Use dataTables API on a dtInstance

[jrdn91]

I can't seem to figure out how to do this.

I want to have a sort bar outside of the dataTables instance that will sort the columns in the dataTables instance when I click the button.

In the dataTables API I can do something like

var table = $('#example').DataTable();

table
    .column( '0:visible' )
    .order( 'asc' )
    .draw();

But with this directive I can't seem to figure out how I'm supposed to be able to do something like this. It seems when I add dt-instance="dtInstance" the dtInstance property in my controller is still an empty object so I can't call any dataTables methods on it.

[jrdn91]

Okay so here's some more info. If I echo out the dtInstance variable to the page I see it fill up with the instance data, but trying to access it inside of a function I call via ng-click is just giving me the empty object.

$scope.dtInstance = {};
$scope.sortByTitle = function(){
    console.log($scope.dtOptions);
}

ng-click="sortByTitle()"

[jrdn91]

Got it working with

$scope.dtInstance = {};
$scope.dtIntanceCallback = function (instance) {
    $scope.dtInstance = instance;
};

And in the template call it at the dt-instance directive like dt-instance="dtIntanceCallback"

[vincilbishop]

@Jordan4jc How did you figure that out? You rock! Don't know how long I spent on this...and how many other people on this repo have given up and declared this was not possible.

I will make one note for anyone else that finds themselves here from Google...reference the dtInstance.DataTable without the (), e.g. dtInstance.DataTable.row() will work.