More features with JSON

fst

Hi

I have made some additions to 1.5.0b9 in order to parse some settings (table header/columns) from the JSON file.

This is my patched dataTables version
http://www.highdefinition.ch/js/jquery.dataTables-1.5.0b9.js

An example is here
https://www.highdefinition.ch/list/Image/LcdTelevision/Sony.html
https://www.highdefinition.ch/dataTables.json?type=list&cat1=Image&cat2=LcdTelevision&manufacturer=Sony

Allan, please consider implementing my changes to _fnInitialise.
Please consider implementing the remaining config options.
Some stuff had be moved around in _fnInitialise.

A loading/processing bar would also be a good thing...

allan

Hi fst,

Thanks for posting your patched version - looks like quite an interesting idea. So if I am reading your code correctly, basically you can now return column information which is stored in the aoColumns array - right?

There is actually a way of doing this with the current release of DataTables which is a little more flexible:

[code]
$.getJSON( sUrl, null, function( json ) {
$('#example').dataTable( json );
} );
[/code]
With this you can customise the JSON reply to exactly match how you want DataTables to initialise (features, starting parameters etc), so the control of the server-side isn't limited to just the columns. The developer would also have full control over the program to display whatever loading/progress message he/she wants to do.

How does this sound?

Allan

Volvoxe

Hi Allan,
Can u provide an example for getting table headers with json, in a way developer has full control on table header also?

Say some times table has two columns, other times has three... and no change required to page code!!!

BTW, txs a lot for datatables.

fst

Allan, thanks for your response. Sorry for not replying myself earlier.

Thanks for the tip of doing it the way you proposed but I think my way is cleaner and already implemented so I'll leave it as it is...

allan

@fst: Sounds good. I'll keep this in mind for future versions :-)

@Volvoxe: If you have a look at the demo for creating a DataTable from a JS array ( http://datatables.net/examples/data_sources/js_array.html ) you can see the full JSON object that is required for DataTables to be initialised. This should give you a good starting point. Anything else can be found in the documentation.

Regards,
Allan

Volvoxe

Big thanks Allan!!!
Works like a charm.
I did combined two of your samples and got :

[code]
/*Create a table in demo DIV*/
$('#demo').html( '' );
/*Use json to populate created table*/
$.getJSON( sUrl, null, function( json ) {
$('#example').dataTable( json );
} );

[/code]

azzazeli

Hi. I know that the topic is old. But.
From example I see
[code]
"aoColumns": [
{ "sTitle": "Engine" },
{ "sTitle": "Browser" },
{ "sTitle": "Platform" },
{ "sTitle": "Version", "sClass": "center" },
{
"sTitle": "Grade",
"sClass": "center",
"fnRender": function(obj) {
var sReturn = obj.aData[ obj.iDataColumn ];
if ( sReturn == "A" ) {
sReturn = "A";
}
return sReturn;
}
}
]
[/code]
This is not a valid JSON. How can I generate it?
Thanks.

allan

It isn't valid JSON because it has a function in it. If you really wanted to load functions from the server you would need to use 'eval()'.

Allan

azzazeli

Thanks for response.
Could you please provide an example?

azzazeli

In definition of aoColumns I want to call a function for each row in specified column. I can do it using following code
[code]
aoColumns": [
{ "sTitle": "Engine" },
...
{"fnRender": callToMyFunction}
...
]
[/code]
But I have following problems:
1. This definition is not a valid JSON object, so I can't generate it in a properly way.
2. How can I send additional params to my function (callToMyFunction). I want to have something like this
[code]
function callToMyFunction( oObj, myObj) {
//return String used in display using data from myObj
}
[/code]
3. Is there o possibility to add a user defined property to a column in "aoColumns" definition?
Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks.

allan

There is no way to pass a function around as a JSON object/string since it is not valid JSON. As I mentioned you would need to use eval() to do that - although that is considered to be "evil". Can you load your function a different way - or do you need to define it through the JSON string.

Sure I can write an example for you using eval - hit the support button at the top of the page :-)

Allan

azzazeli

Thanks for response. I'll load my function a different way.