Data binding in Vue Multi select component

11 Jun 202414 minutes to read

The MultiSelect loads the data either from local data sources or remote data services using the dataSource property. It supports the data type of array or DataManager.

The MultiSelect also supports different kinds of data services such as OData, OData V4, and Web API, and data formats such as XML, JSON, and JSONP with the help of DataManager adaptors.

Fields	Type	Description
text	`string`	Specifies the display text of each list item.
value	`number or string`	Specifies the hidden data value mapped to each list item that should contain a unique value.
groupBy	`string`	Specifies the category under which the list item has to be grouped.
iconCss	`string`	Specifies the icon class of each list item.

When binding complex data to the MultiSelect, fields should be mapped correctly. Otherwise, the selected item remains undefined.

Binding local data

Local data can be represented in two ways as described below.

1. Array of string

The MultiSelect has support to load array of primitive data such as strings and numbers. Here, both value and text field act the same.

Composition API (~/src/App.vue)
Options API (~/src/App.vue)
<template>
  <div id="app">
    <div id='container' style="margin:50px auto 0; width:250px;">
      <br>
      <ejs-multiselect id='multiselect' :dataSource='sportsData' placeholder="Select a game"></ejs-multiselect>
    </div>
  </div>
</template>
<script setup>
import { MultiSelectComponent as EjsMultiselect } from "@syncfusion/ej2-vue-dropdowns";

const sportsData = ['Badminton', 'Cricket', 'Football', 'Golf', 'Tennis'];
</script>
<style>
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-base/styles/material.css";
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-inputs/styles/material.css";
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-vue-dropdowns/styles/material.css";
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-buttons/styles/material.css";
</style>
<template>
  <div id="app">
    <div id='container' style="margin:50px auto 0; width:250px;">
      <br>
      <ejs-multiselect id='multiselect' :dataSource='sportsData' placeholder="Select a game"></ejs-multiselect>
    </div>
  </div>
</template>
<script>
import { MultiSelectComponent } from "@syncfusion/ej2-vue-dropdowns";

export default {
  name: "App",
  components: {
    "ejs-multiselect": MultiSelectComponent
  },
  data() {
    return {
      sportsData: ['Badminton', 'Cricket', 'Football', 'Golf', 'Tennis']
    }
  }
}

</script>
<style>
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-base/styles/material.css";
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-inputs/styles/material.css";
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-vue-dropdowns/styles/material.css";
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-buttons/styles/material.css";
</style>

2. Array of object

The MultiSelect can generate its list items through an array of complex data. For this, the appropriate columns should be mapped to the fields property.

In the following example, id column and sports column from complex data have been mapped to the value field and text field, respectively.

Composition API (~/src/App.vue)
Options API (~/src/App.vue)
<template>
  <div id="app">
    <div id='container' style="margin:50px auto 0; width:250px;">
      <br>
      <ejs-multiselect id='multiselect' :dataSource='sportsData' :fields='fields'
        placeholder="Select a game"></ejs-multiselect>
    </div>
  </div>
</template>
<script setup>
import { MultiSelectComponent as EjsMultiselect } from "@syncfusion/ej2-vue-dropdowns";

const sportsData = [
  { Id: 'game1', Game: 'Badminton' },
  { Id: 'game2', Game: 'Football' },
  { Id: 'game3', Game: 'Tennis' }
];
const fields = { text: 'Game', value: 'Id' };

</script>
<style>
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-base/styles/material.css";
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-inputs/styles/material.css";
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-vue-dropdowns/styles/material.css";
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-buttons/styles/material.css";
</style>
<template>
  <div id="app">
    <div id='container' style="margin:50px auto 0; width:250px;">
      <br>
      <ejs-multiselect id='multiselect' :dataSource='sportsData' :fields='fields'
        placeholder="Select a game"></ejs-multiselect>
    </div>
  </div>
</template>
<script>
import { MultiSelectComponent } from "@syncfusion/ej2-vue-dropdowns";

export default {
  name: "App",
  components: {
    "ejs-multiselect": MultiSelectComponent
  },
  data() {
    return {
      sportsData: [
        { Id: 'game1', Game: 'Badminton' },
        { Id: 'game2', Game: 'Football' },
        { Id: 'game3', Game: 'Tennis' }
      ],
      fields: { text: 'Game', value: 'Id' }
    }
  }
}

</script>
<style>
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-base/styles/material.css";
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-inputs/styles/material.css";
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-vue-dropdowns/styles/material.css";
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-buttons/styles/material.css";
</style>

3. Array of complex object

The MultiSelect can generate its list items through an array of complex data. For this, the appropriate columns should be mapped to the fields property.

In the following example, Code.Id column and Country.Name column from complex data have been mapped to the value field and text field, respectively.

Composition API (~/src/App.vue)
Options API (~/src/App.vue)
<template>
  <div id="app">
    <div id='container' style="margin:50px auto 0; width:250px;">
      <br>
      <ejs-multiselect id='multiselect' :dataSource='countriesData' :fields='fields'
        placeholder="Select a country"></ejs-multiselect>
    </div>
  </div>
</template>
<script setup>
import { MultiSelectComponent as EjsMultiselect } from "@syncfusion/ej2-vue-dropdowns";

const countriesData = [
  { Country: { Name: 'Australia' }, Code: { Id: 'AU' } },
  { Country: { Name: 'Bermuda' }, Code: { Id: 'BM' } },
  { Country: { Name: 'Canada' }, Code: { Id: 'CA' } },
  { Country: { Name: 'Cameroon' }, Code: { Id: 'CM' } },
  { Country: { Name: 'Denmark' }, Code: { Id: 'DK' } },
  { Country: { Name: 'France' }, Code: { Id: 'FR' } }
];
const fields = { text: 'Country.Name', value: 'Code.Id' };

</script>
<style>
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-base/styles/material.css";
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-inputs/styles/material.css";
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-vue-dropdowns/styles/material.css";
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-buttons/styles/material.css";
</style>
<template>
  <div id="app">
    <div id='container' style="margin:50px auto 0; width:250px;">
      <br>
      <ejs-multiselect id='multiselect' :dataSource='countriesData' :fields='fields'
        placeholder="Select a country"></ejs-multiselect>
    </div>
  </div>
</template>
<script>
import { MultiSelectComponent } from "@syncfusion/ej2-vue-dropdowns";

export default {
  name: "App",
  components: {
    "ejs-multiselect": MultiSelectComponent
  },
  data() {
    return {
      countriesData: [
        { Country: { Name: 'Australia' }, Code: { Id: 'AU' } },
        { Country: { Name: 'Bermuda' }, Code: { Id: 'BM' } },
        { Country: { Name: 'Canada' }, Code: { Id: 'CA' } },
        { Country: { Name: 'Cameroon' }, Code: { Id: 'CM' } },
        { Country: { Name: 'Denmark' }, Code: { Id: 'DK' } },
        { Country: { Name: 'France' }, Code: { Id: 'FR' } }
      ],
      fields: { text: 'Country.Name', value: 'Code.Id' }
    }
  }
}

</script>
<style>
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-base/styles/material.css";
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-inputs/styles/material.css";
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-vue-dropdowns/styles/material.css";
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-buttons/styles/material.css";
</style>

Binding remote data

The MultiSelect supports retrieval of data from remote data services with the help of DataManager component. The Query property is used to fetch data from the database and bind it to the MultiSelect.

The following sample displays the first 6 contacts from “Customers” table of the Northwind Data Service.

Composition API (~/src/App.vue)
Options API (~/src/App.vue)
<template>
  <div id="app">
    <div id='container' style="margin:50px auto 0; width:250px;">
      <br>
      <ejs-multiselect id='multiselect' sortOrder='Ascending' :dataSource='customerData' :query='query' :fields='fields'
        placeholder="Select a customer"></ejs-multiselect>
    </div>
  </div>
</template>
<script setup>
import { MultiSelectComponent as EjsMultiselect } from "@syncfusion/ej2-vue-dropdowns";
import { Query, DataManager, ODataV4Adaptor } from '@syncfusion/ej2-data';

const customerData = new DataManager({
  url: 'https://services.odata.org/V4/Northwind/Northwind.svc/',
  adaptor: new ODataV4Adaptor,
  crossDomain: true
});
const query = new Query().from('Customers').select(['ContactName', 'CustomerID']).take(6);
const fields = { text: 'ContactName', value: 'CustomerID' };

</script>
<style>
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-base/styles/material.css";
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-inputs/styles/material.css";
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-vue-dropdowns/styles/material.css";
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-buttons/styles/material.css";
</style>
<template>
  <div id="app">
    <div id='container' style="margin:50px auto 0; width:250px;">
      <br>
      <ejs-multiselect id='multiselect' sortOrder='Ascending' :dataSource='customerData' :query='query' :fields='fields'
        placeholder="Select a customer"></ejs-multiselect>
    </div>
  </div>
</template>
<script>
import { MultiSelectComponent } from "@syncfusion/ej2-vue-dropdowns";
import { Query, DataManager, ODataV4Adaptor } from '@syncfusion/ej2-data';

export default {
  name: "App",
  components: {
    "ejs-multiselect": MultiSelectComponent
  },
  data() {
    return {
      customerData: new DataManager({
        url: 'https://services.odata.org/V4/Northwind/Northwind.svc/',
        adaptor: new ODataV4Adaptor,
        crossDomain: true
      }),
      query: new Query().from('Customers').select(['ContactName', 'CustomerID']).take(6),
      fields: { text: 'ContactName', value: 'CustomerID' }
    }
  }
}

</script>
<style>
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-base/styles/material.css";
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-inputs/styles/material.css";
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-vue-dropdowns/styles/material.css";
@import "../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-buttons/styles/material.css";
</style>