Datatables alternative with SQL JOIN?

Firstly, apologies if this is in the wrong section as it's not a programming question.

Secondly, this is nothing against DataTables per se, I've used it a lot and I think it's really great.

I am working on a project that requires the capabilities of the DataTables library (most importantly the AJAX server side processing with search and pagination) but the databases I am working with have important data over separate tables and so I need to use an SQL JOIN statement to build my table.

The old version of DataTables had join capabilities hacked together by a community user but on the new version it's unfortunately only part of the paid DataTables Editor program - and as a student I am too poor to buy it lol

Is there an alternative (free) library out there that can offer the server-side processing with the filtering and pagination abilities of DataTables but can also handle the JOIN capabilities in building a table from an SQL statement?

Thank you very much!

Solution

I used Datatables free in my project before i had given up and just bought the editor. Anyway this method was time consuming but it worked.

For each sql, create a different php script which echo out the result.
Use datatables ajax populate and link your table to these php files. which runs a sql and echo out the result.
If you need to send data to sql add your variables in ajax request.
If you need to do secure stuff. User specific private data and such. You must use hashing and tokens and develop some kind of remote autorisation.(this is where i have given up but it can be done)