DataTables - Search in multiple columns with a single drop down

Question

I'm working with DataTables and i'm trying to search a result in a table with a dropdown. But rather than searching one column, I need to search in two specific columns.

The below syntax works with a single column but how do i do it with multiple columns?

var table = $('#example1').DataTable();
    $("#filter").on('change', function() {
        table.column([4]).search($(this).val()).draw();
    });    

I tried doing this but when i use this code it only searches the result in the first column, E.g. 4th Column. and ignores the rest.

        table.column([4,5]).search($(this).val()).draw();

What is the proper method for this?

Answer 1

Lets summarize all things here. It will help other people as well.

You can achieve this as follow:

table.column(4).search(this.value).column(5).search(this.val‌​ue).draw();

It will perform search on 4 column (4 is index of column), after that it will filter data from 5 column against provided filter value and at the end it will draw the table.

One thing to keep in mind is that Filter is applied on both columns, so both columns must contains matching data.

Here is its filddle

---

This can be achieved by using fnMultiFilter as it documentation explains:

This plug-in adds to DataTables the ability to set multiple column filtering terms in a single call (particularly useful if using server-side processing). Used in combination with the column sName parameter, simply pass in an object with the key/value pair being the column you wish to search on, and the value you wish to search for.

Answer 2

Use columns() in place of column():

var table = $('#example1').DataTable();
$("#filter").on('change', function() {
    table.columns([4,5]).search($(this).val()).draw();
}); 

Answer 3

From the doc, you should be using .columns() (note the plural)

Answer 4

For an OR search among multiple columns, disable columns for the search using

columns.searchableSince: Enable or disable search on the data in a certain column.

Alternatively, you can also use an HTML attribute to remove the column from the search

<th data-searchable=false>