TypeError: Cannot set properties of undefined (setting '_DT_CellIndex')

Rupesh Bharuka

Error messages shown:
TypeError: Cannot set properties of undefined (setting '_DT_CellIndex')

Description of problem:
In a dataTable that has 0 entries, but has a column with no title or a title of just ( ). (For example a column for action buttons that has no title), this causes a JS error like in original report.

This issue is immediately resolved once the amount of rows in table is greater than 0.

kthorngren

Sounds like your table doesn't meet the requirements of what Datatables needs. See the HTML docs. Please provide a link to your page or a test case replicating the issue so we can help debug.
https://datatables.net/manual/tech-notes/10#How-to-provide-a-test-case

Kevin

Rupesh Bharuka

Got it. I've changed my code a bit. Now, I'm getting this error because of colspsan that I've used in my tbody. The below example is the exact same scenario, kindly refer to it & guide me accordingly. Thanks

Demo Link: http://live.datatables.net/rexixevu/60/edit

tangerine

DT does not support colspan in a tbody.

Please also note that while DataTables supports colspan and rowspan in the table's header and footer, they are not supported in the table's tbody and must not be present.

https://datatables.net/manual/installation#HTML

Rupesh Bharuka

do we have any workaround to this issue or we shall keep it as is and wait for the client to add at least 1 record to the table to get rid of this issue?

kthorngren

You can show an empty table. You can use language.emptyTable to change the text displayed when the table is empty.

Kevin

Rupesh Bharuka

@kevin I personally didn't like this approach. Instead, datatable should address this issue of colspan in tbody as the issue is faced by multiple users. And, I think this should be taken as a high priority issue because this is a basic functionality of a table when it comes to web application.

Also, what is strange here is, datatable doesn't support colspan in table body but it supports the same in the table header and footer according to @tangerine above. But, when it comes to the arrangement of data in a table, we do that in the table body. The rest is just a piece of decorative information. So, according to me, this is a must fix in a data table library. Correct me, if I'm wrong.

Thanks, Rupesh

kthorngren

I think the main reason for not supporting colspan and rowspan in the tbody is for sorting and searching. Having either of these would make it more complex and would make it more complex for developers to create custom searching and sorting plugins.

Kevin

colin

So, according to me, this is a must fix in a data table library. Correct me, if I'm wrong.

Yep, you're wrong As Kevin said, colspan and rowspan in the table body would significantly impact ordering and filtering, so it's not something that's going to happen in the short-term.

Colin

Rupesh Bharuka

Oh, thanks @kthorngren and @colin for the clarification on this. I completely agree with both of you & understand the significant impact on ordering and filtering features of the data table.