Answers

• colin Posts: 15,240Questions: 1Answers: 2,599

  August 2022 Answer ✓

  You can use columns.render to add that <div> element with the formatting. It won't show in the Editor form, as that will only present the raw data. Would that work?

  Colin
• allan Posts: 63,550Questions: 1Answers: 10,476 Site admin

  August 2022 Answer ✓

  Is there some way to have this code inserted behind the scenes so that it is always there as a wrap-around container for my actual data?

  Yes, use a renderer.

  and doesn't account for previous db entries:(.

  In what way? If the table already exists, it leaves it alone and just reads from and edits it.

  Allan
• shawngibson Posts: 32Questions: 9Answers: 0

  August 2022

  Thank you both, very much:) I think this example (from your links) will give me the knowledge I need to deal with the example I gave:

  $('#example').dataTable( {
    "columnDefs": [ {
      "targets": 4,
      "data": "description",
      "render": function ( data, type, row, meta ) {
        return type === 'display' && data.length > 40 ?
          '<span title="'+data+'">'+data.substr( 0, 38 )+'...</span>' :
          data;
      }
    } ]
  } );
  

  Allan, yes, sorry for the lack of precision in my post. I only hope to represent the data differently (i.e., "wrap it" in my fuddled language), not alter it, to achieve my goals here. Rendering looks like a great jump forward:) Thanks again for the quick and helpful responses.

  PS - Just moments ago, after months of fiddling and fumbling, I created my first 2-table join, based on the site examples, so I feel a little bit invulnerable now. But I'm sure it will pass before I sneeze...
• allan Posts: 63,550Questions: 1Answers: 10,476 Site admin

  August 2022

  Haha - I know that golden feeling. Long may it last for you

  Allan