Add option to preselect one or many filter values, so the table loads already filtered

[AltiusRupert]

Unlike oTable.fnFilter('value', colNumber), I want this to appear as if a column had be filtered manually, which the user then has the option to change (by removing this filter or adding others).

This will help accelerate loading large data sets, I hope.

[cyberhobo]

I think the whole table is loaded regardless before filtering. You could test this independently of ColumnFilterWidgets with an initial search:

$(document).ready( function() {
  $('#example').dataTable( {
    "oSearch": {"sSearch": "Initial search"}
  } );
} )

[NicoFerna]

I believe this would be a valuable add-on. Would make it possible to pre-filter based on a user's preferences (for example) but still give the option for the user to remove that filter.