Display blank instead of "Invalid date" for a date column.

Glyndwr

I have a date being return from java by JSON. If the date is null then no value is returned. The DataTable then displays "Invalid date". I would like it to display nothing (i.e., space, ""). This is the code:

var accountUpdateTable = $('#accountUpdateTable').DataTable( {

        "info":     false,
        dom: 'Bfrtip',
        buttons: ['copy', 'csv', 'excel', 'pdf', 'print'],
        columns: [
              {data: 'accountId',
                  visible: false,
                  searchable: false},
              {data: 'emailaddress'},
              {data: 'surname',
                  defaultContent: ""},
              {data: 'otherNames',
                  defaultContent: ""},
              {data: 'level',
                  defaultContent: ""},
              {data: 'enabled',
                  defaultContent: ""},
              {data: 'archived',
                  defaultContent: ""},
              {
                  data: null,
                  className: "center",
                  defaultContent: '<button id="reset">Reset</button>'
              }
             ],
         columnDefs: [ {
             targets: [6],
             render: $.fn.dataTable.render.moment( 'DD/MM/YYYY' )
         } ],
    } );

This is the result:

colin

Hi @Glyndwr ,

If you use columns.render and test for the null, you can return an empty string instead - something like the penultimate example.

Cheers,

Colin

Glyndwr

Thank Colin, this works, to a point.

       {data: 'archived',
                  visible: false,
                  defaultContent: "",
                  render:function ( data, type, row, meta ) {
                      if (data == null){
                          return '';
                      }else{
                          return data;
                      }
                  }
              },

However,

       columnDefs: [ {
             targets: [6],
             render: $.fn.dataTable.render.moment( 'DD/MM/YYYY' )
         } ],

now no longer renders the date as DD/MM/YYYY (YYYY-MM-DDD is returned).

colin

Hi @Glyndwr ,

There's two things you could do. This is how the rendering approach would work here. The better way (I've just been told, so sorry for not mentioning it before) would be to set the i18n invalidDate string within moment - like this.

Cheers,

Colin

Glyndwr

Hi Colin,

No need to apologise. I so much appreciate your help and your first answer is very useful for other features (I already have a use for it). Anyway, your "better" way worked a treat.

Thank you very much. :-)

jlparrilla

Hi @colin

"The better way (I've just been told, so sorry for not mentioning it before) would be to set the i18n "

Fantastic solution.

Thank you very much.