CSV to Search
Publish a spreadsheet as a searchable page. This guide covers preparing your file, configuring the plugin, placing the shortcode, and keeping your CSV private.
Install and Activate
- Download the plugin ZIP
- Go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin, choose the ZIP, and click Install Now
- Click Activate
- Open CSV to Search in the admin menu
Prepare Your CSV
- The first row must contain column headers
- Use commas as the delimiter, and save as
.csvor.txt - To use filter tabs, add a column named Type and give each row a type value
- The Getting Started tab has a template you can download and fill in
Upload and Configure
- General — upload your CSV, set button colors and height, and optionally limit results to a category
- Display — choose table or list view and set the heading text color
- Pagination — turn paging on or off, set results per page, and choose colors
- Tabs — create up to 2 filter tabs; give each a title, the Type value it matches, and colors
Click Save Settings after changing any tab.
Place the Shortcode
Add this to any page or post:
[csv_to_search]
Visitors type in the search box and results appear as a table or list. The search covers every column and matches partial text.
Free Limits
- One CSV file
- The first 250 rows of that file are searched
- Up to 2 filter tabs
Need more? CSV to Search Pro adds unlimited rows, up to 8 tabs, multiple files, import from a URL, and results export.
Keep Your CSV Private
Uploaded files are stored in wp-content/uploads/cts-data/, not in the media library, with random 32-character names. Visitors see the rows a search returns but cannot download the raw file. On Apache and IIS the folder is blocked automatically.
NGINX does not read .htaccess files. If your site runs NGINX, add this rule to your server configuration (in Plesk, under Apache & nginx Settings → Additional nginx directives) and reload:
location ^~ /wp-content/uploads/cts-data/ { deny all; }
The plugin checks your own site for this problem and shows a warning with the exact rule if the folder can be opened directly. Click Check again after you apply the rule. The check is a request from your server to itself, and nothing is sent to any other site.
Troubleshooting
No results appear. Confirm a file is uploaded on the General tab and that the first row holds the column headers.
A tab shows nothing. The tab’s Type value must match the text in your CSV’s Type column.
Rows are missing. The free plugin searches the first 250 rows. Trim the file or move to Pro for unlimited rows.
Search feels slow on a large file. The file is read on each search, so very large files take longer. Splitting the data or trimming unused columns helps.
When to Contact Support
- Your file uploads but will not parse
- You need help with the NGINX rule on your host
- You want a feature that is not here yet
Email support@ccmssolutions.com and we will help.
Need Help?
Email support@ccmssolutions.com or call (954) 693-6422 for setup assistance.
Contact Support