Develop Reference

Within an if-statement inside of a loop, how can I get the children of an element and push them into an array?

I'm making a meal planning / grocery list application with JavaScript and jQuery. Basically, this is how it works:
The user adds recipes through a form. The user enters the name of the recipe as well as the ingredients associated with that recipe.
When submitted, each recipe is stored in a <dl id="recipeList"> element. The name of the recipe is stored as a <dt class="recipe"> and each ingredient is stored as a <dd class="ingredient">.
For each day of the week, the user may click on a "Plan a Meal" anchor. This brings up a copy of the #recipeList. When the user clicks on a <dt>, a class="meal" is applied to it and the rest of the list is removed.
The next step is for the user to click on the "Generate Grocery List" anchor. When the user does this, JavaScript should loop through each .meal and create an array, #mealsArray. JavaScript should then loop through each class="recipe" and check to see if the .innerHTML of it matches an item in the #mealsArray. It does this just fine, but the problem is after a match is found, it should get the children of the class="recipe" (i.e., the <dt class="ingredient">) and push them into #groceriesArray.
JavaScript will not find the children of the <dt class="recipe">. I have tried numerous ways of coding this, such as:
this.children
this.childNodes
this.children()
this.children("dt")
this.children(".ingredient")
this.contents()
this.find(".ingredient")
It usually finds something strange like [Object HTMLElement] or returns an error message like Type Error: this.children() is not a function.
It seems like this so be so simple, but I have no idea what to do. I will provide my code below — apologies for how sloppy it is.
Here is the HTML:
<form id="addRecipeForm">
<label>Name</label><input type="text" id="recipeName">
<label>Ingredients</label><input type="text" class="recipeIngredients">
<label>Ingredients</label><input type="text" class="recipeIngredients">
<label>Ingredients</label><input type="text" class="recipeIngredients">
<button id="recipeButton">Add Recipe</button>
</form>
<dl id="recipeList"></dl>
<div>
<h3>Sunday</h3>
Plan a Meal
</div>
<div>
<h3>Monday</h3>
Plan a Meal
</div>
<!-- And so on, until Saturday -->
Generate Grocery List
<ul id="groceryList"></ul>
Here is the JavaScript:
var recipeList = $("#recipeList");
var recipeIngredients = $(".recipeIngredients");
var planAnchor = $(".planAnchor");
var groceryListAnchor = $("#groceryListAnchor");
var groceryList = $("#groceryList");
////////// ADD A RECIPE //////////
$("#recipeButton").click(function(e) {
e.preventDefault();
var recipeName = $("#recipeName").val();
var recipeIngredients = $(".recipeIngredients");
recipeList.append("<dt class='recipe'></dt>");
recipeList.children("dt").last().text(recipeName);
for (i = 0; i < recipeIngredients.length ; i++) {
$("<dd class='ingredient'></dd>").text(recipeIngredients[i].value).appendTo(recipeList);
};
});
////////// PLAN A MEAL //////////
planAnchor.click(function(e) {
e.preventDefault();
var dayInPlanning = $(this).parent("div");
var availableRecipes = recipeList.clone();
availableRecipes.children("dd").remove();
availableRecipes.attr("id", "availableRecipes");
$(this).parent("div").append(availableRecipes);
$(this).remove();
availableRecipes.children("dt").click(function(e) {
e.preventDefault();
var selectedRecipe = $(this);
var para = $("<p class='meal'></p>");
para.appendTo(dayInPlanning);
para.text(selectedRecipe.text());
availableRecipes.remove();
});
////////// GENERATE GROCERY LIST //////////
///////// THIS IS WHERE THE PROBLEM LIES //////////
groceryListAnchor.click(function(e) {
e.preventDefault();
var mealsArray = [];
var groceriesArray = [];
// Create an array of .meal elements
$(".meal").each(function() {
mealsArray.push(this.innerHTML);
});
console.log("mealsArray is " + mealsArray);
$(".recipe").each(function() {
console.log("Checking " + this.innerHTML);
// Match the innerHTML of each .recipe to the items in the mealsArray
if ($.inArray(this.innerHTML, mealsArray) > -1) {
console.log("We found " + this.innerHTML + " in the array!");
// Get the children of that recipe, and place them in groceriesArray
// *** Not Working ***
groceriesArray.push(this.children.innerHTML)
} else {};
});
console.log("The grocery list is " + groceriesArray);
});

To explain this simply. They're two types of elements jQuery Elements and JavaScript Elements. this is a JavaScript element. jQuery functions only work with jQuery Elements. So to make it work, use:
$(this).myjQueryFunction();
so for you:
$(this).children();
In depth
When creating jQuery elements using $(), it does a few things. jQuery uses Sizzle for selecting elements. If what's passed into $() is already an element. It doesn't do anything. Of it is, it will turn it into an element. Depending on which of the two jQuery uses. It will return an element. This is a regular JavaScript element but what makes it so special? The jQuery functions can only be run after $. The reason is how you create chained-JavaScript functions using prototype:
//Kind of how it's created
$.prototype.children = function () {
//jQuery's code to get children
}
This is making it so children() can only be run off of $.

Can you try cast this Dom Element as a jQuery Element:
//so instead of this.children() use
$(this).children()
and in this case if you want HTML it will be
$(this).children().html()
but it will get you first child HTML only, you can try the followng to get for all:
html_contents = ""
$.each($(this).children(), function(){
html_contents+=$(this).html();
});

Place div.innerHTML as a hidden form value

I have a long page with identical section I am attempting to combine into one that has:
TITLE
description
form
I have working mouseovers that change the title and description, but need a solution to change the value of a hidden form input to the new titles when changed.
HOW do I get the hidden form value to change onmouseover to equal current TITLE.value?
Milestones
PHP
function changeContent(id, msg) {
var el = document.getElementById(id);
if (id) {
el.innerHTML = msg;
}
}
FORM
<input type="hidden" value="" name="category" />

Is this what you're looking for?
document.getElementById('hiddenInputId').value = msg;

Your hidden element doesn't have an Id, so you can use following:
var elems = document.getElementsByName('category');
elems[0].value = <<new value>>
getElementsByName always returns an array so you have to pickup first element and set its value.
Cheers !!

How to iterate through HTML nodes to find matches and get the next innerHTML from a node

I have a form element <select> to select a person. As soon as the element has changed
the function getPerson() is executed and reads out the value of the selected entry.
<select id="cust_id" name="f_cust_id" onchange="getPerson(this)">
<option value="51">Brad Pitt</option>
<option value="123">Angelina Jolie</option>
<option value="13">Jennifer Aniston</option>
</select>
The next step is: that I have a hidden text in the same page, where I want to find this value (example value 51).
I need to iterate trough this hiddenCustomer nodes.
Hidden HTML Text
<div id="hiddenCustomer" style="display:none;">
<span>51</span><span>Brad;Pitt;Y1;Group1;bpitt#wwz.com;12345</span>
<span>123</span><span>Angelina;Jolie;Y2;Group2;ajolie#wwz.com;12346</span>
<span>13</span><span>Jennifer;Aniston;Y1;Group1;ja#wwz.com;12347</span>
</div>
finally if I have a match 51=51 I take the string from the next element and "split" it to an array. It will be used to fill out some formular fields like: firstname, lastnamem, floor, group, email...
My question is: how to iterate best trough the hiddenCustomer nodes. Find the match and take the innerHTML value from
the next element ( example : Brad;Pitt;Y1;Group1;bpitt#wwz.com;12345)
ps: I don't want to use JSON Objects.

You can do like this
[DEMO] --> http://fiddle.jshell.net/ykF6P/
function getPerson(element)
{
var val = element.value;
var $span = $('#hiddenCustomer span').filter(function(){
return $(this).text() == val;
}).next('span');
}

function getPerson(element){
var elementsArray = [];
$("#hiddenElement").each(function(){
$(this).find("span").each(function(){
if($(this).text() == $(element).val()){
elementsArray = $(this).find("span").next().text().split(';');
}
});
});
}
You end up with an array of strings.

You can do this:
var value = 51;
var $span = $('#hiddenCustomer span:nth-child(odd)').filter(function(){
return parseInt($(this).text(),10) == value;
}).next('span');
console.log($span.html());

How can I create dynamic controls and put their data into an object?

I created a div and a button. when the button clicked, there will be a group of element(included 1 select box and 2 text inputs) inserted into the div. User can add as many group as they can, when they finished type in data of all the group they added, he can hit save button, which will take the value from each group one by one into the JSON object array. But I am stuck in the part how to get the value from each group, so please help, thank you.
The code for the div and the add group button function -- AddExtra() are listed below:
<div id="roomextra">
</div>
function AddExtra() {
$('#roomextra').append('<div class=extra>' +
'<select id="isInset">' +
'<option value="Inset">Inset</option>' +
'<option value="Offset">OffSet</option>' +
'</select>' +
'Length(m): <input type="text" id="insetLength">' +
'Width(m): <input type="text" id="insetWidth">' +
'Height(m): <input type="text" id="insetHeight">' +
'</div>');
}
function GetInsetOffSetArray (callBack) {
var roomIFSDetail = [{
"IsInset": '' ,
"Length": '' ,
"Width": '' ,
"Height": ''
}];
//should get all the value from each group element and write into the array.
callBack(roomIFSDetail);
}

This should just about do it. However, if you're dynamically creating these groups, you'll need to use something other than id. You may want to add a class to them or a data-* attribute. I used a class, in this case. Add those classes to your controls so we know which is which.
var roomIFSDetail = [];
var obj;
// grab all of the divs (groups) and look for my controls in them
$(.extra).each(function(){
// create object out of select and inputs values
// the 'this' in the selector is the context. It basically says to use the object
// from the .each loop to search in.
obj = {
IsInset: $('.isInset', this).find(':selected').val() ,
Length: $('.insetLength', this).val() ,
Width: $('.insetWidth', this).val() ,
Height: $('.insetHeight', this).val()
};
// add object to array of objects
roomIFSDetail.push(obj);
});

you'd better not to use id attribute to identity the select and input, name attribute instead. for example
$('#roomextra').append('<div class=extra>' +
'<select name="isInset">' +
'<option value="Inset">Inset</option>' +
'<option value="Offset">OffSet</option>' +
'</select>' +
'Length(m): <input type="text" name="insetLength">' +
'Width(m): <input type="text" name="insetWidth">' +
'Height(m): <input type="text" name="insetHeight">' +
'</div>');
}
and then, usr foreach to iterate
$(".extra").each(function() {
var $this = $(this);
var isInset = $this.find("select[name='isInset']").val();
var insetLength = $this.find("input[name='insetLength']").val();
// ... and go on
});

A common problem. A couple things:
You can't use IDs in the section you're going to be repeating, because IDs in the DOM are supposed to be unique.
I prefer to use markup where I'm writing a lot of it, and modify it in code rather than generate it there.
http://jsfiddle.net/b9chris/PZ8sf/
HTML:
<div id=form>
... non-repeating elements go here...
<div id=roomextra>
<div class=extra>
<select name=isInset>
<option>Inset</option>
<option>OffSet</option>
</select>
Length(m): <input id=insetLength>
Width(m): <input id=insetWidth>
Height(m): <input id=insetHeight>
</div>
</div>
</div>
JS:
(function() {
// Get the template
var container = $('#roomextra');
var T = $('div.extra', container);
$('#addGroup').click(function() {
container.append(T.clone());
});
$('#submit').click(function() {
var d = {};
// Fill d with data from the rest of the form
d.groups = $.map($('div.extra', container), function(tag) {
var g = {};
$.each(['isInset', 'insetLength', 'insetWidth', 'insetHeight'], function(i, name) {
g[name] = $('[name=' + name + ']', tag).val();
});
return g;
});
// Inspect the data to ensure it's what you wanted
debugger;
});
})();
So the template that keeps repeating is written in plain old HTML rather than a bunch of JS strings appended to each other. Using name attributes instead of ids keeps with the way these elements typically work without violating any DOM constraints.
You might notice I didn't quote my attributes, took the value attributes out of the options, and took the type attributes out of the inputs, to keep the code a bit DRYer. HTML5 specs don't require quoting your attributes, the option tag's value is whatever the text is if you don't specify a value attribute explicitly, and input tags default to type=text if none is specified, all of which adds up to a quicker read and slimmer HTML.

Use $(".extra").each(function() {
//Pull info out of ctrls here
});
That will iterate through all of your extra divs and allow you to add all values to an array.

Creating a Pass Fail Input Function

I am creating a test form. I have created a form with a list of steps to test.
Instead of every item on the list needing:
<input type="radio" name="step1">Pass<input type="radio" name="step1">Fail
I wanted to create a function so I could just call it every time to create it.
This is my function so far:
function createPassFail(name)
{
var Pass = document.createElement('input');
Pass.type = "radio";
Pass.name = name;
document.getElementById("Pass").innerHTML = "Pass";
var Fail = document.createElement('input');
Fail.type = "radio";
Fail.name = name;
document.getElementById("Fail").innerHTML = "Fail";
}
And then I call it with:
<li>Step One: Turn the TV On
<input id = "step1" onload="createPassFail(this.value)">
</li>
All this does is create a textbox which is not what I was going for. I am also not sure if onload is correct.

Instead of passing in the value to the function you should pass the id:
onload="createPassFail(this.id)"
// ^^
I say your event should be onblur because I don't think onload is the event handler you should be using. You can use my suggestion or maybe set up a button next to the text box which, when clicked (using onclick) does what you want.
Moreover, you haven't inserted the pass or fail elements into HTML. Try this:
document.body.appendChild(Pass);
document.body.appendChild(Fail);
This inserts the newly-created elements directly to the end of the body element. If you would like them to be child to some element therein, you would have to access the element with a suitable method. For example, with getElementById:
document.getElementById( element ).appendChild(Pass); // do the same for Fail
However, this can all be easily done with jQuery.
$(document).ready(function() {
function createPassFail(name)
{
$('body').append('<input type="radio" id="' + name + '">Pass');
$('body').append('<input type="radio" id="' + name + '">Fail');
}
$('#step1').ready(function() {
createPassFail(this.id);
});
});
Live Demo