Use object instead of array in datatables - datatables

Question

When using datatables, I get 'no data available in table' when using an object instead of array:
var data1 =
{
"status": "success",
"districts": {
"1": {
"district_number": "1",
"district_name": "district one"
},
"2": {
"district_number": "2",
"district_name": "district two"
}
},
"time": "1.109s"
};
var table1 = jQuery("#data_table1").DataTable({
"data": data1.districts,
"aoColumns": [
{ "mData": "district_number" },
{ "mData": "district_name" }
]
});
I can get an array to display in a datatable using mData as follows:
var data2 =
{
"status": "success",
"districts": [
{
"district_number": "1",
"district_name": "district one"
},
{
"district_number": "2",
"district_name": "district two"
}
],
"time": "1.109s"
};
var table2 = jQuery("#data_table2").DataTable({
"data": data2.districts,
"aoColumns": [
{ "mData": "district_number" },
{ "mData": "district_name" }
]
});
https://jsfiddle.net/w93gubLv/
Is there a way to get datatables to utilize the object in the original format, or must I convert the object to an array?

Answer 1

You can write your own function to convert one format to another, for example:
function formatData(data){
var result = [];
for(prop in data){
if(data.hasOwnProperty(prop)){
result.push( data[prop] );
}
}
return result;
}
You can then later use it to pass data to jQuery DataTables as shown below.
var table1 = jQuery("#data_table1").DataTable({
"data": formatData(data1.districts),
"aoColumns": [
{ "mData": "district_number" },
{ "mData": "district_name" }
]
});
See updated jsFiddle for code and demonstration.