How to set column widths to a jQuery datatable?

Configuration Options:

$(document).ready(function () {

  $("#companiesTable").dataTable({
    "sPaginationType": "full_numbers",
    "bJQueryUI": true,
    "bAutoWidth": false, // Disable the auto width calculation 
    "aoColumns": [
      { "sWidth": "30%" }, // 1st column width 
      { "sWidth": "30%" }, // 2nd column width 
      { "sWidth": "40%" } // 3rd column width and so on 
    ]
  });
});

Specify the css for the table:

table.display {
  margin: 0 auto;
  width: 100%;
  clear: both;
  border-collapse: collapse;
  table-layout: fixed;         // add this 
  word-wrap:break-word;        // add this 
}

HTML:

<table id="companiesTable" class="display"> 
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Company name</th>
      <th>Address</th>
      <th>Town</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>

    <% for(Company c: DataRepository.GetCompanies()){ %>
      <tr>  
        <td><%=c.getName()%></td>
        <td><%=c.getAddress()%></td>
        <td><%=c.getTown()%></td>
      </tr>
    <% } %>

  </tbody>
</table>

It works for me!

I found this on 456 Bera St. Man is it a lifesaver!!!

http://www.456bereastreet.com/archive/200704/how_to_prevent_html_tables_from_becoming_too_wide/

But - you don't have a lot of room to spare with your data.

CSS FTW:

<style>
table {
    table-layout:fixed;
}
td{
    overflow:hidden;
    text-overflow: ellipsis;
}
</style>