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Javascript: run object method on DOM object selected through other property

I am very new to javascript.
Here I am failing to run an object method on a DOM element that I selected through another property of the same object. I suspect there is something wrong with my thinking!
Thanks in advance for any piece of help.
var Arrow = function() {
this.current = $('.arrow');
this.previous = null;
this.bend = function() {
// do bend
};
};
var arrow = new Arrow();
arrow.current.bend();

bend() is a method of Arrow, not current. Use arrow.bend() and it will also have access to current using this.current.

arrow.current.bend is not defined.
You have defined:
this.current as the Array of DOM elements.
this.bend as method with a function.
Hence, you can call:
arrow.current >> returns Array of DOMs
arrow.bend() >> executes function bend.
arrow.current.bend() does not exist.
Also, note that arrow.current is an array. You'd first need to get each of the elements:
for (element of arrow.current) { element.bend(); }
However, as said before, element does not have a bend element by default and you have not appended at any point. Only arrow has a bend property.
I hope this guides you on why this does not work.
However, if you want to open a question on what you are trying to achieve, maybe we can help to get it fixed.

You need to call bend() on arrow object. In bend() function, you do what you need to do.
var Arrow = function() {
this.current = $('.arrow');
this.previous = null;
this.bend = function() {
// do bend
current.style = 'bent';
};
};
var arrow = new Arrow();
arrow.bend();

So two things.
You called the right method on the wrong object
arrow.bend(); // not arrow.current.bend()
The second possible problem is with this.current = $('.arrow');. To get the an element from the DOM, you should make sure it's totally loaded. I'd suggest the following
var Arrow = function($arrow) {
this.current = $arrow;
this.previous = null;
};
// To avoid creating the `bend` in every instance of Arrow
Arrow.prototype.bend = function() {
console.log(this.current.attr('id'));
};
$(function () {
// Now it's certain that the DOM is completely loaded
var arrow = new Arrow($('.arrow').first());
arrow.bend();
});
<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/2.1.1/jquery.min.js"></script>
<div class="arrow" id="toto">arrow<div>

Call function within another in Javascript

I've the following script:
gapi.analytics.ready(function() {
viewSelector.on('viewChange', function update (data) {
var title = document.getElementById('view-name');
title.innerHTML = data.property.name + ' (' + data.view.name + ')';
activeUsers.set(data).execute();
renderWeekOverWeekChart(data.ids);
renderTopBrowsersChart(data.ids);
renderTopCountriesChart(data.ids);
setTimeout(function() {
var list = document.getElementsByTagName("tr")[0];
list.getElementsByTagName("th")[0].innerHTML = "Pagina's";
list.getElementsByTagName("th")[1].innerHTML = "Paginaweergaven";
}, 500);
});
});
And within the following code I would like to re-run the update(); function.
function datumwissel( datumbtn ) {
if ( datumbtn.className == 'maand' ) {
datumbtn.className = 'jaar';
dimensions1 = 'ga:month,ga:nthMonth';
start1 = moment(now).date(1).month(0).format('YYYY-MM-DD');
end1 = moment(now).format('YYYY-MM-DD');
start2 = moment(now).subtract(1, 'year').date(1).month(0).format('YYYY-MM-DD');
end2 = moment(now).date(1).month(0).subtract(1, 'day').format('YYYY-MM-DD');
format1 = 'M';
format2 = 'MMM';
update();
}
else {
datumbtn.className = 'maand';
dimensions1 = 'ga:date,ga:nthWeek';
start1 = moment(now).subtract(2, 'day').date(1).format('YYYY-MM-DD');
end1 = moment(now).format('YYYY-MM-DD');
start2 = moment(now).subtract(2, 'day').date(1).subtract(1, 'month').format('YYYY-MM-DD');
end2 = moment(now).subtract(2, 'day').date(1).subtract(1, 'day').format('YYYY-MM-DD');
format1 = 'YYYYMMDD';
format2 = 'Do';
update();
}
}
But somehow this doesn't work. I also tried in the above script:
window.update = function (data) {}. But that also doesn't work.
How can I call the update(); function that is situated inside the gapi.analytics.ready(function() {} ?
Important is that I cannot make it globally as it has to be situated inside the gapi.analytics.ready().

It's really a simple matter of moving the function declaration
function update (data) {
// same as existing code
}
gapi.analytics.ready(function() {
viewSelector.on('viewChange', update );
});
And passing in data needed when you call it in your other function
function datumwissel( datumbtn ) {
if ( datumbtn.className == 'maand' ) {
..........
update(datumbtn);
}.......

Important is that I cannot make it globally as it has to be situated inside the gapi.analytics.ready()
That's not actually true - you can have it global and there at the same time. Whether you want to, is a different manner, as that would pollute the global namespace and so on. However, here is how that can be achieved:
First, extract the update function outside of the ready handler like so
function update (data) {
var title = document.getElementById('view-name');
title.innerHTML = data.property.name + ' (' + data.view.name + ')';
activeUsers.set(data).execute();
renderWeekOverWeekChart(data.ids);
renderTopBrowsersChart(data.ids);
renderTopCountriesChart(data.ids);
setTimeout(function() {
var list = document.getElementsByTagName("tr")[0];
list.getElementsByTagName("th")[0].innerHTML = "Pagina's";
list.getElementsByTagName("th")[1].innerHTML = "Paginaweergaven";
}, 500);
}
This will create a new function with the name update which accepts one parameter called data. Thanks to hoisting it would not matter if it's before or after anywhere you want to use it, as it would be effectively "pulled" to the top.
Next, you can just use the function inside the ready handler like so:
gapi.analytics.ready(function() {
viewSelector.on('viewChange', update);
});
Since .on(events, handler) accepts a function as the second parameter, you can just provide a function reference there. It doesn't matter that your function is technically declared elsewhere, as it is still going to be called with the same arguments. Similarly, if you replace update with alert you will be giving the reference to window.alert so you will get an alert with data.
With that, you can just call the same function in your other piece of code.
That is true for any place that uses callbacks, including setTimeout - you can just give a function reference and it's going to be called. Internally, those kinds of functions almost always do something like callback() or callback(someData), occasionally callback.call(/* parameters */) where callback is the passed in argument. Whether you define that argument as you are calling the function, e.g., selector.on("click", function() {/* code */}) or separately, e.g.,
function clickHandler() { /* code */ }
selector.on("click", clickHandler)
matters little.
With that said, whether you want the function global is a different matter. Unless both pieces of code are in the same place, a global function may be the easiest way. You could, also, namespace anything your app uses, which would partially avoid the global pollution. Not completely, but sometimes you just need to have things living under window if you have multiple files, in which case, you can define your own little corner there to play with: window.myApp = window.myApp || {} would create a new object that can serve as namespace and so you will be able to do things like myApp.update = function(data) { /* code */ } and thus share that code.
If your two pieces of code are indeed in one file, then you merely need to create the function outside both using var update = function(data) { /* code */ } then hand it to each in the exact same way, since update is still going to be a function reference, however, if assigned to a variable, it won't be added to the global namespace (nor would the declaration be hoisted).

Passing a variable into a function in javascript

I'm not sure what is wrong with my code. I keep getting A NaN variable for maxLength. Am I writing this function correctly?
Helper function I am trying to call:
(function($) {
$.fn.countRemainingCharactersHelper = function(maxLength) {
id = this.attr('id');
var textLength = this.val().length;
var textRemaining = maxLength - textLength;
if (textLength >= maxLength) {
textRemaining = 0;
}
var messageId = id.slice(0, (id.indexOf('someTxtBox'))) + 'someTxtBox';
$('#' + messageId).html(textRemaining + ' characters remaining.');
};
})(jQuery);
Functions calling to the helper function above:
function countRemainingCharacters() {
$(this).countRemainingCharactersHelper(1000);
}
function countRemainingCharacters(maxLength) {
$(this).countRemainingCharactersHelper(maxLength);
}
Calling to function passing in the maxLength variable
$('#samplesomeTxtBox').click(function() {
countRemainingCharacters(4000);
});

this will refer to the window in your countRemainingCharacters() functions as you don't call it with a scope. You can fix that using call():
$('#samplesomeTxtBox').click(function() {
countRemainingCharacters.call(this, 4000);
})
Also note that the logic you use to generate the id of the element to place the message in is a little off. You could improve it by using a data attribute to explicitly set the element id.
Your overloaded method is also redundant in this case as you can take advantage of JavaScripts 'falsy' logic to provide a default value if none was provided. This means that you can convert your two countRemainingCharacters() functions in to one:
function countRemainingCharacters(maxLength) {
$(this).countRemainingCharactersHelper(maxLength || 1000);
}
Working example
All that would be left at that point is to create a key event handler to calculate the remaining characters as the user types.

Replacing window with custom javascript global namespace

I have a javascript function the initializes a bunch of global varaibles for a game.
function buildVariables(fs,fm) {
window.p1HPStart = fm.p1hp;
window.p2HPStart = fm.p2hp;
window.p1HP = 100;
window.p2HP = 100;
window.trn = 0;
}
Right now all this javascript is in the same HTML file. I want to move it to its own .js file and include it in this HTML file. I also want to replace "window" with a different global namespace like fight.p1HP.
How can I do this?
I've seen code like the below as a proposed answer in other similar questions, but I don't quite understand how it can be used to replace window.
var cartTotaler = (function () {
var total = 0; tax = 0.05;
// other code
return {
addItem : function (item) { },
removeItem : function (item) { },
calculateTitle : function () { }
};
}());
Thanks.

// initialize your own global object
if (!window.mySpace) {
window.mySpace = {};
}
// then use it
function buildVariables(fs,fm) {
mySpace.p1HPStart = fm.p1hp;
mySpace.p2HPStart = fm.p2hp;
mySpace.p1HP = 100;
mySpace.p2HP = 100;
mySpace.trn = 0;
}
Then just make sure everywhere you want one of your own variables, you use your namespace in front of it:
mySpace.variableName
Note: this doesn't really "replace" the window object (as there is no way to do that) - it just puts all your global variables into one master global object rather than pollute the global namespace with every single one of your variables.
The name mySpace can be anything you want it to be. Typically, it should be something that is unique to your application that is unlikely to conflict with something any other javascript or library might use.

(function(global){
global.p1HPStart = fm.p1hp;
global.p2HPStart = fm.p2hp;
global.p1HP = 100;
global.p2HP = 100;
global.trn = 0;
}(window));
This creates an 'immediately invoked function expression'. window is passed into the function, which then attaches a number of properties to it.
You can change window to whatever object you want, such as fight.p1HP, and this function will immediately attach the listed properties to that object.

Jquery click bindings are not working correctly when binding multiple copies

I seem to have an issue when creating copies of a template and tying the .click() method to them properly. Take the following javascript for example:
function TestMethod() {
var test = Array();
test[0] = 0;
test[1] = 1;
test[2] = 2;
// Insert link into the page
$("#test_div").html("<br>");
var list;
for (x = 0; x < test.length; x++) {
var temp = $("#test_div").clone();
temp.find('a').html("Item #" + test[x]);
temp.click(function () { alert(x); });
if (list == undefined)
list = temp;
else
list = list.append(temp.contents());
}
$("#test_div2").append(list);
}
The problem I am seeing with this is that no matter which item the user clicks on, it always runs alert(2), even when you click on the first few items.
How can I get this to work?
Edit: I have made a very simple example that should show the problem much clearer. No matter what item you click on, it always shows an alert box with the number 2 on it.

Correct me if I'm wrong, .valueOf() in JS returns the primitive value of a Boolean object.....
this would not happen ShowObject(5,'T');... ShowObject(objectVal.valueOf(), 'T');
why not use objects[x].Value directly? ShowObject(objects[x].Value, 'T');
WOOOOOSSSHHHH!
after searching deeply... I found a solution...
because it's a closure, it won't really work that way...
here's a solution,
temp.find('a').bind('click', {testVal: x},function (e) {
alert(e.data.testVal);
return false;
});
for best explanation, please read this... in the middle part of the page where it says Passing Event Data a quick demo of above code

I think your issue arises from a misunderstanding of scopes in JavaScript. (My apologies if I'm wrong.)
function () {
for (...) {
var foo = ...;
$('<div>').click(function () { alert(foo); }).appendTo(...);
}
}
In JavaScript, only functions create a new scope (commonly referred to as a closure).
So, every round of the for loop will know the same foo, since its scope is the function, not the for. This also applies to the events being defined. By the end of looping, every click will know the same foo and know it to be the last value it was assigned.
To get around this, either create an inner closure with an immediately-executing, anonymous function:
function () {
for (...) {
(function (foo) {
$('<div>').click(function () { alert(foo); }).appendTo(...);
})(...);
}
}
Or, using a callback-based function, such as jQuery.each:
function () {
$.each(..., function (i, foo) {
$('<div>').click(function () { alert(foo); }).appendTo(...);
});
}
For your issue, I'd go with the latter (note the changes of objects[x] to just object):
var list;
jQuery.each(data.objects, function (x, object) {
// Clone the object list item template
var item = $("#object_item_list_template").clone();
// Setup the click action and inner text for the link tag in the template
var objectVal = object.Value;
item.find('a').click(function () { ShowObject(objectVal.valueOf(), 'T'); }).html(object.Text);
// add the html to the list
if (list == undefined)
list = item;
else
list.append(item.contents());
});