# Editor example Column control

This example demonstrates the ability of the `datatable` field type to have columns in the displayed DataTable controlled. Simply by passing the `config.columns` option to the field we have the full range of DataTables column options.

In this example we make use of the `label` and `value` properties used in the list of options for the field to display both values (this might be useful when the value has meaning to the end user - a project number or stock number for example).

First name | Last name | Phone # | Location
--- | --- | --- | ---
First name | Last name | Phone # | Location

- Javascript
- HTML
- CSS
- Ajax
- Server-side script

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

`var editor = new DataTable.Editor({ ajax: '../../controllers/join.php', fields: [ { label: 'First name:', name: 'users.first_name' }, { label: 'Last name:', name: 'users.last_name' }, { label: 'Phone #:', name: 'users.phone' }, { label: 'Site:', name: 'users.site', type: 'datatable', config: { columns: [ { title: 'ID', data: 'value' }, { title: 'Value', data: 'label' } ] } } ], table: '#example' }); $('#example').DataTable({ ajax: { url: '../../controllers/join.php', type: 'POST' }, buttons: [ { extend: 'create', editor: editor }, { extend: 'edit', editor: editor }, { extend: 'remove', editor: editor } ], columns: [ { data: 'users.first_name' }, { data: 'users.last_name' }, { data: 'users.phone' }, { data: 'sites.name' } ], dom: 'Bfrtip', select: true });`
`const editor = new DataTable.Editor({ ajax: '../../controllers/join.php', fields: [ { label: 'First name:', name: 'users.first_name' }, { label: 'Last name:', name: 'users.last_name' }, { label: 'Phone #:', name: 'users.phone' }, { label: 'Site:', name: 'users.site', type: 'datatable', config: { columns: [ { title: 'ID', data: 'value' }, { title: 'Value', data: 'label' } ] } } ], table: '#example' }); new DataTable('#example', { ajax: { url: '../../controllers/join.php', type: 'POST' }, buttons: [ { extend: 'create', editor }, { extend: 'edit', editor }, { extend: 'remove', editor } ], columns: [ { data: 'users.first_name' }, { data: 'users.last_name' }, { data: 'users.phone' }, { data: 'sites.name' } ], dom: 'Bfrtip', select: true });`

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

- https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.7.0.js
- https://cdn.datatables.net/1.13.5/js/jquery.dataTables.min.js
- https://cdn.datatables.net/buttons/2.4.1/js/dataTables.buttons.min.js
- https://cdn.datatables.net/select/1.7.0/js/dataTables.select.min.js
- https://cdn.datatables.net/datetime/1.5.1/js/dataTables.dateTime.min.js
- ../../js/dataTables.editor.min.js

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:

- https://cdn.datatables.net/1.13.5/css/jquery.dataTables.min.css
- https://cdn.datatables.net/buttons/2.4.1/css/buttons.dataTables.min.css
- https://cdn.datatables.net/select/1.7.0/css/select.dataTables.min.css
- https://cdn.datatables.net/datetime/1.5.1/css/dataTables.dateTime.min.css
- ../../css/editor.dataTables.min.css

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 processing for this table is shown below. Please note that this is just an example script using PHP. Server-side processing scripts can be written in any language, using the protocol described in the DataTables documentation.