DataTables: how to set configuration after init?

Question

I'm using the WordPress plugin TablePress for tables. It creates DataTables tables which I'd like to modify after init.

Problem: the tables are already initialized by the plugin, which means I can't use the constructor anymore.

// Already set by the plugin:
$('#tablepress-1').dataTable({
    columnDefs: [
        { targets: -1, className: 'dt-body-right'}
    ]
});

I'm looking for something like that (pseudocode):

var table = $('#tablepress-1').dataTable();
table.updateConfig({
    columnDefs: [
        { targets: -1, className: 'dt-body-right'}
    ]
})

Any idea? Thanks!

Answer 1

It is not so clear exactly what you want to modify. Many options cannot be modified, and to modify for example columnDefs require re-initialisation (which needs destroy: true). If the options you want to modify is generic / static you can extend DataTables defaults:

$.extend( true, $.fn.dataTable.defaults, {
  columnDefs: [
    { targets: '_all', className: 'dt-body-right' } // _all not -1
  ]
})

className and any other default can still be overwritten by the options passed to the constructor. If that is the problem you can "monkey patch" DataTables:

const orgDT = $.fn.DataTable
$.fn.DataTable = function(config) {
   config.columns[0].className += ' table-success'
   return orgDT.call(this, config)
}

This gives 100% control over however this "tablepress" initalise DataTables - the config is simply picked up and can be altered before the table is instantiated.