Multiple selection

This example matches the join table - one-to-many example with the exception of the datatable input type being used rather than checkbox inputs. As with the other DataTables examples, this is advantageous as an input since we can make use of the features offered by DataTables. Note that the multiple option must be set to true for the datatable to allow multiple selection.

In this case we are particularly interested in the use of the multi-select features of the Select extension - we can use:

Single click to select a single row in the table (or unselect if it is the only one selected)
Shift click to select multiple rows
Ctrl-click (Windows / Linux) / cmd-click (Mac) to toggle the selection of a single row.

This behaviour matches how file browsers in operating systems typically work (e.g. Windows Explorer, Finder, Nautilus, etc) so your users will find this interaction intuitive.

First name	Last name	Location	Permissions
First name	Last name	Location	Permissions

Javascript
HTML
CSS
Ajax
Server-side script
Comments

The Javascript shown below is used to initialise the table shown in this example:

var editor = new DataTable.Editor({
	ajax: '../php/joinArray.php',
	fields: [
		{
			label: 'First name:',
			name: 'users.first_name'
		},
		{
			label: 'Last name:',
			name: 'users.last_name'
		},
		{
			label: 'Site:',
			name: 'users.site',
			type: 'select'
		},
		{
			label: 'Permissions:',
			name: 'permission[].id',
			type: 'datatable',
			multiple: true
		}
	],
	table: '#example'
});

$('#example').DataTable({
	ajax: {
		url: '../php/joinArray.php',
		type: 'POST'
	},
	columns: [
		{ data: 'users.first_name' },
		{ data: 'users.last_name' },
		{ data: 'sites.name' },
		{ data: 'permission', render: '[, ].name' }
	],
	layout: {
		topStart: {
			buttons: [
				{ extend: 'create', editor: editor },
				{ extend: 'edit', editor: editor },
				{ extend: 'remove', editor: editor }
			]
		}
	},
	select: true
});

const editor = new DataTable.Editor({
	ajax: '../php/joinArray.php',
	fields: [
		{
			label: 'First name:',
			name: 'users.first_name'
		},
		{
			label: 'Last name:',
			name: 'users.last_name'
		},
		{
			label: 'Site:',
			name: 'users.site',
			type: 'select'
		},
		{
			label: 'Permissions:',
			name: 'permission[].id',
			type: 'datatable',
			multiple: true
		}
	],
	table: '#example'
});

new DataTable('#example', {
	ajax: {
		url: '../php/joinArray.php',
		type: 'POST'
	},
	columns: [
		{ data: 'users.first_name' },
		{ data: 'users.last_name' },
		{ data: 'sites.name' },
		{ data: 'permission', render: '[, ].name' }
	],
	layout: {
		topStart: {
			buttons: [
				{ extend: 'create', editor: editor },
				{ extend: 'edit', editor: editor },
				{ extend: 'remove', editor: editor }
			]
		}
	},
	select: true
});

In addition to the above code, the following Javascript library files are loaded for use in this example:

The HTML shown below is the raw HTML table element, before it has been enhanced by DataTables:

This example uses a little bit of additional CSS beyond what is loaded from the library files (below), in order to correctly display the table. The additional CSS used is shown below:

The following CSS library files are loaded for use in this example to provide the styling of the table:

This table loads data by Ajax. The latest data that has been loaded is shown below. This data will update automatically as any additional data is loaded.

The script used to perform the server-side interaction for this demo is shown below. This server uses PHP, so the PHP script is shown, however our download packages include the equivalent script for other platforms, including .NET and Node.js. Server-side scripts can be written in any language, using the protocol described in the Editor documentation.

Multiple selection

Other examples

Simple initialisation

Advanced initialisation

DataTables as an input

Dates and time

DataTables extensions

Inline editing

Bubble editing

API

Standalone

Styling

Plug-ins

DataTables