How to get data from populated table?

MikeLMC · February 2021

Hello,

How can I grab data from an already populated table? I don't want to select anything yet, just to simply grab everything back as an array of arrays for each row.

I have declared a global variable let table = $('#myTableId').DataTable(); and then I initialize it as a DataTable as above later on in one of my functions.

table = $('#myTableId').DataTable({
    data: myArray,
    select: true,
    columns: [
        {title: "Name"},
        {title: "Step"},
        ...
    ]
});

the data from myArray is a flattened out array of arrays as shown here in this example.

I can populate the table with my data but now I wish to simply grab it back in that flattened out form to convert it to a POST request.

How can I do this? Whenever I print out the var table it shows a humongous object with each element containing a <prototype>: [] sort of element but the data is nowhere.

In simple terms, how can I save my table to a variable to be able to retrieve the data later on? There seems to be no straight answer and I already tried to do console.log(table.rows.data().toArray()); but this doesn't work. To be honest, even if I try the table.rows.data() I don't get my data. It's as if my table is declared empty of some sorts. This is regardless if I use let or var to declare my variable.

kthorngren · February 2021

Use table.rows().data().toArray() instead. Note the rows(). The API is rows().api().

Kevin

MikeLMC · February 2021

Doing table.rows().data().toArray() returns me an empty array.

Here is most of the code. Maybe I'm missing something:

let table = $('#myTableId').DataTable();

$(document).ready(function (){
    $('#nav').DataTable({
        "paging":false,
        "info":false,
        "select":{
            style:'single'
        }
    });

    var url = 'my api url';
    $.getJSON(url, function (data){
        let mainArray = [];
        
        $.each(data.subList, function (key, value){
            let subArray = [];
            // logic here to flatten out my data.
            subArray.push(data.name);
            ...
            // eventually I push my working array into the main one and reinit
            mainArray.push(subArray);
        });

        // This is where I re-assign the value of table and populate the values.
        table = $('#myTableId').DataTable({
            data: mainArray,
            select: true,
            buttons: [
                {extend: 'create'}
            ],
            columns: [
                {title: "Name"},
                ...
            ]
        });
    });
    // I try to get the data back now. The below returns empty array.
    // Target is to get back the data as it's in my mainArray but I get empty array instead.
    console.log(table.rows().data().toArray());
});

I strongly believe there's an easy solution to my problem but it escapes me.

colin · February 2021

We're happy to take a look, but as per the forum rules, please link to a test case - a test case that replicates the issue will ensure you'll get a quick and accurate response. Information on how to create a test case (if you aren't able to link to the page you are working on) is available here.

Cheers,

Colin

kthorngren · February 2021

The $.getJSON() ajax request is an asynchronous operation. The console.log(table.rows().data().toArray()); is executing before the request is complete. Move the console.log statement inside the $.getJSON() function after the Datatables initialization, for example:

        // This is where I re-assign the value of table and populate the values.
        table = $('#myTableId').DataTable({
            data: mainArray,
            select: true,
            buttons: [
                {extend: 'create'}
            ],
            columns: [
                {title: "Name"},
                ...
            ]
        });
        console.log(table.rows().data().toArray());
    });
    // I try to get the data back now. The below returns empty array.

Kevin

How to get data from populated table?

How to get data from populated table?

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How to get data from populated table?

How to get data from populated table?

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