What you can safely do

• Add or delete rows: You can add new rows of data or remove existing rows without breaking the table.
• Edit cell content: You can change the information in cells below the header row.

Do not do any of these things

• Do not add new columns
• Do not delete columns
• Do not edit column headers
• Do not change the order of columns
• Do not merge cells
• Do not format cells

Get support

Email webchanges@doit.wisc.edu to request assistance with more complex table edits, such as adding or removing columns, modifying header names, or changing formatting.

Why these rules matter

DoIT websites use a plugin called wpDataTables that reads data directly from your Google Sheet using the "Publish to the Web" feature. The tool takes a snapshot of your sheet's data structure when it's first connected. When you change that structure by adding columns, renaming headers, changing column order or deleting columns, the tool can't find the data it expects, and the table stops working.

When that happens, a web designer needs to manually fix the table settings, which takes time and could delay your updates from appearing on the site.

When will my changes appear?

Google caches spreadsheet data, so changes to your Google Sheet may take up to 15 minutes to appear in the table on the website.

Questions?

If you need to add columns, change column order or make other structural changes, contact DoIT Communications before making the changes. We can help you figure out the best approach.