<li>An external input <code>data-column</code> can now target multiple columns:
<ul>
<li>When designating a column for an external input, you can now set multiple columns and/or a range of columns (e.g. <code>data-column="0-2,4,6-7"</code>.</li>
<li>This type of search acts essentially the same as when the column is set to <code>"all"</code> in that "range", "notMatch" and "operators" searches are ignored.</li>
<li>The last search performed using either multiple columns or "all" columns will override all other queries; meaning the other inputs won't clear or update (e.g. performing a search for "foo" in an "all" column search input will override any previous searchs, and the input with a <code>data-column="0-2,4,6-7"</code> will not change its value) - this might be confusing to the user if multiple inputs are visible on the page (placeholder text won't help).</li>
<li>The selector in the demo below has two additional options: "Columns 0,3" and "Columns 1-2"; as you can see, switching the column to search between "all", "0,3" and "1-2" does not change the query.</li>
<li>A new filter widget <ahref="index.html#widget-filter-external"><code>filter_external</code> option</a> has been added that essentially does the same thing as the <ahref="index.html#function-bindsearch"><code>$.tablesorter.bindSearch</code></a> function.</li>
<li>To change an input from searching one column (or all columns) to search any other column, call the <code>$.tablesorter.bindSearch</code> function to update the external inputs, even if the inputs are set using the <code>filter_external</code> option. Pass an additional <code>false</code> flag as the last parameter to force the inputs to update.
<li>This demo shows how to use multiple external search filters to filter the table, and how to make one input dynamically change to filter any or all columns.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <code>$.tablesorter.filter.bindSearch</code> function allows binding multiple external search filters</li>
<li>The advantage of using this function over your own is:
<ul>
<li>Inputs behave the same as internal filters; searches adhere to the <code>filter_liveSearch</code> and <code>filter_searchDelay</code> options.</li>
<li>When pressing the <kbd>Esc</kbd> key, the filter resets.</li>
<li>Include a <code>data-column="#"</code> attribute to specify to which column the search should apply; or <code>data-column="all"</code> to search all columns.</li>