How to access the ajax.data object for server-side processing?

steven408

I've seen https://datatables.net/reference/option/ajax.data and other examples on how to send custom HTTP variables to the server. But I'm having trouble understanding how to send the object as an parameter. I want to be able to view all the parameters the DataTable sends to the server as an object rather than individual parameters.

My setup is as follows:

$(document).ready(function () {
            $('#example').DataTable({
                processing: true,
                serverSide: true,
                ajax: {
                    "url": '/Browse/GetRecordsAsync',
                    "type": 'POST',
                    "datatype": "json",
                    "data": {
                        "sentData": $.ajax.data,
                        "search": "asd"
                    }
                },
                columns: [
                    { "data": "name"},
                    { "data": "occupation"},
                    { "data": "salary"},
                ],
            });
        });

In my controller, the signature of my controller action is:
public async Task<ActionResult> GetRecordsAsync(object sentData, int draw, int start, int length, string search)

This was a simple experiment to see what data is being sent to the server. I am not sure how to get the returned object (documentation states ajax.data option sends this info) and how to set up the method signature to properly access that object. Also, I am not sure how to setup the method parameters to access search[value] or order[i][column] from https://datatables.net/manual/server-side#Returned-data

I'm reading the documentation and I still don't understand how to access the returned object or the specific parameters like search[value] from my controller.

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

allan

You could try:

ajax: {
  ...,
  data: function (d) {
    return {
      sentData: JSON.stringify(d),
      draw: d.draw,
      length: d.length,
      ...
  }
}

Is that how C#'s parameter name mapping works for controllers? You sent an HTTP parameter with the name you want for the parameter?

Allan

steven408

It seems that DataTables automatically sends the following parameters to the server. I was able to get access to those parameters by setting the method signature in this format:

[HttpPost]
public async Task<ActionResult> GetSubstancesAsync(int draw, int start, int length, Dictionary<string, string> search, List<Dictionary<string, string>> order)

At the time, I wasn't sure how to access the parameters "search" and "order". I could now access them through a dictionary.

allan

So just to confirm - you are happy that you can get the data you need now?

Allan

steven408

Yes. Thank you for your quick response!