Namespace: columns

Properties

<static> aDataSort :array

Allows a column's sorting to take multiple columns into account when doing a sort. For example first name / last name columns make sense to do a multi-column sort over the two columns.

Examples

   // Using aoColumnDefs
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumnDefs": [
         { "aDataSort": [ 0, 1 ], "aTargets": [ 0 ] },
         { "aDataSort": [ 1, 0 ], "aTargets": [ 1 ] },
         { "aDataSort": [ 2, 3, 4 ], "aTargets": [ 2 ] }
       ]
     } );
   } );
   
 

   // Using aoColumns
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumns": [
         { "aDataSort": [ 0, 1 ] },
         { "aDataSort": [ 1, 0 ] },
         { "aDataSort": [ 2, 3, 4 ] },
         null,
         null
       ]
     } );
   } );

<static> asSorting :array

You can control the default sorting direction, and even alter the behaviour of the sort handler (i.e. only allow ascending sorting etc) using this parameter.

Examples

   // Using aoColumnDefs
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumnDefs": [
         { "asSorting": [ "asc" ], "aTargets": [ 1 ] },
         { "asSorting": [ "desc", "asc", "asc" ], "aTargets": [ 2 ] },
         { "asSorting": [ "desc" ], "aTargets": [ 3 ] }
       ]
     } );
   } );
   
 

   // Using aoColumns
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumns": [
         null,
         { "asSorting": [ "asc" ] },
         { "asSorting": [ "desc", "asc", "asc" ] },
         { "asSorting": [ "desc" ] },
         null
       ]
     } );
   } );

<static> bSearchable :boolean

Enable or disable filtering on the data in this column.

Examples

   // Using aoColumnDefs
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumnDefs": [ 
         { "bSearchable": false, "aTargets": [ 0 ] }
       ] } );
   } );
   
 

   // Using aoColumns
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumns": [ 
         { "bSearchable": false },
         null,
         null,
         null,
         null
       ] } );
   } );

<static> bSortable :boolean

Enable or disable sorting on this column.

Examples

   // Using aoColumnDefs
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumnDefs": [ 
         { "bSortable": false, "aTargets": [ 0 ] }
       ] } );
   } );
   
 

   // Using aoColumns
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumns": [ 
         { "bSortable": false },
         null,
         null,
         null,
         null
       ] } );
   } );

<static> bUseRendered :boolean

When using fnRender() for a column, you may wish to use the original data (before rendering) for sorting and filtering (the default is to used the rendered data that the user can see). This may be useful for dates etc. NOTE* It is it is advisable now to use mDataProp as a function and make use of the 'type' that it gives, allowing (potentially) different data to be used for sorting, filtering, display and type detection.

Examples

   // Using aoColumnDefs
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumnDefs": [ 
         {
           "fnRender": function ( oObj ) {
             return oObj.aData[0] +' '+ oObj.aData[3];
           },
           "bUseRendered": false,
           "aTargets": [ 0 ]
         }
       ]
     } );
   } );
   
 

   // Using aoColumns
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumns": [ 
         {
           "fnRender": function ( oObj ) {
             return oObj.aData[0] +' '+ oObj.aData[3];
           },
           "bUseRendered": false
         },
         null,
         null,
         null,
         null
       ]
     } );
   } );

<static> bVisible :boolean

Enable or disable the display of this column.

Examples

   // Using aoColumnDefs
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumnDefs": [ 
         { "bVisible": false, "aTargets": [ 0 ] }
       ] } );
   } );
   
 

   // Using aoColumns
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumns": [ 
         { "bVisible": false },
         null,
         null,
         null,
         null
       ] } );
   } );

<static> fnCreatedCell :function

Developer definable function that is called whenever a cell is created (Ajax source, etc) or processed for input (DOM source). This can be used as a compliment to fnRender allowing you to modify the DOM element (add background colour for example) when the element is available (since it is not when fnRender is called).

Parameters:

	Name	Type	Attributes	Default	Description
1	nTd	element			The TD node that has been created
2	sData	*			The Data for the cell
3	oData	array | object			The data for the whole row
4	iRow	int			The row index for the aoData data store
5	iCol	int			The column index for aoColumns

Example:

   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumnDefs": [ {
         "aTargets": [3],
         "fnCreatedCell": function (nTd, sData, oData, iRow, iCol) {
           if ( sData == "1.7" ) {
             $(nTd).css('color', 'blue')
           }
         }
       } ]
     });
   } );

<static> fnRender :function

Custom display function that will be called for the display of each cell in this column.

Parameters:

	Name	Type	Attributes	Default	Description
1	o	object			Object with the following parameters:
	o.iDataRow	int			The row in aoData
	o.iDataColumn	int			The column in question
	o.aData	array			The data for the row in question
	o.oSettings	object			The settings object for this DataTables instance
	o.mDataProp	object			The data property used for this column
7	val	*			The current cell value

Returns:

The string you which to use in the display

Examples:

   // Using aoColumnDefs
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumnDefs": [ 
         {
           "fnRender": function ( o, val ) {
             return o.aData[0] +' '+ o.aData[3];
           },
           "aTargets": [ 0 ]
         }
       ]
     } );
   } );
   
 

   // Using aoColumns
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumns": [ 
         { "fnRender": function ( o, val ) {
           return o.aData[0] +' '+ o.aData[3];
         } },
         null,
         null,
         null,
         null
       ]
     } );
   } );

<static> iDataSort :int

The column index (starting from 0!) that you wish a sort to be performed upon when this column is selected for sorting. This can be used for sorting on hidden columns for example.

Examples

   // Using aoColumnDefs
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumnDefs": [ 
         { "iDataSort": 1, "aTargets": [ 0 ] }
       ]
     } );
   } );
   
 

   // Using aoColumns
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumns": [ 
         { "iDataSort": 1 },
         null,
         null,
         null,
         null
       ]
     } );
   } );

<static> mDataProp :string|int|function|null

This property can be used to read data from any JSON data source property, including deeply nested objects / properties. mDataProp can be given in a number of different ways which effect its behaviour:

• integer - treated as an array index for the data source. This is the default that DataTables uses (incrementally increased for each column).
• string - read an object property from the data source. Note that you can use Javascript dotted notation to read deep properties/arrays from the data source.
• null - the sDefaultContent option will be used for the cell (null by default, so you will need to specify the default content you want - typically an empty string). This can be useful on generated columns such as edit / delete action columns.
• function - the function given will be executed whenever DataTables needs to set or get the data for a cell in the column. The function takes three parameters:
  • {array|object} The data source for the row
  • {string} The type call data requested - this will be 'set' when setting data or 'filter', 'display', 'type', 'sort' or undefined when gathering data. Note that when undefined is given for the type DataTables expects to get the raw data for the object back
  • {*} Data to set when the second parameter is 'set'.
  The return value from the function is not required when 'set' is the type of call, but otherwise the return is what will be used for the data requested.

Examples

   // Read table data from objects
   $(document).ready(function() {
     var oTable = $('#example').dataTable( {
       "sAjaxSource": "sources/deep.txt",
       "aoColumns": [
         { "mDataProp": "engine" },
         { "mDataProp": "browser" },
         { "mDataProp": "platform.inner" },
         { "mDataProp": "platform.details.0" },
         { "mDataProp": "platform.details.1" }
       ]
     } );
   } );

 

   // Using mDataProp as a function to provide different information for
   // sorting, filtering and display. In this case, currency (price)
   $(document).ready(function() {
     var oTable = $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumnDefs": [
       {
         "aTargets": [ 0 ],
         "mDataProp": function ( source, type, val ) {
           if (type === 'set') {
             source.price = val;
             // Store the computed dislay and filter values for efficiency
             source.price_display = val=="" ? "" : "$"+numberFormat(val);
             source.price_filter  = val=="" ? "" : "$"+numberFormat(val)+" "+val;
             return;
           }
           else if (type === 'display') {
             return source.price_display;
           }
           else if (type === 'filter') {
             return source.price_filter;
           }
           // 'sort', 'type' and undefined all just use the integer
           return source.price;
         }
       ]
     } );
   } );

<static> sCellType :string

Change the cell type created for the column - either TD cells or TH cells. This can be useful as TH cells have semantic meaning in the table body, allowing them to act as a header for a row (you may wish to add scope='row' to the TH elements).

Example

   // Make the first column use TH cells
   $(document).ready(function() {
     var oTable = $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumnDefs": [
       {
         "aTargets": [ 0 ],
         "sCellType": "th"
       ]
     } );
   } );

<static> sClass :string

Class to give to each cell in this column.

Examples

   // Using aoColumnDefs
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumnDefs": [ 
         { "sClass": "my_class", "aTargets": [ 0 ] }
       ]
     } );
   } );
   
 

   // Using aoColumns
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumns": [ 
         { "sClass": "my_class" },
         null,
         null,
         null,
         null
       ]
     } );
   } );

<static> sContentPadding :string

When DataTables calculates the column widths to assign to each column, it finds the longest string in each column and then constructs a temporary table and reads the widths from that. The problem with this is that "mmm" is much wider then "iiii", but the latter is a longer string - thus the calculation can go wrong (doing it properly and putting it into an DOM object and measuring that is horribly(!) slow). Thus as a "work around" we provide this option. It will append its value to the text that is found to be the longest string for the column - i.e. padding. Generally you shouldn't need this, and it is not documented on the general DataTables.net documentation

Example

   // Using aoColumns
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumns": [ 
         null,
         null,
         null,
         {
           "sContentPadding": "mmm"
         }
       ]
     } );
   } );

<static> sDefaultContent :string

Allows a default value to be given for a column's data, and will be used whenever a null data source is encountered (this can be because mDataProp is set to null, or because the data source itself is null).

Examples

   // Using aoColumnDefs
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumnDefs": [ 
         {
           "mDataProp": null,
           "sDefaultContent": "Edit",
           "aTargets": [ -1 ]
         }
       ]
     } );
   } );
   
 

   // Using aoColumns
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumns": [ 
         null,
         null,
         null,
         {
           "mDataProp": null,
           "sDefaultContent": "Edit"
         }
       ]
     } );
   } );

<static> sName :string

This parameter is only used in DataTables' server-side processing. It can be exceptionally useful to know what columns are being displayed on the client side, and to map these to database fields. When defined, the names also allow DataTables to reorder information from the server if it comes back in an unexpected order (i.e. if you switch your columns around on the client-side, your server-side code does not also need updating).

Examples

   // Using aoColumnDefs
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumnDefs": [ 
         { "sName": "engine", "aTargets": [ 0 ] },
         { "sName": "browser", "aTargets": [ 1 ] },
         { "sName": "platform", "aTargets": [ 2 ] },
         { "sName": "version", "aTargets": [ 3 ] },
         { "sName": "grade", "aTargets": [ 4 ] }
       ]
     } );
   } );
   
 

   // Using aoColumns
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumns": [ 
         { "sName": "engine" },
         { "sName": "browser" },
         { "sName": "platform" },
         { "sName": "version" },
         { "sName": "grade" }
       ]
     } );
   } );

<static> sSortDataType :string

Defines a data source type for the sorting which can be used to read realtime information from the table (updating the internally cached version) prior to sorting. This allows sorting to occur on user editable elements such as form inputs.

Examples

   // Using aoColumnDefs
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumnDefs": [
         { "sSortDataType": "dom-text", "aTargets": [ 2, 3 ] },
         { "sType": "numeric", "aTargets": [ 3 ] },
         { "sSortDataType": "dom-select", "aTargets": [ 4 ] },
         { "sSortDataType": "dom-checkbox", "aTargets": [ 5 ] }
       ]
     } );
   } );
   
 

   // Using aoColumns
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumns": [
         null,
         null,
         { "sSortDataType": "dom-text" },
         { "sSortDataType": "dom-text", "sType": "numeric" },
         { "sSortDataType": "dom-select" },
         { "sSortDataType": "dom-checkbox" }
       ]
     } );
   } );

<static> sTitle :string

The title of this column.

Examples

   // Using aoColumnDefs
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumnDefs": [ 
         { "sTitle": "My column title", "aTargets": [ 0 ] }
       ]
     } );
   } );
   
 

   // Using aoColumns
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumns": [ 
         { "sTitle": "My column title" },
         null,
         null,
         null,
         null
       ]
     } );
   } );

<static> sType :string

The type allows you to specify how the data for this column will be sorted. Four types (string, numeric, date and html (which will strip HTML tags before sorting)) are currently available. Note that only date formats understood by Javascript's Date() object will be accepted as type date. For example: "Mar 26, 2008 5:03 PM". May take the values: 'string', 'numeric', 'date' or 'html' (by default). Further types can be adding through plug-ins.

Examples

   // Using aoColumnDefs
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumnDefs": [ 
         { "sType": "html", "aTargets": [ 0 ] }
       ]
     } );
   } );
   
 

   // Using aoColumns
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumns": [ 
         { "sType": "html" },
         null,
         null,
         null,
         null
       ]
     } );
   } );

<static> sWidth :string

Defining the width of the column, this parameter may take any CSS value (3em, 20px etc). DataTables applys 'smart' widths to columns which have not been given a specific width through this interface ensuring that the table remains readable.

Examples

   // Using aoColumnDefs
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumnDefs": [ 
         { "sWidth": "20%", "aTargets": [ 0 ] }
       ]
     } );
   } );
   
 

   // Using aoColumns
   $(document).ready(function() {
     $('#example').dataTable( {
       "aoColumns": [ 
         { "sWidth": "20%" },
         null,
         null,
         null,
         null
       ]
     } );
   } );