Super easy HTML table editing for a computer newbie?

April 8, 2009 11:48 AM

What's the easiest way I can set up a Wordpress site for a client so that he can edit an HTML table of information?

So this guy had me convert his business site to Wordpress. It was only later, when he demanded to edit site content using Microsoft Word and Excel, that I realize: dude is going to have serious trouble with anything that isn't super-simple.

On one of his pages, an old school HTML table lists addresses and phone numbers places where you can buy his product. Right now it's an old school HTML table. I'd like for the guy to be able to add and subtract new rows in the table.

But I could only find a clunky plugin that handles tables in a not-so-friendly way. Another thing I tried was switching Wordpress to an alternative text editor that recreates all the Microsoft Word functions. But then this was a double-edged sword because it made the entry of regular posts confusing for the guy--too many options to change font color and stuff.

Maybe I should be thinking of some modern alternative to tables? Like some website that does it for you?

Any ideas much appreciated...

posted by Kirklander to computers & internet (6 comments total)

Is his table very complex? If not, maybe an unordered list would be a better way to present the information. The normal WordPress formatting bar has buttons for list functions.
posted by odinsdream at 11:57 AM on April 8 [1 favorite]

It's a few columns, but yeah, maybe it's just time for a retirement from tables.
posted by Kirklander at 12:05 PM on April 8

If your client uses Windows, Windows Live Writer makes creating and editing tables real easy.
posted by Memo at 12:12 PM on April 8

If it's a very simple table may he can save it in Excel as HTML, then upload it to the site. Use a php include to pull the table html into the Wordpress page. That way all he has to do is update his spreadsheet, save as html, and upload.
posted by COD at 12:13 PM on April 8

This is the kind of thing you can do with Adobe Contribute, which is more or less Dreamweaver editing done remotely.
posted by AmbroseChapel at 6:06 PM on April 8

If the "alternative text editor" you mean is FCKeditor, I had a similar problem with all the buttons being confusing for the client. WAY too many options. Dig around the FCKeditor support site a bit -- you'll figure out there's a simple text file containing the names of all the buttons - you can edit that file to change around the buttons - delete, rearrange, etc. to slim things down to the essentials.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 6:09 PM on April 8