Set up the formatter to return the HTML for the table cell.

formatter_column: {
	'.emphasize' : function( text, data ) {
		return '' + text + '';
	}
}

If the text in the cell is to be changed, but you don't want the sort to be effected, then add the original text into the data-attribute as follows:

formatter_column: {
	'.makesearch' : function( text, data ) {
		// don't make a link if there is no text in the cell
		if ( text === '' ) { return ''; }
		// add text to data-attribute; this overrides the parser
		data.$cell.attr( data.config.textAttribute, text );
		// then replace text with a link
		return 'Get Definition';
	}
}

The data parameter provided to the formatter_column function contains the following information:

data = {
	config      : table.config,
	wo          : table.config.widgetOptions,
	$header     : $('th'),  // the header cell of the current column
	$row        : $('tr'),  // jQuery object of the row currently being processed
	$cell       : $('td'),  // jQuery object of the cell currently being processed
	text        : 'Batman', // the text from the current cell
	columnIndex : 0         // the column index of the current cell
}

The default setting is 'applyFormatter'

The formatter is set up to run again after an "updateComplete" or "pagerComplete" event fires; this option allows setting a custom-named event to force the formatter to update in addition to the complete events.

* NOTE * So, if the text in the cell gets modified by the formatter, make sure your code saves the original text into the data-attribute or it will get lost.

Force an update as follows:

$('table').trigger('applyFormatter');