table.columns is not a function in datatable.js

Answer 1

It has been a while since this question was asked but I am posting this as it might help someone.

I had similar issue and after some searching I realized I had to include file located at - http://jquery-datatables-column-filter.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/media/js/jquery.dataTables.columnFilter.js to my code.

Answer 2

None of the previous answers solved the problem for me.

The solution I found was using table.api().column(colIdx) instead of table.column(colIdx).

Working example I developed for a table with names and ages:

    table = jQuery('#sel').dataTable( {
        "initComplete": function( settings, json ) {
            jQuery("#sel_filter").find("input").unbind();
            jQuery("#sel_filter").find("label").after(
                "<select id='opts'><option value='0'>Name</option>"+
                "<option value='1'>Age</option></select>");
            jQuery("#sel_filter").find("input").on('keyup change', function(){
                table.api().columns( jQuery("#opts").val()).search( this.value ).draw();
            });
        },
        "ajax": {
            "url": "urlvalue",
            "type": "GET"
        },
        "columns": [
            { "data": "name" },
            { "data": "age" }
        ]
    });

Hope it helps.