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How to ensure data return after promise in angularjs

I have started recently on Ionic and it requires a good grasp of AngularJS, which has some things I do not understand yet.
Basically, I have a search field, where I bind the property formdata.searchText and trigger the search function each time the value is changed. The callback is a collection of artists that fill my list.
<input type="search" ng-model="formdata.searchText" placeholder="Search"
ng-change="search()">
In my controller, this property is defined and on change, the method search gets called. Search reaches out to the factory for an API call.
.controller('SearchController', function($scope, SpotifyFactory) {
$scope.formdata = [{
searchText: ""
}];
$scope.search = function(){
$scope.searchResults = SpotifyFactory.searchArtist($scope.formdata.searchText);
};
})
This works well so far. The call is being made to the Spotify API and it returns the results of found artists based on my searchterm.
My data:
When I console.log the $scope.searchResults in my controller, it contains my desired values. But I believe that happens because console.log is being executed after a the promise is done, which makes it possible for the data to be displayed. If I console.log the object in my controller, and say for example
console.log($scope.searchResults.artists);
It returns an undefined, while Im still able to access the other properties.
Below is how I make the API call in the factory.
angular.module('starter.services', [])
.factory('SpotifyFactory', function($http){
var foundArtists = function($searchTerm) {
var baseUrl = "https://api.spotify.com/v1/search?query=" + $searchTerm + "&type=artist&offset=0&limit=20";
var searchResults = [];
searchResults.$promise = $http.get(baseUrl).then(function(response){
angular.copy(response.data, searchResults);
return searchResults;
});
return searchResults;
}
return {
searchArtist : foundArtists
}
}
)
My question is, how can I ensure that the data gets returned, after the call of the API is done.

Use a promise
.factory('SpotifyFactory', function($http){
var foundArtists = function ($searchTerm) { return new Promise(function(resolve, reject) {
var baseUrl = "https://api.spotify.com/v1/search?query=" + $searchTerm + "&type=artist&offset=0&limit=20";
var searchResults = [];
searchResults.$promise = $http.get(baseUrl).then(function(response){
angular.copy(response.data, searchResults);
resolve(searchResults);
});
}});
return {
searchArtist : foundArtists
}
}
Then call it from where you want
SpotifyFactory.searchArtist('madonna').then((data) {
$log.info('Data retrieved!', data);
// do things you want to do after results are found
}).catch( ... error function);

Angular - Best practice for retrieving data from a Factory method

I'm looking for some information on the best way to retrieve data from a local JSON file and handle the response. After browsing through Stack Overflow, I have some mixed thoughts as I've seen multiple ways of doing the same thing (although no explanation on why one may or may not be preferred).
Essentially, I have an Angular app that is utilising a factory to retrieve data from a JSON file; I'm then waiting for the response to resolve in my controller before using it in my html file, similar to the below:
Option 1
Factory:
comparison.factory('Info', ['$http', function($http) {
var retrievalFile = 'retrievalFile.json';
return {
retrieveInfo: function() {
return $http.get(retrievalFile);
}
}
}]);
Controller:
comparison.controller('comparisonController', ['$scope', 'Info', function($scope, Info) {
Info.retrieveInfo().then(function(response) {
$scope.info = response.data;
});
}]);
My main point of contention is figuring out when it's best to wait for the response to resolve, or if it even matters. I'm toying with the idea of having the factory return the fulfilled promise, and wait for the controller to retrieve the data also. In my view, it's best to abstract all data retrieval out of the controller and into the factory, but I'm not sure if this extends to waiting for the actual data to be returned within the factory itself. With this in mind, I'm confused about whether to opt for option 1 or option 2 and would really appreciate some feedback from more experienced/qualified developers!
Option 2
Factory:
comparison.factory('Info', ['$http', function($http) {
var retrievalFile = 'retrievalFile.json';
return {
retrieveInfo: function() {
return $http.get(retrievalFile).then(function(response) {
return response.data;
});
}
}
}]);
Controller:
comparison.controller('comparisonController', ['$scope', 'Info', function($scope, Info) {
Info.retrieveInfo().then(function(response) {
$scope.info = response;
});
}]);
Thank you for any input/suggestions in advance!

It depends on what your controller is expecting and how you set up your application. Generally, I always go with the second option. Its because I usually have global error or success handlers in all api requests and I have a shared api service. Something like below.
var app = angular.module('app', []);
app.service('ApiService', ['$http', function($http) {
var get = function(url, params) {
$http.get(url, { params: params })
.then(handleSuccess, handleError);
};
// handle your global errors here
// implementation will vary based upon how you handle error
var handleError = function(response) {
return $q.reject(response);
};
// handle your success here
// you can return response.data or response based upon what you want
var handleSuccess = function(response) {
return response.data;
};
}]);
app.service('InfoService', ['ApiService', function(ApiService) {
var retrieveInfo = function() {
return ApiService.get(retrievalFile);
/**
// or return custom object that your controller is expecting
return ApiService.get.then(function(data) {
return new Person(data);
});
**//
};
// I prefer returning public functions this way
// as I can just scroll down to the bottom of service
// to see all public functions at one place rather than
// to scroll through the large file
return { retrieveInfo: retrieveInfo };
}]);
app.controller('InfoController', ['InfoService', function(InfoService) {
InfoService.retrieveInfo().then(function(info) {
$scope.info = info;
});
}])
Or if you are using router you can resolve the data into the controller. Both ngRouter and uiRouter support resolves:
$stateProvider.state({
name: 'info',
url: '/info',
controller: 'InfoController',
template: 'some template',
resolve: {
// this injects a variable called info in your controller
// with a resolved promise that you return here
info: ['InfoService', function(InfoService) {
return InfoService.retrieveInfo();
}]
}
});
// and your controller will be like
// much cleaner right
app.controller('InfoController', ['info', function(info) {
$scope.info = info;
}]);

It's really just preference. I like to think of it in terms of API. What is the API you want to expose? Do you want your controller to receive the entire response or do you want your controller to just have the data the response wraps? If you're only ever going to use response.data then option 2 works great as you never have to deal with anything but the data you're interested in.
A good example is the app we just wrote where I work. We have two apps: a back-end API and our front-end Angular application. We created an API wrapper service in the front-end application. In the service itself we place a .catch for any of the API endpoints that have documented error codes (we used Swagger to document and define our API). In that .catch we handle those error codes and return a proper error. When our controllers/directives consume the service they get back a much stricter set of data. If an error occurs then the UI is usually safe to just display the error message sent from the wrapper service and won't have to worry about looking at error codes.
Likewise for successful responses we do much of what you're doing in option 2. In many cases we refine the data down to what is minimally useful in the actual app. In this way we keep a lot of the data churning and formatting in the service and the rest of the app has a lot less to do. For instance, if we need to create an object based on that data we'll just do that in return the object to the promise chain so that controllers aren't doing that all over the place.

I would choose option two, as it your options are really mostly the same. But let see when we add a model structure like a Person suppose.
comparison.factory('Info', ['$http', function($http) {
var retrievalFile = 'retrievalFile.json';
return {
retrieveInfo: function() {
return $http.get(retrievalFile).then(function(response) {
//we will return a Person...
var data = response.data;
return new Person(data.name, data.age, data.gender);
});
}
}
}]);
This is really simple, but if you have to map more complex data into object models (you retrieve a list of people with their own items... etc), that's when things get more complicated, you will probably want to add a service to handle the mapping between data and models. Well you have another service DataMapper(example), if you choose your first option you will have to inject DataMapper into your controller and you will have to make your request through your factory, and map the response with the injected service. And then you probably say, Should I have all this code here? ... Well probably no.
That is an hypothetical case, something that count a lot is how you feel structuring your code, won't architecture it in a way you won't understand. And at the end take a look at this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOLID_(object-oriented_design) and research more information about this principles but focused to javascript.

Good question. A couple of points:
Controllers should be view centric versus data centric therefore you
want remove data logic from the controller and rather have it focus
on business logic.
Models (M in MVC) are a data representation of your application and
will house the data logic. In Angular case this would be a service
or factory class as you rightfully pointed out. Why is that well for
example:
2.1 AccountsController (might have multiple data models injected)
2.1.1 UserModel
2.1.2 AuthModel
2.1.3 SubscriptionModel
2.1.4 SettingsModel
There are numerous ways to approach the data model approach, but I would say your service class should be the data REST model i.e. getting, storing, caching, validating, etc. I've included a basic example, but suggest you investigate JavaScript OOP as that will help point you in the right direction as to how to build data models, collections, etc.
Below is an example of service class to manage your data.Note I have not tested this code but it should give you a start.
EXAMPLE:
(function () {
'use strict';
ArticleController.$inject = ['$scope', 'Article'];
function ArticleController($scope, Article) {
var vm = this,
getArticles = function () {
return Article.getArticles()
.then(function (result) {
if (result) {
return vm.articles = result;
}
});
};
vm.getArticles = getArticles;
vm.articles = {};
// OR replace vm.articles with $scope if you prefer e.g.
$scope.articles = {};
$scope.userNgClickToInit = function () {
vm.getArticles();
};
// OR an init on document ready
// BUT to honest I would put all init logic in service class so all in calling is init in ctrl and model does the rest
function initArticles() {
vm.getArticles();
// OR chain
vm.getArticles()
.then(getCategories); // doesn't here, just an example
}
initArticles();
}
ArticleModel.$inject = ['$scope', '$http', '$q'];
function ArticleModel($scope, $http, $q) {
var model = this,
URLS = {
FETCH: 'data/articles.json'
},
articles;
function extract(result) {
return result.data;
}
function cacheArticles(result) {
articles = extract(result);
return articles;
}
function findArticle(id) {
return _.find(articles, function (article) {
return article.id === parseInt(id, 10);
})
}
model.getArticles = function () {
return (articles) ? $q.when(articles) : $http.get(URLS.FETCH).then(cacheArticles);
};
model.getArticleById = function (id) {
var deferred = $q.defer();
if (articles) {
deferred.resolve(findArticle(id))
} else {
model.getBookmarks().then(function () {
deferred.resolve(findArticle(id))
})
}
return deferred.promise;
};
model.createArticle = function (article) {
article.id = articles.length;
articles.push(article);
};
model.updateArticle = function (bookmark) {
var index = _.findIndex(articles, function (a) {
return a.id == article.id
});
articles[index] = article;
};
model.deleteArticle = function (article) {
_.remove(articles, function (a) {
return a.id == article.id;
});
};
}
angular.module('app.article.model', [])
.controller('ArticleController', ArticleController)
.service('Article', ArticleModel);
})()

Return response in service

I'm trying to move my logic from controllers to Services, as I am still am new to AngularJS.
I'm trying to get some data from an internal API and return it to my Controller's scope, though the way I am doing it is returning an empty Object.
Here is my controller.
cbApp.controller('serversCtrl', function($scope, serversService){
$scope.servers = serversService.getServers();
console.log($scope.servers); // returns Object {}
});
And here is my service, which I am probably doing wrong.
cbApp.service('serversService', function($http){
var servers = {}
this.getServers = function(){
$http.get(BASE_URL + '/api/s').success(function(response){
servers = response.servers;
});
return servers;
}
});
Seems like servers = response.servers isn't getting attached after the get function.
What am I doing wrong?

Your promise has not completed when console.log($scope.servers); runs.
You should still handle the promise in your controller (until you move to using your router's resolve but one step at a time).
Here's how you'd change your code:
cbApp.controller('serversCtrl', function($scope, serversService){
serversService.getServers().success(function(servers) {
$scope.servers = servers;
});
});
cbApp.service('serversService', function($http){
this.getServers = function(){
return $http.get(BASE_URL + '/api/s');
}
});

Variable returning null from Angular Service?

I have a SharePoint App that is built with AngularJS.
I have a controller that is calling a function in a service and it is not returning a value. I am pretty new at angularJS so I am a bit lost.
My Service:
App.factory('uploadAppService', function () {
return {
currentUserPic: function (myProfileProp) {
GetUserProfileInfo(myProfileProp).done(function (data) {
//The large thumbnail pic.
var picUrl = data.d.PictureUrl;
var largePicUrl = picUrl.replace('MThumb', 'LThumb');
console.log(largePicUrl) //the log here is correct. I want to return the largePicUrl back to my controller.
return largePicUrl;
});
}
My Controller call, I want to populate .imageUrl with the url from the service:
$scope.imageUrl = uploadAppService.currentUserPic("PictureUrl");
Thank you in advance.

To me, your currentUserPicfunction doesn't seem to return a value. GetUserProfileInfo indeed returns your largePicUrl, but this value is not used anywhere (if I correctly understand your code).
Shouldn't you use return GetUserProfileInfo(myProfileProp).done(...); ?
Edit: But as RaviH pointed, if the call is asynchronous, you'll still have to handle it in your controller.

I don't see implementation of your GetUserProfileInfo service, but i suppose it's a Deffered object.
So after code
$scope.imageUrl = uploadAppService.currentUserPic("PictureUrl");
finished working - you don't have anything in you variable $scope.imageUrl because your factory function does not return anything.
So, at first you need to modify your factory:
App.factory('uploadAppService', function () {
return {
currentUserPic: function (myProfileProp) {
return GetUserProfileInfo(myProfileProp).done(function (data) {
// ^
// Here - #ababashka's edit
//The large thumbnail pic.
var picUrl = data.d.PictureUrl;
var largePicUrl = picUrl.replace('MThumb', 'LThumb');
console.log(largePicUrl) //the log here is correct. I want to return the largePicUrl back to my controller.
return largePicUrl;
});
}
Return Deffered Object, so after it finished working, you could save your image URL by getting it in the response.
After you need to write next code:
uploadAppService.currentUserPic("PictureUrl").done(
function (response) {
$scope.imageUrl = response;
}
);
to store your URL in $scope's variable.

AngularJS working with promises and indexeddb- loading content to controller after it is on the page

I've been trying to get my angular js page to work with indexeddb, and I'm trying to do it right. So far it's going smoothly but I've really been struggling getting my promises to work as I expect in regards to my data loading. I followed the advice of this other question and I think I understand what it's trying to do, but I can't get it to work. I think the issue is that it is using the routeProvider which expects ajax requests and I'm not doing that, it's all client side. I am using the angular-indexedDB pluging that can be found on GitHub here. These are the relevant bits of what I'm doing.
angular.module('characterApp',['ngRoute','xc.indexedDB'])
.constant('dbName', 'character')
.constant('storeName', 'character')
.constant('version', 1)
.constant('emptyCharacter', {})
.value('jsPlumbInstance', {})
.config(function($indexedDBProvider, dbName, storeName, version) {
$indexedDBProvider.connection(dbName)
.upgradeDatabase(version, function(event, db, tx){
db.createObjectStore(storeName, {keyPath: 'guid'});
});
})
.config(function($routeProvider){
console.log('Configuring route');
$routeProvider
.when('/js/angular/controllers/characterController.js', {
controller:'characterController',
resolve:{
'characterData':function(DataService){
console.log('resolving promise');
return DataService.promise;
}
}
})
})
.service('DataService', ['$indexedDB', 'storeName', 'emptyCharacter', function($indexedDB, storeName, newObject){
var objects = [];
var index = 0;
var objectStore = $indexedDB.objectStore(storeName);
var promise = objectStore.getAll().then(function(results) {
objects = results;
console.log("DB Objects loaded.");
});
console.log("Promise created");
function getControllerObject(propertyName){
return objects;
}
return {
getControllerObject : getControllerObject,
promise : promise
};
}])
.controller('characterController', ['$scope', 'DataService', function($scope, DataService) {
console.log('Promise is now resolved: ' + DataService.getControllerObject()
);
}]);
When I run it my console outputs the following:
Configuring route
characterApp.js:52 Promise created
characterController.js:2 Promise is now resolved:
characterApp.js:50 DB Objects loaded.
However if I understand the other answer mentioned above, the output should be:
Configuring route
characterApp.js:52 Promise created
characterApp.js:50 DB Objects loaded.
characterController.js:2 Promise is now resolved:
If it helps, my full code is on GitHub here, but you will need node.js to run the custom server.js file I have in the /www folder for all the content to load properly. You could get it to work with minimal effort elsewhere if you moved the content from the www/pages directory into their placeholders on the index.html though. Or infact, you could remove the nonstandard tags alltogether, I think it would still work. I suspect all of that is unnecessary and I just don't understand how these things work. I'm fairly new to angular but trying to learn how to do things the right way.

angular.module('characterApp',['ngRoute','xc.indexedDB'])
.constant('dbName', 'character')
.constant('storeName', 'character')
.constant('version', 1)
.constant('emptyCharacter', {})
.config(function($indexedDBProvider, dbName, storeName, version) {
$indexedDBProvider.connection(dbName)
.upgradeDatabase(version, function(event, db, tx){
db.createObjectStore(storeName, {keyPath: 'guid'});
});
})
.service('DataService', ['$indexedDB', 'storeName', 'emptyCharacter', function($indexedDB, storeName, newObject){
var objects = [];
var index = 0;
var objectStore = $indexedDB.objectStore(storeName);
var promise = objectStore.getAll()
console.log("Promise created");
function getControllerObject(propertyName){
return objects;
}
return {
getControllerObject : getControllerObject,
promise : promise
};
}])
.controller('characterController', ['$scope', 'DataService', function($scope, DataService) {
var characters = [];
DataService.promise.then(function(results){
characters = results;
$scope.character = characters[0];
console.log("DB Objects loaded.");
});
);
}]);
I didn't need the routeprovider at all, I just was doing stupid things with my promises.