construct Datatable ajax response programmatically

malpauti

I'm attempting to recreate the following in PHP dynamically:

   Editor::inst( $db, 'user_to_groups')
       ->field(
            Field::inst( 'user_to_groups.user' ),
            Field::inst( 'user_to_groups.group' )
            ->options( Options::inst()
              ->table('groups')
              ->value('ID')
              ->label('groupname')
        )
        ->validator( 'Validate::dbValues' ),
        Field::inst( 'groups.groupname' )  
       )
       ->where('user',25)
      ->leftJoin( 'groups', 'groups.id', '=', 'user_to_groups.group' )
        ->process($_POST)
        ->json();

So far, my attempt has yielded:

   $editor = new Editor( $db, $tablename, $tablekey );
   $editor->fields(new Field("user_to_groups.user")); 
   $editor->fields(new Field("user_to_groups.group")); 
   $editor->fields(Field("user_to_groups.group"))->options( 'groups','ID','groupname' ); 
   $editor->fields(Field("user_to_groups.group"))->validator( 'Validate::dbValues' ); 
   $editor->fields(new Field("groups.groupname")); 
   $editor->where('user','25');
   $editor->leftJoin( 'groups', 'groups.id', '=', 'user_to_groups.group' ); 
   $editor->process( $_POST )     ->json();

I think the first 3 lines are correct. Can you please provide guidance on correct syntax for setting options, validator, and joins?

Edited by Allan - Syntax highlighting. Details on how to highlight code using markdown can be found in this guide.

Tester2017

My answer is based on using DataTables and Editor client side. Server-side requires a bit more work.

You are free to make your own server part. You only have to respect 2 things:

1. the requests from client side (JSON normally) and
2. the response you are giving from the server back to the client.

Receiving request from the clients can be separated in 2 kinds:

1. CRUD requests
2. Uploads

Regarding the first, there are 4 options:

1. action = nothing -> read request - return all fields of all rows requested
2. action = delete -> delete request - return an empty JSON when success or a JSON response if something was not going as prospected.
3. action = update -> update request - return the values of the updated records
4. action = create -> create request - return the value of the record

It may look a little bit complex, but believe me, as soon as you understand how the things are working it is easy going and giving a lot more flexibility in validating input, using multiple languages etc...

I can give you some examples if you need, but you have to understand that I am using the CodeIgniter Framework and all my work was done inside this framework. I can not give examples of other frameworks.

Here you can find more information about the data used between client and server: https://editor.datatables.net/manual/server

Here an example of how to process AJAX requests:

    /*  This function is called by an AJAX Call from JavaScript groups.js. */
    function ajax()
    {
        /*  Call the appropriate CRUD / imageUpload function as requested by the user */
        if ( ! isset($_POST['action']))
        {
            /*  Read the records. */
            $this->Group_model->read();
        }
        else
        {
            switch ($_POST['action'])
            {
                case 'create':
                    /*
                        Prepare data, so we can use the same array through all our functions
                        and the model.
                    */
                    $this->prepare_data('create');
                    /*
                        Validate the inputFields.
                    */
                    if( ! $this->fields_valid())
                    {
                        /*
                            One or more fields did not pass the validation rules.
                            We will send a notification of this back to the user.
                        */
                        echo json_encode($this->_field_errors);
                    }
                    else
                    {
                        /*  InputFields correctly validated, lets create the record now. */
                        $this->Group_model->create($this->_post_data);
                    }
                    break;

                case 'edit':
                    /*
                        Prepare data, so we can use the same array through all our functions
                        and the model.
                    */
                    $this->prepare_data('edit');
                    /*
                        Validate the inputFields.
                    */
                    if( ! $this->fields_valid())
                    {
                        /*
                            One or more fields did not pass the validation rules.
                            We will send a notification of this back to the user.
                        */
                        echo json_encode($this->_field_errors);
                    }
                    else
                    {
                        /*
                            InputFields correctly validated, now we can process the
                            updates.
                        */
                        $this->Group_model->update($this->_post_data);
                    }
                    break;

                case 'remove':
                    /*
                        Prepare data, so we can use the same array through all our functions
                        and the model.
                    */
                    $this->prepare_data('remove');

                    /*  Process the record or records to be deleted. */
                    $this->Group_model->delete($this->_post_data);
                    break;

                case 'upload':
                    /*
                        Process the upload of an Image.
                     */
                    $this->Group_model->uploadImages();
                    break;
            }
        }
    }

malpauti

My specific challenge is the creation of the DataTables Editor object server-side in php. Appreciate your prompt response but it has not helped.

allan

The nesting is slightly wrong - for example:

$editor->fields(Field("user_to_groups.group"))->validator( 'Validate::dbValues' );

Should be:

$editor->fields(new Field("user_to_groups.group")->validator( 'Validate::dbValues' ));

i.e. the validator belongs to the Field. Also you need to use new for the field like in the other ones.

Its perhaps a little easier to see with newlines:

$editor->fields(
  new Field("user_to_groups.group")
    ->validator( 'Validate::dbValues' )
);

Allan