How to create JQuery DataTable using JSON and servlet

Nitin KumarSeptember 9th, 2013Last Updated: September 8th, 2013

1 275 1 minute read

In this article I’ll introduce the basic coding that require to create JQuery DataTable using JSON passed by simple servlet. DataTable is very powerful JQuery based grid with advance features which can be build in short span of time with customize features.

Installation

Download Latest JQuery DataTable download

Above download will provide two JQuery plugin jquery.js and queryTables.js

<script type="text/javascript"
charset="utf-8" src="/DataTables/media/js/jquery.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript"
charset="utf-8" src="/DataTables/media/js/jquery.dataTables.js"></script>

Default stylesheet which shipped with latest DataTable download package

<style type="text/css" title="currentStyle">
 @import "../resources/css/demo_table.css";
</style>

Note:You can download full source code from Github link

Creating the DataTable

We can write below code to create the basic DataTable with data

feedSummary.jsp

<script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8">
$(document).ready(function() {
var oTable = $('#tableId').dataTable( {
"processing": true,
"ajax": {
"url": "/FeedSummaryUpdate/FeedServlet",
"dataSrc": "demo",
"type": "GET"
}
} );
} );
</script>

$(document).ready will ready to execute the javascript and var oTable = $(‘#tableId’).dataTable says that write DataTable on tableId place.

DataTables will adding sorting, filtering, paging and information to your table by default, providing the end user of your web-site with the ability to control the display of the table and find the information that they want from it as quickly as possible.

The pointer tableId and column name will be defined in table tag as below

feedSummary.jsp

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"
id="tableId">
<thead>
<tr>
<th width="10%">First Name</th>
<th width="10%">Last Name</th>
<th width="10%">Address 1</th>
<th width="10%">Address 2</th>
</tr>
</thead>
</table>

Above DataTable code invoke FeedServlet which will return JSON string as defined below

FeedServlet.java

protected void doPost(HttpServletRequest request,
HttpServletResponse response) throws ServletException, IOException {
PrintWriter out = response.getWriter();
String json = "{ \"demo\":[[\"First Name\",\"Last Name\","+
+\"Address1\",\"Address2\"],[\"First Name\",\"Last Name\",\"Address1\",\"Address2\"]]}";
out.println(json);
}

Now either we can use servlet annotation or web.xml as below to register above FeedServlet

Web.xml

<servlet>
<description></description>
<display-name>FeedServlet</display-name>
<servlet-name>FeedServlet</servlet-name>
<servlet-class>FeedServlet</servlet-class>
</servlet>
<servlet-mapping>
<servlet-name>FeedServlet</servlet-name>
<url-pattern>/FeedServlet</url-pattern>
</servlet-mapping>