jquery - DataTables - Not working when added colspan for the last column

Question

I've a problem using DataTables. When i add colspan for the last column, the datatable plugin wont get applied to the table. If i remove the colspan for the last one and put it to any other column, it works.

For example -

<table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="stu_data_table">
   <thead>
      <tr>    
        <th>&nbsp;</th>
        <th colspan="2">&nbsp;</th>
        <th colspan="2">&nbsp;</th>
      </tr>
   </thead>
   <tbody>
      <tr>
        <td>&nbsp;</td>
        <td>&nbsp;</td>
        <td>&nbsp;</td>
        <td>&nbsp;</td>
        <td>&nbsp;</td>
      </tr>
   </tbody>
</table>

$('#stu_data_table').dataTable({
});

Any solution for this?

Answer 1

DataTables doesn't support colspans like you're using them. Follow their complex header example instead.

When using tables to display data, you will often wish to display column information in groups. DataTables fully supports colspan and rowspans in the header, assigning the required sorting listeners to the TH element suitable for that column. Each column must have one TH cell (and only one) which is unique to it for the listeners to be added. The example shown below has the core browser information grouped together.

<thead>
    <tr>
        <th rowspan="2">Rendering engine</th>
        <th rowspan="2">Browser</th>
        <th colspan="3">Details</th>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <th>Platform(s)</th>
        <th>Engine version</th>
        <th>CSS grade</th>
    </tr>
</thead>

Your equivalent would look something like this:

<thead>
  <tr>    
    <th rowspan="2">&nbsp;</th> <!-- column 1 -->

    <th colspan="2">&nbsp;</th> <!-- column 2&3 -->
    <th colspan="2">&nbsp;</th> <!-- column 4&5 -->
  </tr>
 <tr>
    <th>&nbsp;</th> <!-- column 2 -->
    <th>&nbsp;</th> <!-- column 3 -->

    <th>&nbsp;</th> <!-- column 4 -->
    <th>&nbsp;</th> <!-- column 5 -->
 </tr>
</thead>