Add custom parameter to jQuery UI Datepicker

Question

I am looking for a way to add a parameter to the dates in the jQuery UI Datepicker. I am using the Datepicker to display course start dates. The parameter I need would be t

Answer 1

Heres my attempt using the onSelect method for datepicker.

I have not updated the underlying Date object, instead just added a new data attribute to the "Result" input field. On select, it searches an object called courses (representing your list of course ids and dates) for a match for the selected date.

Inspect the input field with firebug/developer tools to see the data-course-id attribute update. First 3 days of the month have associated courses...

http://jsfiddle.net/Seandeburca/qbLwD/

var input = $("#datepicker");
var result = $("#result");

var courses = {
    "01-09-2013" : "javascript",
    "02-09-2013" : "history",
    "03-09-2013" : "biology",
    "10-09-2013": "physics"
};

input.datepicker({
   dateFormat: 'dd-mm-yy',
   showWeek: true,
   firstDay: 1,
   numberOfMonths: 3, 

   onSelect: function(dateText, pickerObj){

     result.attr("data-course-id", courses[dateText]); 
     course.innerHTML = courses[dateText]; 
   },

   altField: "#result"
});