---
title: "How to display values with leading zeroes (e.g., 001, 025) in wpDataTables"
description: "A guide to preserving leading zeroes in tables regardless of data source or table type"
url: https://help.wpdatatables.com/en/articles/26-how-to-display-values-with-leading-zeroes-eg-001-025-in-wpdatatables
collection: "Technical issues"
updated: 2026-08-26
language: en
---

# How to display values with leading zeroes (e.g., 001, 025) in wpDataTables

A guide to preserving leading zeroes in tables regardless of data source or table type

When working with Excel, CSV, Google Sheets, JSON, or PHP arrays, you might notice that values like `001` or `025` are automatically converted to `1` or `25`. This happens because most tools treat these as numbers and **strip the leading zeroes**.

The solution is simple: ensure wpDataTables treats these values as **text**, not numbers.

* * *

### 🧩 **If You're Importing Data into a Manual Table (Editable)**

Use this method when you're uploading a file (like Excel or CSV) into wpDataTables to create an **editable table** stored in your database.

* * *

📄 **Step 1: Format the column as “Text” in your source file**

-   In Excel: Right-click the column → _Format Cells_ → select **Text**.
    
-   This ensures that Excel won’t remove the leading zeroes when saving.
    

* * *

📥 **Step 2: Choose “String” as the column type during import**  
When importing the file using the Table Constructor:

-   Set the column to **One-line string** for short entries → stored as `VARCHAR`
    
-   Or **Multi-line string** for longer text → stored as `TEXT`
    

✅ This will preserve values like `001`, `025`, etc., exactly as they are.

📌 **Note:**  
Columns saved as text will act as **text strings**, meaning they cannot be numerically sorted or filtered.

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/aXO9YkBzbDwcWyAeEwPbqPOqe7Y0RWlFHDtuyWvoAWrgd8vHXTEj06BPYdv7oVlj3OrwwPGzjQU.webp)

* * *

### 🔗 **If You're Linking a Table from a File or External Source (Non-Editable)**

Use this method if you're creating a **non-editable** table by linking directly to a data source such as:

-   Excel
    
-   CSV
    
-   Google Sheets
    
-   JSON
    
-   PHP array
    

* * *

1.  Create the table using the **wpDataTables Table Wizard**.
    
2.  After generation, go to **Column Settings**.
    
3.  Change the column type to **String**.
    

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/nRrX0cUCvpFEeniLt0vAfpDIwqpLxZP9LE7D9kfn5gnPNZm1e0NS3OhZjaMNsfCI8dDdRoqnQwS.webp)

This ensures that wpDataTables renders the values **exactly as they appear** in the source — including any leading zeroes.