I have two ways to load datatables:

1- initially by making an ajax call when building the datatables. in the servlet I call I then store the json array in a session managed bean so I do not have to read the database everytime I call the page.
2 - when the managed bean contains the json array I read the values from the into a js variable and use that as datasource

hereby I can reduce the time to collect the data from 9 to 2 seconds.

However in situation 2 I do not get the processing message, which I get when making the ajax call.

Is that suppose to be?

Can I force that message to appear in situation 2?

Below is a snippet of the code in situation 2:

function loadCustomers(id, sort, data) { //data contains the json array in string format
    console.log('loadCustomers()')
    $.growl({
        message: "loadCustomers()"
    });
    var element = $(document.getElementById(id));
    var table = element.DataTable();
    table.state.clear()
    table.destroy();
    var customersList = $.parseJSON(data);
    element.DataTable({
                retrieve: true,
                data: customersList,
                'stateSave': true,
                'language': {
                    'url': getLanguage(),
                    'loadingRecords': msgLoading,
                    'processing': 'DataTables is currently busy'
                },
                'processing': true,
                scrollY: 400,
                deferRender: true,
                scroller: true,
                scrollY: '50vh',
                scrollCollapse: true,
                'paging': max_rows,
                'responsive': false,
                'order': [
                    [1, 'asc']
                ],
                'columnDefs': [{
                    'targets': 1,
                    'render': $.fn.dataTable.render.ellipsis(dispEllipsis)
                }], ..... //rest of the code not of interest

Code for situation 1 is: (I thought you were gonna ask)

function initCustomers(id, sort) { //no data provided
    console.log('initCustomers')
    $.growl({
        message: "initCustomers()"
    });
    var element = $(document.getElementById(id));
    var table = element.DataTable();
    table.destroy();
    element.DataTable({
                'ajax': 'xsp/customers',
                'stateSave': true,
                'language': {
                    'url': getLanguage(),
                    'loadingRecords': msgLoading,
                    'processing': 'DataTables is currently busy'
                },
                'processing': true,
                scrollY: 400,
                deferRender: true,
                scroller: true,
                scrollY: '50vh',
                scrollCollapse: true,
                'paging': max_rows,
                'responsive': false,
                'order': [
                    [1, 'asc']
                ],
                'columnDefs': [{
                    'targets': 1,
                    'render': $.fn.dataTable.render.ellipsis(dispEllipsis)
                }], ..... //rest of the code not of interest

The data string might look as followed:

'[{"obj":{"unid":"AE2E4C0DB863DB08C12587B90055F4D1","dateK":"10-24-2021","unit":"06109","comm":"06109","lvl":"sdd","gcn":"","resp":"Nu Present","name":"Nordic News Co","id":"00000000034664","lvlK":"Avslag","type":"PRIVATE"}},{"obj":{"unid":"E8E58FD3EB2453D2C12587BB004B5737","dateK":"4-18-2021","unit":"06409","comm":"06409","lvl":"bordlaggning","gcn":"","resp":"Heute Idag","name":"Universal Deutsche Gemeinte Unlimited","id":"00000000161479","lvlK":"Återremittering","type":"COMPANY"}},{"obj":{"unid":"A13C7AA174FF28B0C12587B90056E6EA","dateK":"10-3-2021","unit":"06325","comm":"06325","lvl":"bordlaggning","gcn":"","resp":"Manana Morgen","name":"Common Deutsche Gemeinte Inc","id":"00000000277853","lvlK":"DD","type":"CORPGROUP"}},{"obj":{"unid":"3DD65EBABE97C603C12587BB004B5D00","dateK":"4-6-2021","unit":"06142","comm":"06142","lvl":"avslag","gcn":"","resp":"Nu Present","name":"Red Firm Corp Co","id":"00000000486674","lvlK":"EDD","type":"PRIVATE"}},{"obj":{"unid":"5F0ECCC070EE16C5C12587B90056B4FC","dateK":"7-27-2021","unit":"06325","comm":"06325","lvl":"avslag","gcn":"","resp":"Past Förtiden","name":"Cosmic Hello World Online Enterprise","id":"00000000517436","lvlK":"DD","type":"CORPGROUP"}}]'

Edited by Colin - Syntax highlighting. Details on how to highlight code using markdown can be found in this guide.