with large datasets, as users can quickly arrange the information according to their preferences. For example:
- Sorting by date (oldest or newest submissions)
- Sorting by name or other fields
- Sorting by numerical values or alphabetically
This dynamic sorting makes it easy for users to view the data in a format that best suits their needs.
2. Real-Time Search and Filtering
The DataTables Extension comes with a built-in search bar that allows users to search through all entries within the table. Whether you have a small dataset or hundreds of form submissions, users can type keywords or phrases to filter through the entries in real time.
Additionally, you can add filters to specific columns, enabling users to narrow down results based on their needs. For example:
- Search for a specific name, address, or keyword within the form data.
- Filter by category, date, or any other field.
This feature helps users quickly find relevant information without having to sift through pages of entries.
3. Pagination
When dealing with large amounts of data, pagination is essential for keeping tables organized and user-friendly. The GravityView DataTables Extension automatically adds pagination controls to tables, allowing users to navigate through pages of entries without overwhelming them with too much information at once.
You can control the number of entries displayed per page and choose to load more entries as needed. This is especially useful for sites with a lot of form submissions or for those who want to limit the amount of data displayed on a single page.
4. Customizable Table Layout
With the DataTables Extension, you can customize the layout of your table to match your website’s design and branding. You can:
- Select which columns to display or hide.
- Control the width of each column.
- Modify the table’s appearance, including colors, fonts, and borders.
- Add custom CSS to further refine the design.
This flexibility allows you to create a table that seamlessly integrates with your website’s overall aesthetic while providing users with an optimized data viewing experience.
5. Inline Editing
The DataTables Extension supports inline editing, enabling users to edit entries directly within the table. This is a powerful feature, particularly for applications where users need to update their data or make quick changes to entries without leaving the table view.
For example, if you’re displaying a directory of employees, users can click on a cell to edit information such as phone numbers or addresses, and the changes will be automatically saved without needing to reload the page.
This feature can help reduce friction and enhance user engagement by allowing users to quickly update data as necessary.
6. Responsive Design
In today’s mobile-first world, it’s crucial that tables are fully responsive and look great on all devices. The DataTables Extension ensures that your tables are mobile-friendly, adjusting their layout to fit smaller screens while maintaining usability.
On smaller devices like smartphones or tablets, DataTables intelligently hides less important columns and stacks information vertically, ensuring that the table remains easy to navigate on any screen size.
7. Column Visibility Control
The DataTables Extension allows users to toggle the visibility of individual columns. This can be useful when displaying data with many columns, as users can hide unneeded information and focus on the most relevant data.
For example, you can allow users to hide columns like email addresses or phone numbers if they don’t need to see that data, enhancing the overall user experience.
8. Export Functionality
If users want to download or export the displayed data for use offline or in reports, the DataTables Extension supports several export options, including:
- CSV: Ideal for spreadsheet software like Excel or Google Sheets.
- Excel: For users who prefer working with data in a structured format.
- PDF: For generating printable reports.
- Copy to clipboard: For quick copying and pasting of data.
This makes it easy to share or analyze data outside of your WordPress site.
How GravityView DataTables Extension Benefits Your Site
Integrating the GravityView DataTables Extension into your website brings several key benefits, both for your users and for you as the site owner. Let’s look at some of the main advantages:
1. Improved User Experience
With its dynamic features like sorting, searching, and filtering, the DataTables Extension greatly enhances the user experience. Users can quickly find and interact with the data that’s most relevant to them, making your site more engaging and efficient.
2. Better Data Management
For websites that rely on large datasets, such as directories, job boards, event registrations, or surveys, the DataTables Extension provides a much more organized and user-friendly way to manage and display that data. The ability to edit entries inline, filter data, and sort it by different criteria makes data management much simpler and more intuitive.
3. Increased Interactivity
By allowing users to interact with the data in real time, the DataTables Extension encourages more engagement. Users can sort, search, and even edit data without having to leave the page, creating a more interactive and dynamic experience on your website.
4. Enhanced Control and Flexibility
As the site administrator, you have complete control over the table layout, column visibility, and functionality, allowing you to fine-tune the data display to suit your needs. You can hide unnecessary columns, customize the look and feel, and enable or disable certain features like inline editing and export options.
5. Time and Cost Savings
By providing users with the ability to search, filter, and sort through large datasets, the DataTables Extension reduces the time spent manually searching through data. It also cuts down on the need for support requests from users who are having trouble finding the information they need, ultimately saving you time and improving user satisfaction.
Conclusion
The GravityView DataTables Extension is a powerful tool that enhances the way you display and interact with form data collected via Gravity Forms. With features like sorting, searching, filtering, and inline editing, this extension transforms simple form entries into an interactive and dynamic experience for your users.
Whether you’re running a job board, directory, survey system, or event management site, the DataTables Extension makes managing and presenting data a breeze. Its customizable design, responsive layout, and powerful functionality make it an essential tool for anyone looking to present form data in a more engaging, user-friendly way.
By integrating GravityView – DataTables Extension into your website, you can unlock the full potential of your Gravity Forms data, providing a better experience for your users while streamlining your data management processes.