Wait for asynchronous task to complete before continuing? - javascript

I'm trying to get location coordinates via the google maps javascript api, which happens asynchronously.
Here is my function for retrieving:
function getCoords(input_address)
{
var geocoder = new google.maps.Geocoder();
var addr = {
address: input_address
};
var callback = function(result, status)
{
if (status == "OK") {
var coords = result[0]['geometry']['location'];
console.log(coords.toUrlValue());
}
};
geocoder.geocode(addr,callback);
}
I want to submit the coordinates along with the rest of a form via an ajax function.
However, testing out the following:
form.submit(function(event){
event.preventDefault();
var addr = $("input[type='text']").val();
getCoords(addr);
console.log('should wait');
});
Outputs:
should wait
coordinates
Is there a way to make sure the getCoords function completes before the next instruction is executed?

Use the callback function for this purpose, do your other job after executed geocoder.geocode(); something like
function getCoords(input_address){
......
......
geocoder.geocode(addr, function (){
doYourJobNow(); //as suggested by tgun926
});
}
function doYourJobNow(){
console.log('should wait');
}
//result would be
//coordinates
//should wait

Related

Gecoding addresses through Google maps api and deferring the results

I am using Google's maps API to geocode two addresses. I defer the returned results and use a $.when().then() method to execute my logic once I get the coordinates for the string addresses. The problem is the API always returns the result as resolved, even if there is an error. For example if there is no internet connection instead of request timing out I get the status as ERROR and result as null or if I enter an invalid address I get the status ZERO_RESULTS and result an empty array []. As I am only interested in getting the proper coordinate results I want to handle all other responses as a geocoding error, which I don't know how to do. You can also see that I have to check if input fields are empty before geocoding because of the same problem.
I am just getting acquainted to asynchronous flow and need some guidance.
I am using jquery 1.9.2 and google maps APIv3. (I can hard code all the conditions but I want to improve my coding skills and have something more generic. Is that possible.)
I will give my code here as well.
function geocode(addString) {
var deferred = $.Deferred();
var geocoder = new google.maps.Geocoder();
var request = {
address: addString
};
geocoder.geocode(request, function(results, status) {
if (status === google.maps.GeocoderStatus.OK) {
deferred.resolve(results[0].geometry.location);
}
else {
// no idea what to do here
}
});
return deferred;
}
function Options() {
var origin = $("#origin-field").val();
var destination = $("#destination-field").val();
if (origin != "" && destination != ""){
var originCoords = geocode(origin);
var destinationCoords = geocode(destination);
$.when(originCoords, destinationCoords)
.then(function(originCoordinates, destinationCoordinates) {
console.log(originCoordinates.lat() + ',' + originCoordinates.lng());
console.log(destinationCoordinates.lat() + ',' + destinationCoordinates.lng());
}, function() {
toastMessage("Geo-coding error");
});
}
else {
toastMessage("Origin and/or Destination missing");
}
}
I solved my problem thanks to this example. As I said I just started looking at asynchronous flow so didn't know how to solve this simple problem.
What I did is just catch all non-OK statuses in an else block and passed it to the deferred.reject() method. So my code became like this.
function geocode(addString) {
var deferred = $.Deferred();
var geocoder = new google.maps.Geocoder();
var request = {
address: addString
};
geocoder.geocode(request, function(results, status) {
if (status === google.maps.GeocoderStatus.OK) {
deferred.resolve(results[0].geometry.location);
}
else {
deferred.reject(status);
}
});
return deferred;
}
function Options() {
var origin = $("#origin-field").val();
var destination = $("#destination-field").val();
var originCoords = geocode(origin);
var destinationCoords = geocode(destination);
$.when(originCoords, destinationCoords)
.then(function(origin, destination) {
//some logic in case of success
}, function(status) {
toastMessage("Geo-coding error:" + status);
});
}

AngularJS $http running while my other f unction is not finished

I have an AngularJS function case where my $http runs even before my first function is finished
Here is an example format of my code:
$scope.function = function(){
$scope.functionOne(); // This function declares all the scope variable that I need to produce to throw on my API
$scope.functionTwo(); // This is the function that throws a request to my API via $http.post
}
I need those variables but every variable is just a blank string when it reaches to my backend because $http throws a request before the first function finishes
UPDATE
$scope.functionOne = function(){
var geocoder = new google.maps.Geocoder();
if(geocoder){
// console.log("dean")
// console.log($scope.dealership.address);
// console.log($scope.dealership.suburb)
geocoder.geocode({
'address': $scope.dealership.address + ', ' + $scope.dealership.suburb || "1/53 Township Drive, West Burleigh"
}, function(result, status){
// console.log("armada");
// console.log(status);
if(status == google.maps.GeocoderStatus.OK){
console.log(result);
var center_lat = result[0].geometry.location.lat();
var center_lng = result[0].geometry.location.lng();
var lat = result[0].geometry.location.lat();
var lng = result[0].geometry.location.lng();
$scope.$apply();
}
$scope.map.center.latitude = center_lat;
$scope.map.center.longitude = center_lng;
$scope.map.markers.pop();
$scope.map.markers.push({
latitude: lat,
longitude: lng
});
$scope.dealership.latitude = lat;
$scope.dealership.longitude = lng;
$scope.$apply();
});
}
};
$scope.functionTwo = function(){
$scope.loadingData = true;
// The code below is a factory on a scope variable
$scope.dealership.create().then(function(response){
});
}
Promises is the way to go. Once you are done with functionOne resolve the variables and then return the promise. Once the promise is successfully resolved run the second method.
Hope this helps
Happy Learning
Vatsal
The better option for depending function call is to use CallBack function.
Try to call your second function in the callback function of first function.
EDIT:
The another approach of angular is using Promises
You can refer more about it at https://docs.angularjs.org/api/ng/service/$qenter link description here

Creating a callback to return an array from a function [duplicate]

This question already has answers here:
How do I return the response from an asynchronous call?
(41 answers)
Closed 8 years ago.
I am trying to learn Node.js
I am having trouble creating my own call back on a function. It seems like such a simple thing but I don't quite understand how to do it.
The function is passed an address (example: "1234 will ln, co") which uses google's geolocate json api to return the full address, latitude and longitude in an array.
Here is my code:
//require secure http module
var https = require("https");
//My google API key
var googleApiKey = "my_private_api_key";
//error function
function printError(error) {
console.error(error.message);
}
function locate(address) {
//accept an address as an argument to geolocate
//replace spaces in the address string with + charectors to make string browser compatiable
address = address.split(' ').join('+');
//var geolocate is the url to get our json object from google's geolocate api
var geolocate = "https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/geocode/json?key=";
geolocate += googleApiKey + "&address=" + address;
var reqeust = https.get(geolocate, function (response){
//create empty variable to store response stream
var responsestream = "";
response.on('data', function (chunk){
responsestream += chunk;
}); //end response on data
response.on('end', function (){
if (response.statusCode === 200){
try {
var location = JSON.parse(responsestream);
var fullLocation = {
"address" : location.results[0].formatted_address,
"cord" : location.results[0].geometry.location.lat + "," + location.results[0].geometry.location.lng
};
return fullLocation;
} catch(error) {
printError(error);
}
} else {
printError({ message: "There was an error with Google's Geolocate. Please contact system administrator"});
}
}); //end response on end
}); //end https get request
} //end locate function
So when I try to execute my function
var testing = locate("7678 old spec rd");
console.dir(testing);
The console logs undefined because its not waiting for the return from locate (or at least I am guessing this is the problem).
How do i create a call back so when the locate function returns my array, it runs the console.dir on the array it returned.
Thanks! I hope my question makes sense, im self taught so my tech jargon is horrible.
You need to pass in the callback function to your method - so the callback might look something like this
function logResult(fullLocation){
console.log(fullLocation)
}
You would pass this in to your locate method along with the input:
// note: no parentheses, you're passing a reference to the method itself,
// not executing the method
locate("1234 will ln, co",logResult)
You can also do this inline - much like the response object you're already dealing with:
locate("1234 will ln, co",function(fullLocation){
// do something useful here
})
Now for the bit inside your method, instead of trying to return the result you just call the callback with the result:
function locate(address, callback) {
......
response.on('end', function (){
if (response.statusCode === 200){
try {
var location = JSON.parse(responsestream);
var fullLocation = {
"address" : location.results[0].formatted_address,
"cord" : location.results[0].geometry.location.lat + "," + location.results[0].geometry.location.lng
};
callback(fullLocation); // <-- here!!!
} catch(error) {
printError(error);
}
} else {
printError({ message: "There was an error with Google's Geolocate. Please contact system administrator"});
}
}); //end response on end
.....
}

Returning values in Javascript

I have a (hopefully quite simple) Javascript problem. I've search but found nothing that is really relevant to the problem.
Basically I have a function (addToGlobe) that calls two other functions (codeAddressLat and codeAddressLng) as it runs. The two called functions should both return a float value to the first function, which then uses them. The subfunctions definitely work correctly - I did a print statement to check that the "numfinal" variable in each has a value, and it does.
However, when I add print statements to the calling function (as commented in the code), it returns 'undefined'. Therefore, the problem seems to be when the numfinal value is returned.
Thanks :)
function addToGlobe(uname, uid, pmcity) {
// Get lat & long of city
var pmlat = codeAddressLat(pmcity);
var pmlong = codeAddressLng(pmcity);
log(pmlat); // PROBLEM! Prints 'undefined'
log(pmlong); // PROBLEM! Prints 'undefined'
// Rest of function removed to keep it simple
}
function codeAddressLat(inputcity) {
geocoder = new google.maps.Geocoder();
var latlng = new google.maps.LatLng(-34.397, 150.644);
geocoder.geocode( { 'address': inputcity}, function(results, status) {
if (status == google.maps.GeocoderStatus.OK) {
var llsplit = new Array();
bkresult = String(results[0].geometry.location);
bkresult = bkresult.replace(/[\(\)]/g, "");
llsplit = bkresult.split(',');
numfinal = parseFloat(llsplit[0]);
return numfinal;
} else {
log('<b><font color="#C40031">Geocode was not successful:</b> ' + status);
}
});
}
function codeAddressLng(inputcity) {
// Basically the same function as above. Removed for simplicity
}
codeAddressLat is not actually returning anything. The anonymous function it passes to geocoder.geocode is.
Since geocoder.geocode is running asynchronously, codeAddressLat can't wait around for its answer. So codeAddressLat really can't return anything of value. Instead codeAddressLat needs to become asynchronous too. This is a common pattern in JavaScript.
function addToGlobe(uname, uid, pmcity) {
codeAddressLat(pmcity, function(pmlat) {
// do something with pmlat
});
...
}
function codeAddressLat(inputcity, callback) {
geocoder = new google.maps.Geocoder();
var latlng = new google.maps.LatLng(-34.397, 150.644);
geocoder.geocode( { 'address': inputcity}, function(results, status) {
if (status == google.maps.GeocoderStatus.OK) {
var llsplit = new Array();
bkresult = String(results[0].geometry.location);
bkresult = bkresult.replace(/[\(\)]/g, "");
llsplit = bkresult.split(',');
numfinal = parseFloat(llsplit[0]);
// instead of returning, call the callback with the result
callback(numfinal);
} else {
log('<b><font color="#C40031">Geocode was not successful:</b> ' + status);
}
});
}
You don't have a return statement in codeAddressLat, you have one inside a callback function defined inside codeAddressLat.
Your function codeAddressLat is not actually returning a value but calling function that you pass a callback function which is returning a value. You need to wait until the geocode operation is complete to retrieve the value of numfinal.
Your function codeAddressLat is not returning any value at all hence you are getting undefined as output.
The geocode request in the codeAddressLat method call and will not return the value to the caller. Your return is of a different scope.
Does this work?
function codeAddressLat(inputcity) {
geocoder = new google.maps.Geocoder();
var latlng = new google.maps.LatLng(-34.397, 150.644);
return geocoder.geocode( { 'address': inputcity}, function(results, status) {
if (status == google.maps.GeocoderStatus.OK) {
var llsplit = new Array();
bkresult = String(results[0].geometry.location);
bkresult = bkresult.replace(/[\(\)]/g, "");
llsplit = bkresult.split(',');
numfinal = parseFloat(llsplit[0]);
return numfinal;
} else {
log('<b><font color="#C40031">Geocode was not successful:</b> ' + status);
}
});
}
That geocoder.geocode function looks like it is asynchronous. Your codeAddressLat and codeAddressLng functions returns void before the geocoder.geocode function has got data back from the server.
A way to get around it is to nest your calls to geocoder.geocode and use variable scoping so that when all the AJAX calls have returned you can call your addToGlobe function passing the two parameters you want.
Something like this:
codeAddressLatAndLong(pmcity);
function addToGlobe(pmlatlat, pmlatlong) {
log(pmlat); // PROBLEM! Prints 'undefined'
log(pmlong); // PROBLEM! Prints 'undefined'
// Rest of function removed to keep it simple
}
function codeAddressLatAndLong(inputcity) {
// stuff
geocoder.geocode( { 'address': inputcity}, function(results, status) {
// stuff goes here
pmlat = parseFloat(llsplit[0]);
geocoder.geocode({...}, function(results, status) {
// more stuff
pmlatlong = something;
addToGlobe(pmlatlat, pmlatlong);
});
});
}
Welcome to the world of AJAX.

AJAX callback in Obj constructor

I have a class object called Location that works with Google in order to geocode a given address.
The geocode request is made trough an AJAX call and handled via a callback that will initiate the class members once the response arrives.
Here is the code:
function Location(address) {
this.geo = new GClientGeocoder();
this.address = address;
this.coord = [];
var geoCallback = function(result) {
this.coord[0] = result.Placemark[0].Point.coordinates[1];
this.coord[1] = result.Placemark[0].Point.coordinates[0];
window.alert("I am in geoCallback() lat: " + this.coord[0] + "; lon: " + this.coord[1]);
}
this.geo.getLocations(this.address, bind(this, geoCallback));
}
Location.prototype.getAddress = function() { return this.address; }
Location.prototype.getLat = function() { return this.coord[0] }
Location.prototype.getLng = function() { return this.coord[1] }
My question is: it's possible to wait the response from Google before exiting the constructor?
I have no control over the AJAX request since it's made trough Google APIs.
I want to be sure that this.coord[] is properly initialized once a Location obj is created.
Thank you!
No, you can't (read: should not) wait. This is why it's called AJAX ("Asynchronous Javascript ...") in the first place. ;)
You could use a callback function yourself (untested code ahead).
function Location(address, readyCallback) {
this.geo = new GClientGeocoder();
this.address = address;
this.coord = [];
this.onready = readyCallback;
this.geo.getLocations(this.address, bind(this, function(result) {
this.coord[0] = result.Placemark[0].Point.coordinates[1];
this.coord[1] = result.Placemark[0].Point.coordinates[0];
if (typeof this.onready == "function") this.onready.apply(this);
}));
}
Location.prototype.getAddress = function() { return this.address; }
Location.prototype.getLat = function() { return this.coord[0] }
Location.prototype.getLng = function() { return this.coord[1] }
// ... later ...
var l = new Location("Googleplex, Mountain View", function() {
alert(this.getLat());
});
Is it possible to wait the response
from Google before exiting the
constructor?
I wouldn't recommend this approach. When you create a JavaScript object, you don't normally expect it to block for hundreds of milliseconds, until Google responds.
In addition, Google will throttle the GClientGeocoder if you attempt to do frequent requests (Source). There is also a cap for the number of requests a client can do in 24 hours. This would be complicated to handle systematically using this approach. You could easily get into a debugging nightmare if you will be having JavaScript objects that fail randomly.

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