check that a task is completed - javascript

I have a javascript function which supposed to check whether a task is completed.
When the task is completed there is a completion record in a file on the server.
The function supposed to make recursive calls to the server with some delay (potentially increasing) till it gets the completion record in the file.
The code given below makes excessive calls to the server with interval less than a second
example from Web Console:
[20:06:21.202] [20:06:21.563] [20:06:21.990]
But the task becomes competed on variable waittime value getting equal to max_waittime .
Though for a test case overall output is as expected, something is wrong with the function.
Where I'm wrong?
function check_status(time,div_id,filename) {
var status =0;
var waittime=time;
var max_waittime=11000000;
if (waittime < max_waittime){waittime=waittime+1000000; }
$.ajax({
type: "GET",
async: false,
url: "code_on_server_checking_file.php",
data: "f="+filename,
dataType: "text",
success: function(content) {
if (content ) {
// stuff related to output of the result
....
return status=1;
}
else {return status=0;}
}
});
if (status == 0 && waittime < 20000000){
setTimeout(check_status(waittime,div_id,filename),waittime);
}
else {alert('check_status passed!'+status+'|'+waittime);}
}

You need to pass check_status to setTimeout, not the value returned by invoking check_status(...). Since you need to pass parameters to check_status, use an anonymous function:
setTimeout(function () {
check_status(waittime, div_id, filename);
}, waittime);

You are calling the function instead of giving it as a reference to setTimeout. Wrap your function call in an anonymous function. Also, it would be better to simply set up the call in the ajax callback if needed rather than using a synchronous call. A synchronous call will tie up your browser.
function check_status(time,div_id,filename) {
$.ajax({
type: "GET",
url: "code_on_server_checking_file.php",
data: "f="+filename,
dataType: "text",
success: function(content) {
if (content ) {
// stuff related to output of the result
}
else {
time += 1000000;
if (time < 20000000) {
setTimeout( function() { check_status( time, div_id, filename); }, time );
}
}
}
});
}

"recursive calls to the server"? No, I don't think you want that.
If you go three deep, var max_waittime=11000000; will be created and initialized three times.
Maybe you can set the timeout value for the ajax call (ajax settings)
http://api.jquery.com/jQuery.ajax/

First of all, it looks like you don't understand that the ajax call is an asychronous call. Calling it just starts the networking operation and then the rest of your code continues executing. Some time later when the networking operation completes, your success function is called.
The ONLY place you can operate on the results of the ajax call is in the success function. You can't return a value from the success function and expect that to go anywhere. The only place that goes is somewhere inside the ajax code where it's dropped. If you need to do something with the results of the ajax call, then you need to either do that operation right in the success function or call some other function from the success function and pass it the returned data.
These are the parts of your code that do not work:
There's no point in returning the status value from the success function. It doesn't go anywhere except into the ajax function where the return value is just dropped.
This line of code if (status == 0 && waittime < 20000000){ is not doing what you want. Because the ajax call is asynchronous, the value of status has not yet been set by the ajax call when this line of code runs. Thus, it's ALWAYS 0 so your logic never works. You need to move this logic inside the success handler.
As others have said, your parameters to setTimeout are not right. You have to pass a function to setTimeout, not the results of executing a function.
This is the code I would suggest:
function check_status(time, div_id, filename) {
var max_waittime=11000000;
if (time < max_waittime){
time=time+1000000;
}
$.ajax({
type: "GET",
async: false,
url: "code_on_server_checking_file.php",
data: "f="+filename,
dataType: "text",
success: function(content) {
if (content ) {
// stuff related to output of the result
if (time < 20000000){
setTimeout(function() {check_status(time, div_id, filename)}, time);
}
}
}
});
}
Note that all handling of the ajax result is done in the success function and we pass an anonymous function to setTimeout that re-calls check_status after a time delay. This is not actually recursion (as others mentioned) because setTimeout allows check_status to return before it's called again some time later.

Related

Jquery ajax parametric callback and variable scope

I'm not so much pro in javascript variable scopes and got stuck with one question.
If i have function which dose ajax call and then call my callback
function doAjaxFunc(param, callback)
{
$.ajax({
type: 'GET',
url: '/some/url/'+param,
success: function(data){
callback(data);
},
dataType:'json'
});
}
function someCallback1(ajaxResp){
// DO someting 1
}
function someCallback2(ajaxResp){
// DO someting 2
}
// exec
doAjaxFunc(1, someCallback1);
doAjaxFunc(2, someCallback2);
As ajax is async and it can be that sever will process param=1 case longer then param=2 is it possible that someCallback1 and someCallback2 will process not their responses. I mean callback argument value will be somehow mixed ?
If possible give some explanation details in answer
I mean callback argument value will be somehow mixed?
No. The callbacks will be called in completely separate invocations within scope of the originating AJAX success handler. There will be no cross-contamination of the data from either request.
Also, just as an aside, you can change this:
success: function(data){
callback(data);
},
To just this:
success: callback,
Check this example , i hope it is some helpful to understand scope in JavaScript
var isFirstCall=false;
function doAjax(param)
{
if(!isFirstCall)
{
//for example after do ajax
var millisecondsToWait = 1000;
setTimeout(function() {
console.log(param);
}, millisecondsToWait);
}
isFirstCall=true;
console.log(param);
}
doAjax('first call');
doAjax('second call');

ajax function in for loop not updating DOM even with setTimeout

I am writing a function to use ajax to get the instructions from a back end server while the page is loading. My ajax code fetches the instructions based on the number and prints the instructions using the variable response.setText in this <p id="loadText"></p> element using jquery and the console. Here is my ajax function:
function ajaxFetch(s) {
var success = false;
$.ajax({
type: "POST",
url: "post.php",
data: {
step: s
},
async: false,
dataType: 'JSON',
success: function (response) {
$("#loadText").text(response.stepText);
console.log(response.stepText);
success = true;
}
});
return success;
}
I am trying to use another function to loop through steps no matter how many there are, but here are my problems that I keep running into:
ajaxFetch() is not updating the DOM until last execution
tried setTimeout() and not updating DOM
for loop looping through ajaxFetch() too quickly
response.stepText prints in the console on time, but does not update DOM on time
Here is a sample loop I have tried:
function uploadSteps(maxStep) {
for (var x = 1; x <= maxStep; x++){
setTimeout(ajaxFetch(x), 20);
}
}
Sorry this is so long and thanks in advance.
By the time your for-loop completes, say 20 iterations, your ajax call in ajaxFetch only would have received the response for the first few calls and what you see in the end is the response for the last ajax call. You can use this link to understand how async calls work in javascript
https://rowanmanning.com/posts/javascript-for-beginners-async/
So the answer is, you need to wait till the first ajax call completes and then call the method again with a timeout of 20ms, like this
var globalMaxSteps = 1;
var startIndex = 1;
function ajaxFetch(s) {
$.ajax({
type: "POST",
url: "post.php",
data: {
step: s
},
async: false,
dataType: 'JSON',
success: function (response) {
$("#loadText").text(response.stepText);
console.log(response.stepText);
startIndex++;
if(startIndex <= globalMaxSteps) {
setTimeout(function(){
ajaxFetch((startIndex);
},20);
} else {
console.log("All Iterations complete");
}
}
});
}
function uploadSteps(maxStep) {
startIndex = 1;
globalMaxSteps = maxStep;
setTimeout(function(){
ajaxFetch(startIndex);
},20);
}
First, we need to fix mistakes in the uploadSteps function:
function uploadSteps(maxStep) {
// here change `var x` to `let x` to avoid problems
// like here - https://stackoverflow.com/q/750486/5811984
for (let x = 1; x <= maxStep; x++){
setTimeout(function() {
// notice how here ajaxFetch(x) is wrapped into a function,
// otherwise it gets called right away
ajaxFetch(x)
}, 20);
}
}
Now here's another problem - all the setTimeout will be called with 20ms delay, that means that all of them will be executed at the same time, but ~20ms after uploadSteps() was called.
Let's see what happens when maxStep=3 (assuming your CPU is very fast because that is irrelevant for understanding the problem):
Time passed | what happens
--------------------------
0ms | setTimeout(ajaxFetch(1), 20) is called
0ms | setTimeout(ajaxFetch(2), 20) is called
0ms | setTimeout(ajaxFetch(3), 20) is called
20ms | ajaxFetch(1) is called
20ms | ajaxFetch(2) is called
20ms | ajaxFetch(3) is called
So as you see all ajaxFetch's are called at the same time, and I am assuming that's not exactly what you need. What you might be looking for is this:
Time passed | what happens
--------------------------
0ms | setTimeout(ajaxFetch(1), 20) is called
0ms | setTimeout(ajaxFetch(2), 40) is called
0ms | setTimeout(ajaxFetch(3), 60) is called
20ms | ajaxFetch(1) is called
40ms | ajaxFetch(2) is called
60ms | ajaxFetch(3) is called
Which can be implemented with a slight change to your code
function uploadSteps(maxStep) {
for (let x = 1; x <= maxStep; x++){
setTimeout(function() {
ajaxFetch(x)
}, 20 * x); // change delay from 20 -> 20 * x
}
}
Also it looks like you don't need to return anything from ajaxFetch(), so it's better to make it async so it does not block the code execution:
function ajaxFetch(s) {
$.ajax({
type: "POST",
url: "post.php",
data: {
step: s
},
// async: false, -- remove this, it's true by default
dataType: 'JSON',
success: function (response) {
$("#loadText").text(response.stepText);
console.log(response.stepText);
}
});
}
Even if you actually do need to return something for fetchAjax(), it's better to keep it async and use callbacks/promises. jQuery actually strongly discourages using async: false in any case.
If the reason you added setTimeouts is to make sure all the steps are executed in order, then it's not the right way to do that. The problems are:
Let's say it took 100ms for the server to respond to the first request, and 10ms for the second one. Even with the 20ms delay the second request will be executed first. And just increasing the delay is not the solution, because:
If your server responds much faster the delay, you are introducing an unnecessary wait for the user.
It's better to add a callback from ajaxFetch() that will be called when ajax fetching is done, and then you'd call the next ajaxFetch() after you receive the callback.

global variable does not changed after ajax call

I am using below code
var lockonscreens = 1;
jQuery(document).ready(function(e) {
var noOfSelection = 0;
if(lockonscreens == 0){
// some stuff
}
if(lockonscreens == 1){
// some stuff
}
});
function ajaxcall(){
jQuery.ajax({
url:
type:
data:
async: false,
success: function(data){
lockonscreens = data;
}
});
}
jQuery("#").click(function(){
ajaxcall();
});
I am using above code to get some data through ajax and set it to variable and depending on that variable a click event code may happen.
But on ajax call the global variable value doesn't get changed.
It remains the same even if the data changes in ajax.
Can anyone let me know what is the issue and how to correct it?
Remember that ajax is asynchronous, so if you call ajaxCall() and next an other function, ajax start the call to server and the function end.
When the server respond, the code after success: is executed.
Make sure you call the function in the success: function

How to exit from this recursive polling from jQuery?

I previously asked about a question using Ajax polling from a server every 3 seconds using the following jQuery Ajax request:
function getData() {
$.ajax({
url : 'http://example.com',
type: 'GET',
success : function(data) {
// process data here
setTimeout(getData, 3000);
},
dataType : 'json'
});
}
It seems that another way of doing this is putting setTimeout outside $.ajax() block:
function getData() {
setTimeout( function() {
$.ajax({
url : 'http://example.com',
type: 'GET',
success : function(data) {
//process data here
},
dataType : 'json'
}) }, 3000);
}
So is there any difference between these two methods? Do they have the same effect of continuous polling the server every 3 seconds?
Also, inside the success callback function, how do I terminate this infinite polling if certain condition is met, say, data.length>1000 then I want to terminate this loop and call another function? Should I do something like this:
function getData() {
var tID = setTimeout( function() {
$.ajax({
url : 'http://example.com',
type: 'GET',
success : function(data) {
//process data here
if(data.length > 1000) {
funcOutside();
clearTimeout(tID);
}
},
dataType : 'json'
}) }, 3000);
}
The second option won't poll every 3 seconds; it will only poll just once.
To conditionally continue or stop polling you should use a variation of the first option: add a conditional around the setTimeout call.
function getData() {
$.ajax({
url : 'http://example.com',
type: 'GET',
success : function(data) {
// depending on the data, either call setTimeout or simply don't
if( /* data says continue polling */) {
setTimeout(getData, 3000);
}
},
dataType : 'json'
});
}
So is there any difference between these two methods? Do they have the same effect of continuous polling the server every 3 seconds?
Yes, there is an important difference! The first version will queue a call to the function after the response arrives. So the interval between calls will be (roughly) 3000ms plus the time the request/response took.
The second version will make a request after 3 seconds, then stop. If you change setTimeout to setInterval, it would make a new request every 3 seconds, but there would be no guarantee the previous request will already have completed when a new one is made (if one request takes ~3000ms). So the first version is probably what you're looking for.
About terminating the loop: yes, just add a condition like the one you have in your code. But instead of clearing the timeout, just don't add a new one:
//process data here
if(data.length > 1000) {
funcOutside();
} else {
setTimeout(getData, 3000);
}
Final note: technically, that's not recursion, because it's not getData calling itself, but the callback from setTimeout calling getData all the time.
(function loopsiloop(){
setTimeout(function(){
$.ajax({
url: 'foo.htm',
success: function( response ){
// do something with the response
loopsiloop(); // recurse
},
error: function(){
// do some error handling. you
// should probably adjust the timeout
// here.
loopsiloop(); // recurse, if you'd like.
}
});
}, 5000);
})();
This will do the work for you.
I'm doing three things here:
Declaring a function loopsiloop that is immediately invoked (notice the parens at the end).
Declaring a timeout handler to fire after 5 seconds.
Polling the server inside the timeout, which upon either success/failure will call loopsiloop and continue the poll.

Passing jQuery ajax value back to calling JavaScript function

I have a problem passing data from a JQuery ajax call back to the calling location. The code in question is below:
jQuery("#button").click(function()
{
for(var i = 0;i < data.length; i++)
{
result = updateUser(data[i]); //result is not populated..
alert(result); //prints 'undefined'
}
});
function updateUser(user_id)
{
jQuery.ajax({
url:"/users/update/"+user_id,
type:"GET",
async: false,
success: (function(data){
//if I alert "data" here it shows up correctly
//but if i try to return it like below
//it does not get passed correctly
return data;
})
});
Any pointers are greatly appreciated
You cannot return value from an AJAX success handler like that. AJAX is asynchronous so execution will proceed to the next line where result is undefined. The only way you can get data back from an asynchronous operation is to use a callback. A callback is a function that gets called when the asynchronous operation finishes what it is doing:
jQuery("#button").click(function () {
for (var i = 0; i < data.length; i++) {
updateUser(data[i], function(result) {
alert(result);
});
}
});
function updateUser(user_id, callback) {
jQuery.ajax({
url: "/users/update/" + user_id,
type: "GET",
success: callback
});
}
Here, you're calling the callback in the success handler of the AJAX call and so now you have access to the data that was returned by the AJAX call.
Have your function return the result of calling jQuery.ajax() - this object implements the jQuery deferred promise interface. That is, an object that promises to return a result some time later.
function updateUser(user_id) {
return jQuery.ajax({...});
}
and then use .done() to register the function to be called when the promise gets resolved:
updateUser(data[i]).done(function(result) {
alert(result);
});
The important part is that deferred objects allow you to complete decouple the initiation of the asynchronous task (i.e. your updateUser function) with what's supposed to happen when that task completes (or fails).
Hence there's no need to pass any callback functions to .ajax, and you can also chain your call with other deferred objects (e.g. animations, other AJAX requests).
Furthermore, you can register as many .done() callbacks as you like, and .fail() callbacks too, without ever having to change updateUser().
The A in ajax is Asynchronous, which means that when the file loaded, the function that started it is done running. Try using jQuery Deferred: http://api.jquery.com/category/deferred-object/
Example:
jQuery("#button").click(function()
{
for(var i = 0;i < data.length; i++)
{
updateUser(data[i]).done(function(result) {
alert(result); //prints 'undefined'
});
}
});
function updateUser(user_id)
{
return jQuery.ajax({
url:"/users/update/"+user_id,
type:"GET",
async: false,
success: (function(data){
...
})
});
}
The function that called the success function is the Ajax request and not the UpdateUser function. So obviously when you return it it will return back from the success callback but not to the UpdateUser function..
Also since the ajax is Asynchronous , buy the time the callback is executed it will come out of the UpdateUser function.. !
pretty sure what is happening (not an expert) but you are returning 'data' for your annonomys function in success and not your whole updateUser function
function updateUser(user_id)
{
var retData;
jQuery.ajax({
url:"/users/update/"+user_id,
type:"GET",
async: false,
success: (function(data){
//if I alert "data" here it shows up correctly
//but if i try to return it like below
//it does not get passed correctly
retData = data;
})
return retData;
});
But like i said, i am no expert.

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