Checkboxes only work on first page - Datatables, rails

Question

Senario: So basically I\'m using DataTables and have checkboxes on its first column. My DataTables have multiple pages (pagination).

The Pro

Answer 1

CAUSE

jQuery DataTables removes non-visible rows from DOM for performance reasons, that is why when you submit the form only visible checkboxes get submitted.

SOLUTION

You may need to turn those that are checked and don't exist in DOM into upon form submission.

For example, to submit form with values of all checkboxes:

var table = $('#example').DataTable();

$("form").on('submit', function(e){
   var $form = $(this);

   // Iterate over all checkboxes in the table
   table.$('input[type="checkbox"]').each(function(){
      // If checkbox doesn't exist in DOM
      if(!$.contains(document, this)){
         // If checkbox is checked
         if(this.checked){
            // Create a hidden element 
            $form.append(
               $('')
                  .attr('type', 'hidden')
                  .attr('name', this.name)
                  .val(this.value)
            );
         }
      } 
   });          
});

If you're submitting the form via Ajax, it's even simpler.

For example, to submit form via Ajax with values of all checkboxes:

var table = $('#example').DataTable();

$("#btn-submit").on('click', function(e){
   e.preventDefault();

   $.ajax({
      url: "/path/to/your/script.php",
      data: table.$('input[type="checkbox"]').serialize();
   }).done(function(data){
      console.log("Response", data);
   });
});

DEMO

See our article jQuery DataTables: How to submit all pages form data for demonstration.