在从Ajax返回的数据上使用Jquery方法，而不打印出数据

Question

So I have a rather unique situation. I am using JQuery to gather some data based on two date ranges, what is returned as a response in the $data variable (I am using Ajax) I have set, is a html table.

Now I don't want the user to ever see this table, I want to use This jquery plugin to download the CSV file of that table. The question is, if the table sits inside of a $data and can be seen via the network tab in Chrom Dev Tools, under Response, is it possible to be manipulated with Jquery?

In our inhouse framework, we do the following to get Ajax Data:

    // The following belongs to a JS class method.
    data = {
        startDate : $('.startDate').val(),
        endDate : $('.endDate').val()
    }

    CT.postSynch('report/payRollReport/downloadPayRoleReport', {data : data}, function(data){
        console.log(data);
    });

We pass a data object to our Ajax wrapper, call a controller with an action (in this case downloadPayRoleReport translates to ajaxDownloadPayRoleReport()) which in turn returns an HTML table, which I can view via console.log(data)

I want to use the above linked plugin on data to then turn this html table into a csv and instant download.

Question is, can this be done?

Answer 1

You can create a jQuery object from the table. Then you can do anything to the jQuery object just like you could if it were actually on the DOM. You can always put the table on the DOM as well off screen, but I think any chance you have to not touch the DOM you should take it.

var myTable = $(data);

myTable.mySpecialTableMethodToExportToCSV();