Скачать или смотреть How to Disable about:blank for Datatable Print Functionality

Learn how to disable the `about:blank` opening in a new tab when printing datatables, and create an effective print overlay on the same page.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/68376001/ asked by the user 'Chetan Kondawle' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/4075189/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/68377054/ provided by the user 'Vel' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/3946728/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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How to Disable about:blank for Datatable Print Functionality

When working with data tables in web applications, a common feature is the ability to print the displayed information. However, some developers encounter a frustrating issue where clicking the print button opens a new tab displaying about:blank. This behavior can disrupt the user experience by navigating away from the current page. In this guide, we’ll explore how to disable this about:blank behavior and instead create a print overlay that allows printing directly from the current page.

The Problem

Imagine you’re building a complex data table using jQuery DataTables. Your users want a seamless experience, and opening a new tab just to print is less than ideal. The default print functionality of DataTables often invokes this about:blank tab, which isn't helpful if you're trying to maintain context for the user. Fortunately, there’s a straightforward solution to keep users on the same page while printing.

The Solution

To create a print overlay instead of a new tab, we can use a bit of JavaScript. Let’s break this down into simple steps.

Step 1: Set Up Your Data Table

First, ensure you have your DataTable set up correctly. Here’s the standard initialization for a DataTable with a print button:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Make sure to replace # example with the ID of your data table where necessary.

Step 2: Add Custom Print Functionality

Instead of relying solely on the built-in print functionality, we’ll implement our own print function that captures the contents of the DataTable and prints them directly from the same page. Here’s how you can do it:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Breakdown of the Code

Capture the Table Contents: printContents retrieves the inner HTML of your DataTable. This contains all the data you want to print.

Store the Original Page Contents: originalContents saves the current state of the web page, so we can restore it later.

Modify Body Contents for Printing: We replace the body’s HTML with just the DataTable's content, allowing for a clean print preview.

Invoke the Print Dialog: window.print() opens the print dialog box, letting users print only the DataTable content.

Restore the Original Page: Finally, we reset the body’s HTML back to its original state.

Step 3: Associate the Print Function with the Button

Now, you'll need to link the custom print functionality to a button click. This can be done easily within your DataTable setup. Replace the default print button action with your custom function:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This setup ensures your users can print the DataTable without navigating away from the current page, enhancing the user experience.

Conclusion

Disabling the about:blank behavior when printing from DataTables is a matter of implementing a custom print function. By following the steps outlined, you can provide your users with a seamless way to print data without disrupting their experience on your site.

Embrace this approach and enjoy a more user-friendly data presentation in your applications!