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Create an instance of a jQuery plugin

I have several pages which I wish to allow the the user to inline edit many fields and update the server DB. To implement this, my intent is to create a jQuery plugin which I can do the typical passing of the configuration options and uses ajax to save the results.
(function($){
var methods = {
init : function (options) {return this.each(function () {/* ... */});},
method1 : function () {return this.each(function () {/* ... */});},
method2 : function () {return this.each(function () {/* ... */});}
};
$.fn.myEditPlugin= function(method) {
if (methods[method]) {
return methods[method].apply(this, Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments, 1)); //Line 10
} else if (typeof method === 'object' || ! method) {
return methods.init.apply(this, arguments); //Line 12
} else {
$.error('Method ' + method + ' does not exist on jQuery.myEditPlugin');
}
};
}(jQuery)
);
For each individual page, there are several options which are common to all (i.e. the url endpoint, the record's primary key, etc) and I would rather not duplicate each when applying the plugin.
Originally, I was just going to define a function on each page which takes some input and applies the common options to each.
function wrapEdit(e,options) {
options.url='/page1/etc';
options.pk=document.getElementById('pk').value;
return $(e).myEditPlugin(options);
}
wrapEdit('.someclass',{foo:123});
It doesn't seem all that professional to me, so in my obsessive quest, thought I would make a class which I could pass the common options to and it would apply the plugin.
class WrapEdit(options)
{
constructor(options) {
this.options = options;
}
this.applyIndividualOptions=function(e, options) {
return $(e).myEditPlugin(Object.assign({}, this->options, options));
}
}
var wrapEdit=new WrapEdit({url: '/page1/etc', pk: document.getElementById('pk').value});
wrapEdit.applyIndividualOptions('.someclass',{foo:123});
Better, but not very jQueryish as I will be passing the select element instead of directly applying the plugin to elements typical of jQuery.
Is it possible to create an instance of a jQuery plugin which keeps previously defined data? Maybe something like the following:
$.myEditPlugin({url: '/page1/etc', pk: document.getElementById('pk').value});
$('.someclass').myEditPlugin({foo:123}); //Will also pass previously defined url and pk to myEditPlugin
Or maybe best to create a custom jQuery plugin per page which just adds the extra options and initiates the real plugin...
$.fn.myEditPluginInstance = function(options) {
return this.myEditPlugin(Object.assign({url: '/page1/etc', pk: document.getElementById('pk').value}, options));
};

Creating a function to be called against a jquery collection
The basic idea is to define a new property (function) in jQuery.fn, before any call to your plugin is made (In other words, any code related to the application is executed). You can use an "Immediately Invoked Function Expressions" (a.k.a. IIFEs) to fence your plugin API in. Then you have to loop over the collection and execute any code your plugin needs to apply on the collection items.
Basic skeleton:
(function ($) {
// Enclosed scope (IIFE)
// You can define private API/variables in here
// …
// Once your plugin API is ready, you have to apply the magic to each item
// in the collection in some ways. You must add a property to jQuery.fn object.
$.fn.myAwesomePlugin = function(Opt) {
var defaultConfig = {option1: 'someValue' /*, …*/};
// Eval supplied Opt object (Validate, reject, etc.)
// If all goes well, eventually merge the object with defaults.
$.extend(defaultConfig, Opt);
// Apply the magic against each item in the jQuery collection
// (Your plugin may not need to use "each" function though)
// Return the jQuery collection anyway to keep chaining possible.
// Once again, this is not required, your plugin may return something else depending on the options passed earlier for instance.
return this.each(function(el, idx) {
// Your plugin magic applied to collection items…
});
}
})(jQuery);
You should be able to call your plugin $('someSelector').myAwesomePlugin(); right after the declaration.
Simple implementation example:
(function ($) {
let required = {url: null, pk: null}
// Function to be executed upon first call to the plugin
, populateCommons = () => {
let ep = $('#someNode').data('endpoint')
, pk = document.querySelector('#pk')
;
// Basic tests to alert in case the page
// doesn't comply with the plugin requirements
if( typeof ep !== 'string' || !/^\/[a-z]+/.test(ep) || !pk) {
throw ` "myEditPlugin" init phase error:
Detected endpoint: '${ep}'
Is PK value found: ${!!pk}
`;
}
[required.url, required.pk] = [ep, +pk.value];
};
$.fn.myEditPlugin = function(Opt) {
let allOpts;
// First call will trigger the retrival of common data
// that should be available as static data somewhere every page source.
!required.url && populateCommons();
allOpts = $.extend({}, Opt, required);
return this.each(function(el, idx) {
// Your logic here, request
console.log("Payload is", allOpts);
});
}
})(jQuery);
function debounce(fn, time) {
debounce.timer && (clearTimeout(debounce.timer));
debounce.timer = setTimeout(() => (fn(), debounce.timer = null), time);
}
$('[type="text"]').keydown(function(e){
debounce(() => this.value && $(this).myEditPlugin({foo:this.value, bar: 'Contextual value'}), 2000);
});
<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/2.1.1/jquery.min.js"></script>
<input id="pk" type="hidden" value="5">
<div id="someNode" data-endpoint="/api/endpoint">
Editing the below input will trigger the plug-in code
</div>
<input type="text" title="Edit me"/>
Related documentation here

Initialize Backbone Models based on another Backbone Model

I have a config.json that I am going to load into my app as a Backbone Model like:
var Config = Backbone.Model.extend({
defaults: {
base: ''
},
url: 'config.json'
});
Other models should be dependent on some data contained in Config like:
var ModelA = Backbone.Collection.extend({
initialize: function(){
//this.url should be set to Config.base + '/someEndpoint';
}
});
In above example, ModelA's url property is dependent on Config's base property's value.
How do I go about setting this up properly in a Backbone app?

As I see it, your basic questions are:
How will we get an instance of the configuration model?
How will we use the configuration model to set the dependent model's url?
How can we make sure we don't use the url function on the dependent model too early?
There are a lot of ways to handle this, but I'm going to suggest some specifics so that I can just provide guidance and code and "get it done," so to speak.
I think the best way to handle the first problem is to make that configuration model a singleton. I'm going to provide code from backbone-singleton GitHub page below, but I don't want the answer to be vertically long until I'm done with the explanation, so read on...
var MakeBackboneSingleton = function (BackboneClass, options) { ... }
Next, we make a singleton AppConfiguration as well as a deferred property taking advantage of jQuery. The result of fetch will provide always(callback), done(callback), etc.
var AppConfiguration = MakeBackboneSingleton(Backbone.Model.extend({
defaults: {
base: null
},
initialize: function() {
this.deferred = this.fetch();
},
url: function() {
return 'config.json'
}
}));
Now, time to define the dependent model DependentModel which looks like yours. It will call AppConfiguration() to get the instance.
Note that because of MakeBackboneSingleton the follow is all true:
var instance1 = AppConfiguration();
var instance2 = new AppConfiguration();
instance1 === instance2; // true
instance1 === AppConfiguration() // true
The model will automatically fetch when provided an id but only after we have completed the AppConfiguration's fetch. Note that you can use always, then, done, etc.
var DependentModel = Backbone.Model.extend({
initialize: function() {
AppConfiguration().deferred.then(function() {
if (this.id)
this.fetch();
});
},
url: function() {
return AppConfiguration().get('base') + '/someEndpoint';
}
});
Now finally, putting it all together, you can instantiate some models.
var newModel = new DependentModel(); // no id => no fetch
var existingModel = new DependentModel({id: 15}); // id => fetch AFTER we have an AppConfiguration
The second one will auto-fetch as long as the AppConfiguration's fetch was successful.
Here's MakeBackboneSingleton for you (again from the GitHub repository):
var MakeBackboneSingleton = function (BackboneClass, options) {
options || (options = {});
// Helper to check for arguments. Throws an error if passed in.
var checkArguments = function (args) {
if (args.length) {
throw new Error('cannot pass arguments into an already instantiated singleton');
}
};
// Wrapper around the class. Allows us to call new without generating an error.
var WrappedClass = function() {
if (!BackboneClass.instance) {
// Proxy class that allows us to pass through all arguments on singleton instantiation.
var F = function (args) {
return BackboneClass.apply(this, args);
};
// Extend the given Backbone class with a function that sets the instance for future use.
BackboneClass = BackboneClass.extend({
__setInstance: function () {
BackboneClass.instance = this;
}
});
// Connect the proxy class to its counterpart class.
F.prototype = BackboneClass.prototype;
// Instantiate the proxy, passing through any arguments, then store the instance.
(new F(arguments.length ? arguments : options.arguments)).__setInstance();
}
else {
// Make sure we're not trying to instantiate it with arguments again.
checkArguments(arguments);
}
return BackboneClass.instance;
};
// Immediately instantiate the class.
if (options.instantiate) {
var instance = WrappedClass.apply(WrappedClass, options.arguments);
// Return the instantiated class wrapped in a function so we can call it with new without generating an error.
return function () {
checkArguments(arguments);
return instance;
};
}
else {
return WrappedClass;
}
};

Calling a Jquery Function in outside javascript (Jquery Boilerplate Plugin)

I'm using https://github.com/jquery-boilerplate/jquery-boilerplate
I created a method "fillLoginForm" inside that plugin and trying to access it outside
// the semi-colon before function invocation is a safety net against concatenated
// scripts and/or other plugins which may not be closed properly.
// TODO : Write public methods here above
;
(function ($, window, document, undefined) {
// undefined is used here as the undefined global variable in ECMAScript 3 is
// mutable (ie. it can be changed by someone else). undefined isn't really being
// passed in so we can ensure the value of it is truly undefined. In ES5, undefined
// can no longer be modified.
// window and document are passed through as local variable rather than global
// as this (slightly) quickens the resolution process and can be more efficiently
// minified (especially when both are regularly referenced in your plugin).
// Create the defaults once
var pluginName = "messageDashboard",
defaults = {
propertyName: "value",
};
// The actual plugin constructor
function Plugin(element, options) {
var widget = this;
widget.element = element;
// jQuery has an extend method which merges the contents of two or
// more objects, storing the result in the first object. The first object
// is generally empty as we don't want to alter the default options for
// future instances of the plugin
widget.settings = $.extend({}, defaults, options);
widget._defaults = defaults;
widget._name = pluginName;
widget.initLoginPage(); // FIX : To be decided whether its login page or message dashboard
$.each(widget.settings, function (key, value) {
if (typeof value === 'function') {
console.log(' adding Handler');
console.log(' For :' + key);
console.log(' Value :' + value);
console.log(widget.element);
$('body').on(key + '_' + pluginName,
function (e) {
console.log(' Event Handled On:' + widget.element);
value(e, widget.element);
}
);
}
});
}
// Avoid Plugin.prototype conflicts
$.extend(Plugin.prototype, {
/**
* To initialize Login Widget
*
*/
initLoginPage: function () {
// Place initialization logic for Login page here
// You already have access to the DOM element and
// the options via the instance, e.g. this.element
// and this.settings
// you can add more functions like the one below and
// call them like so: this.yourOtherFunction(this.element, this.settings).
},
/**
* To initialize Message Dashboard Widget Widget
*
*/
initDashboard: function () {
// Place initialization logic for Login page here
// You already have access to the DOM element and
// the options via the instance, e.g. this.element
// and this.settings
},
/**
*
* To fill the login form when the remember me option is enabled
*
*/
fillLoginForm : function(username, password) {
$("#id").val(username);
$("#pwd").val(password);
}
});
// A really lightweight plugin wrapper around the constructor,
// preventing against multiple instantiations
$.fn[pluginName] = function (options) {
this.each(function () {
if (!$.data(this, "plugin_" + pluginName)) {
$.data(this, "plugin_" + pluginName, new Plugin(this, options));
}
});
// chain jQuery functions
return this;
};
})(jQuery, window, document);
In a different place, I'm trying to access it like
$('body').on('loadEvent',
function (e) {
var $dashboard = $('body').messageDashboard();
$dashboard.fillLoginForm("id","pwd");
}
);
But it throws undefined error !!!
Or how do i create public method which can be accessed outside directly ?

I'm able to get it working by using data method like as follows.
$('body').on('loadEvent',
function (e) {
var $dashboard = $('body').messageDashboard().data('plugin_messageDashboard');
$dashboard.fillLoginForm("4089032912", "2912");
}
);
But I hope this is not a better way to solve it !!

Access plugin instance using the id of the DOM Element

The concept is to have 2 plugins one for form and another for button. I want to bind all forms in my page to JQuery plugin that will handle some jobs let say that this is my plugin
$.fn.PluginForm = function (Options) {
var o = jQuery.extend({
SomeOption: 1
}, Options);
var Validate = function(){
if(o.SomeOption == 1) return true;
else return false;
};
$(this).on('submit', function(e) {
e.preventDefault();
//some code here
});
};
The form actually doesn’t have button in my case the post is triggered from another control. This is because of the structure of the application I want to build. The button plugin is:
$.fn.PluginButton = function (Options) {
var o = jQuery.extend({
Actions: [],
FormID: ''
}, Options);
$(this).click(function(){
var Form = $('#' + o.FormID);
if(Form.length > 0 && Form.PluginForm.Validate()) {
Form.submit();
//do something
}
else{
//do something else
}
});
};
What I want to succeed is to invoke the validation function on the Form element but I don’t want to invoke another instance of the PluginForm. Something like $('#' + o.FormID).PluginForm.Validate()
All this must be as plugin because there will be a lot of forms in the same page and a lot of buttons. Also there will be a lot of buttons that can invoke submit on the same form but with different options. That’s why I want to invoke one time the instance of the form. Also the controls that will be validated will be passed as parameter in the options of the PluginForm. Something like this $('#' + o.FormID).PluginForm({ Action: ‘Validate’ }) is not an option because will lose the initial parameters of the PluginForm.

You can save the plugin instance in the .data() structure on the element, and then call it back. Most of plugins use it that way.
/*!
* jQuery lightweight plugin boilerplate
* Original author: #ajpiano
* Further changes, comments: #addyosmani
* Licensed under the MIT license
*/
// the semi-colon before the function invocation is a safety
// net against concatenated scripts and/or other plugins
// that are not closed properly.
;(function ( $, window, document, undefined ) {
// undefined is used here as the undefined global
// variable in ECMAScript 3 and is mutable (i.e. it can
// be changed by someone else). undefined isn't really
// being passed in so we can ensure that its value is
// truly undefined. In ES5, undefined can no longer be
// modified.
// window and document are passed through as local
// variables rather than as globals, because this (slightly)
// quickens the resolution process and can be more
// efficiently minified (especially when both are
// regularly referenced in your plugin).
// Create the defaults once
var pluginName = "defaultPluginName",
defaults = {
propertyName: "value"
};
// The actual plugin constructor
function Plugin( element, options ) {
this.element = element;
// jQuery has an extend method that merges the
// contents of two or more objects, storing the
// result in the first object. The first object
// is generally empty because we don't want to alter
// the default options for future instances of the plugin
this.options = $.extend( {}, defaults, options) ;
this._defaults = defaults;
this._name = pluginName;
this.init();
}
Plugin.prototype = {
init: function() {
// Place initialization logic here
// You already have access to the DOM element and
// the options via the instance, e.g. this.element
// and this.options
// you can add more functions like the one below and
// call them like so: this.yourOtherFunction(this.element, this.options).
},
yourOtherFunction: function(el, options) {
// some logic
}
};
// A really lightweight plugin wrapper around the constructor,
// preventing against multiple instantiations
$.fn[pluginName] = function ( options ) {
return this.each(function () {
if (!$.data(this, "plugin_" + pluginName)) {
$.data(this, "plugin_" + pluginName,
new Plugin( this, options ));
}
});
};
})( jQuery, window, document );
taken from: https://github.com/jquery-boilerplate/jquery-patterns/blob/master/patterns/jquery.basic.plugin-boilerplate.js
also there are more jquery plugin design patterns that may fit more for your plugin at http://jqueryboilerplate.com/.

jQuery plug-in data access -- performance hit?

I'm writing a new jQuery plugin. For the guide, I am using their recommendation:
(function( $ ){
var methods = {
init : function( options ) {
return this.each(function(){
var $this = $(this),
data = $this.data('tooltip'),
tooltip = $('<div />', {
text : $this.attr('title')
});
// If the plugin hasn't been initialized yet
if ( ! data ) {
data = {
element : this,
target : $this,
tooltip : tooltip
};
$(this).data('tooltip', data);
}
methods.update.apply(data.element, 'Test');
},
update : function( content ) {
var $this = $(this),
data = $this.data('tooltip');
// check or change something important in the data.
private.test.apply( data.element );
return data.element;
}
};
var private = {
test: function() {
var $this = $(this),
data = $this.data('tooltip');
// again, do some operation with data
}
};
$.fn.tooltip = function( method ) {
// Method calling logic
if ( methods[method] ) {
return methods[ method ].apply( this, Array.prototype.slice.call( arguments, 1 ));
} else if ( typeof method === 'object' || ! method ) {
return methods.init.apply( this, arguments );
} else {
$.error( 'Method ' + method + ' does not exist on jQuery.tooltip' );
}
};
})( jQuery );
Its a little different from their version to make it shorter but also to show my differences. Basically, in the init, I am instantiating and creating data object that gets stored in the element. Part of the data object is the element itself:
element : this,
Then, after all of the initialization is done, I call a public method from the init (lets say I do it for functionality reuse purpose). To make the call, I use .apply() and provide the proper context (my element), which would match the context when the function is called externally:
return methods[ method ].apply( this, Array.prototype.slice.call( arguments, 1 ));
This is fine and understandable. However, what I am unsure about is the performance of acquiring the data of the plugin from within a private or a public method. To me, it seems that at the top of every public and private method I have to execute the following lines in order to get the data:
var $this = $(this),
data = $this.data('tooltip');
Of course, I wouldn't execute them when I have no need for whatever is stored in data. However, my plugin performs quite a bit of animations and state tracking and almost all of the functions require access to the data. As such, it seems like accessing .data() in almost every private and public call is a pretty big performance hit.
My question is whether anyone uses this plug-in structure (I'm hoping that yes since jQuery recommends it) and has found a different way of referencing the data without hitting .data() in every function call.