Hi @mjeason12,
Importing CSV files on the front-end is not supported. Sorry! This is only available on the back-end.
It is possible to upload SQL files, but with restrictions. When you create a Data Project for a specific database table, the plugin can add a SQL import button which allows users to import SQL files. But these SQL imports are restricted, as they only allow imports into the project base table. Imports into other tables are blocked. This only works with shortcode wpdadiehard.
Here is a short tutorial for creating a project:
https://wpdataaccess.com/docs/documentation/data-projects/overview/
And here is some information about running the project with shortcode wpdadiehard:
https://wpdataaccess.com/docs/documentation/shortcodes/shortcode-wpdadiehard/
Does this help?
Peter
Hi Peter!
Thanks for the speedy response! I was able to set up a project and post the shortcode on the front end, but I’m aiming to give front end users the option to regularly import a list of students at their school and unfortunately I don’t think requiring them to upload a SQL file will work out :/
Any chance a front-end CSV import is in the queue for development? 🙂
Hi @mjeason12,
>>> I don’t think requiring them to upload a SQL file will work out
Yes, I understand! Normal users do use this… 😊
>>> Any chance a front-end CSV import is in the queue for development?
I’m currentyly working on a completely different strategy, where you can maintain a CSV file somewhere in the cloud and WP Data Access automatically performs the column mapping and updates the database table if the CSV file changes.
It would be possible to allow users to upload CSV files and restrict imports to the project base table only, but CSV columns need to be mapped to table columns. Would that work for a user without IT knowledge? Any (other) ideas…?
Thanks,
Peter
Hi Peter!
I think that’s an interesting work-around and I really appreciate you putting the thought into this! My initial thought is that it would work fine, though I do have a few points to offer as food-for-thought:
– Our specific needs will require that users only be able to access their data. I’m not entirely sure whether you’re intending for the CSV file to be hosted on the website’s owner’s cloud or the client’s, but in any case the users will need to be able to access their data only. So, you would also need some way of storing a CSV file for each user/account.
– A very important feature for most websites is automaticity. I’m guessing that hosting the CSV file on the website owner’s cloud would take more manual-work, and at that point I’d probably rather just maintain the database on the backend and have users submit their CSV files through a WP form.
I’m really surprised that there aren’t any plugins allowing for front-end CSV import. Is there a particular reason for this? Feasibility/security/etc.?
Hi @mjeason12,
>>> I’m really surprised that there aren’t any plugins allowing for front-end CSV import.
>>> Is there a particular reason for this? Feasibility/security/etc.?
Not sure, but I think the problem with CSV imports is the column mapping. Users need to understand how to map their CSV data to table columns.
>>> Our specific needs will require that users only be able to access their data.
>>> A very important feature for most websites is automaticity.
Can you send me a message through the contactform on the plugin website regarding these requirements? This can be interesting for other plugin users as well. I cannot promise a deadline but this looks like a feature request to be added to my to do list. 😉
Thanks,
Peter
