Accessing table data with javascript

Question

I am trying to access the <td>'s in following:

<table class="datadisplaytable" summary="This table lists the scheduled meeting times and assigned instructors for this class..">
<caption class="captiontext">Scheduled Meeting Times</caption>
<tbody><tr>
<th class="ddheader" scope="col">Time</th>
<th class="ddheader" scope="col">Days</th>
<th class="ddheader" scope="col">Where</th>
<th class="ddheader" scope="col">Date Range</th>
<th class="ddheader" scope="col">Schedule Type</th>
<th class="ddheader" scope="col">Instructors</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="dddefault">8:35 AM - 9:55 AM</td>
<td class="dddefault">TR</td>
<td class="dddefault">Trottier Building 0100</td>
<td class="dddefault">Jan 05, 2015 - Apr 13, 2015</td>
<td class="dddefault">Lecture</td>
<td class="dddefault">Harry Leib </td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>

I have a bunch of these tables in a HTML collection called var data_tables and I can successfully access the caption with data_tables[0].childNodes[0].innerText(i.e. for the first table in the collection). However when I try to access the <td>'s (for example the text "8:35 AM - 9:55 AM") with data_tables[0].childNodes[1].childNodes[1].childNodes[0].innerText I get "undefined" when using Chrome. What am I missing? Is the <td> not three layers of nodes deep from the <table>?

Lye Fish · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-01 03:04:55Z

1

You may be getting a text node instead of the td element.

Don't use .childNodes with tables. Instead use the .tBodies, .rows and .cells collections.

data_tables[0].tBodies[0].rows[1].cells[0].innerText

Also, I'd use .textContent instead of .innerText so that you're using the standard property.

answered Mar 1, 2015 at 3:04

Lye Fish

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2 Comments

connorwstein Over a year ago

Thanks that worked. Where can I find documentation on the standard properties to be used?

Lye Fish Over a year ago

You're welcome. Mozilla has lots of JS docs: MDN JavaScript

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