Access HTML element later in document through JavaScript - javascript

I am just starting out with JavaScript and I have a simple code that sends a value to an element with id p. I am currently declaring this function in a <script> in the <head> element of my document.
function writeP(resultSet) {
document.getElementById('p').innerHTML = resultSet.length;
};
writeP(results);
When I have this listed within the <head> element and run the webpage, firebug throws this error at me: TypeError: document.getElementById(...) is null.
However, if I move the code block into a <script> tag beneath the element and then reload the webpage, no problems and the script works as it should. Is there any reason for this, and a way I could make this work so I wouldn't have to define my functions beneath the element or include a onload on my body element?
Thanks for your help

Reason is that by the time your launch js code, DOM is not yet prepared, and JS can't find such element in DOM.
You can use window.onload (docs on W3schools) trigger to fire your functions after all elements are ready. It's same as having onload property on body element, but is more clear, as you can define it in your js code, not in html.

JS evaluates syncronically. Therefore, it does matter WHEN you declare the function. In this case, you're declaring it before the element actually exists.
Second, when you declare a function with that syntax, it does get eval'd inmediately. If you declared, instead
var writeP=function(resultSet) {
document.getElementById('p').innerHTML = resultSet.length;
};
you could save just the call to the end of the Doc, and leave the declaration at the beggining.
However, I would advise you to read a few jQuery tutorials to learn easier ways to deal with dom manipulation. Nobody runs raw JS for that task anymore.
jQuery includes an useful call to document ready event, which will save you a lot of headaches and is -IMHO- more efficient than the onload event. In this case, you would include the jQuery library somewhere in your code
<script src="//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.10.2/jquery.min.js"></script>
and then add
<script>
jQuery(document).ready(function() {
var writeP=function(resultSet) {
jQuery('#p').html(resultSet.length);
};
writeP(resultSet);
});
</script>
just about anywhere in your document or an external js file, as it suits you.

Related

Alternative to hide/show content with JS?

is there a better way to replace this kind of js function by simply collapse/toggle a div and show/hide its content?
$(function() {
$('#destselect').change(function(){
$('.dest').hide();
$('#' + $(this).val()).show();
});
});
The reason this is happening is because your js file is called on the head of your page.
Because of this, when you document.getElementsByClassName('collapsible');, colls result in an empty array, as your elements in body are not yet created.
You could either create a separate js file and add it at the end of your body (in that way you make sure your colls are created when your javascript is executed), or just wrap your code on a DOMContentLoaded event listener that will trigger your code once the document has completely loaded.
My guess would be that you are loading your script before browser finishes loading dom conetent and so when it runs the elements it is trying to add event listeners to, don't yet exist.
Try wrapping all you javascript in that file in this:
document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {
// all your code goes here
});
The above makes sure that your script is run after loading all elements on the page.
You could add a script tag to the header of your HTML file, this will import the JS file into your current page as follows
<script src="File1.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
Then call the function either in onclick in a button or in another script (usually at the bottom) of your page. Something like this:
<body>
...
<script type="text/javascript">
functionFromFile1()
</script>
</body>
Seems like your script is not executing properly due to a missing variable.
In this script https://www.argentina-fly.com/js/scripts.js
Naves variable in function UpdateDetailsDestination() is not defined.
I think you should resolve this first and then check your further code is working on not.
Please take a look into Console when running page. You'll see all JavaScript related errors there.

Why does the location of $(document).ready() matter?

I thought that script within $(document).ready(...) would always execute after the DOM is loaded. Hence, it wouldn't matter if a $(document.ready(...) went in the head or in the body. However, the code below does not generate "apples" on the screen like I want it to. If I locate the giveApples() function at the bottom of the page though, it works.
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd">
<html>
<head>
<script src="http://code.jquery.com/jquery-latest.js"></script>
<script>
$(document).ready(giveApples());
function giveApples() {
$("#appleTree").html("apples");
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<div id="appleTree"></div>
</body>
<script>
//$(document).ready(giveApples());
</script>
</html>
Can anyone please correct my misconceptions about DOM, page loading, Script-tag location, (document).ready(), or anything else that is causing this problem? I'm still quite new to web programming.
That's because you're not actually binding an event handler to the ready event. You're calling giveApples right away and passing its return value (undefined) as event handler to bind (which silently fails). You need to pass the function to .ready(), not call it!
$(document).ready(giveApples);
Note the missing parentheses.
And it does not. The problem is that you're not passing giveApples as argument, but its returned value, since you are calling it (because of the ()). To make it work, don't put the parenthesis:
$(document).ready(giveApples);
By your current code, the value that is being passed to $(document).ready is undefined, since giveApples doesn't return any value.
You could also do:
$(document).ready(function(){
giveApples(); //However, if you access the 'this' keyword inside the giveApples function, it will point to 'window', and not 'document'
});
You can see what I explained above if you alert these two values:
alert(giveApples); //Shows the giveApples function body, properly
alert(giveApples()); //Shows undefined, since giveApples is being called and does not return any value
Its the same when you use DOM events (onload, onclick, etc). You do this way:
window.onload = myFunction;
And not:
window.onload = myFunction();
You're missing a function
With this syntax:
$(document).ready(giveApples());
you are passing the result of giveApples as the code to be executed at document ready. Also, at the time it is called, this function isn't declared yet.
Correct syntax
This would work:
$(document).ready(function() {
giveApples();
});
As would:
$(document).ready(giveApples);
To answer your titular question since others have identified the source of your problem with the code which is not related to the position of document.ready()...
It doesn't really matter. It is just a standard convention that a lot of people follow.
A lot of people are also proponents of putting the <script> tag as the last element in the <body> tag also.
Proof: See? It's controversial. I even got a downvote. =)
You can put the srcipt wherever you want to put it.The html will execute from up to down.Yes,$(document).ready(...) would always execute after the DOM is loaded.But in your code,you have put the Function outside the $(document).ready.That means it will execute when DOM is loading.Maybe you can do like this:$(document).ready(function giveApples(){$("#appleTree").html("apples");}).
If you want to learn JQuery,I will give you a link and I am new,too.It's very amazing.So have fun.
30-days-to-learn-jquery
w3school

executing javascript function from HTML without event

I wish to call a javascript function from an HTML page and I do not want it dependent on any event. The function is in a separate .js file since I wish to use it from many web pages. I am also passing variables to it. I've tried this:
HTML:
<script type="text/javascript" src="fp_footer2.js">
footerFunction(1_basic_web_page_with_links, 1bwpwl.html);
</script>
The function in fp_footer2.js:
function footerFunction(path, file) {
document.write("<a href=" + path + "/" + file + " target='_blank'>Link to the original web page for this assignment.</a>");
return;
}
(I have also tried putting the fp_footer2.js file reference in the header, to no avail. I'm not sure if I can put it 'inline' like I did in this example. If not, please let me know.
PS: I know I can do this with a simple 'a href=""' in the HTML itself. I wanted to see if this could work, for my own curiosity.
If a <script> has a src, then the external script replaces the inline script.
You need to use two script elements.
The strings you pass to the function also need to be actual strings and not undefined variables (or properties of undefined variables). String literals must be quoted.
<script src="fp_footer2.js"></script>
<script>
footerFunction("1_basic_web_page_with_links", "1bwpwl.html");
</script>
JavaScript will run while your page is being rendered. A common mistake is to execute a script that tries to access an element further down the page. This fails because the element isn't there when the script runs.
So includes in the <head> will run before any DOM content is available.
If your scripts are dependent on the existence of DOM elements (like a footer!) try to put the script includes after the DOM element. A better solution is to use the document ready event ($(document).ready() in jQuery). Or window.onload.
The difference between documen ready and window onload is that document ready will fire when the DOM has been rendered; so all initial DOM elements will be available. Where as window onload fires after all resources have loaded, like images. window onload is useful if you're doing things with those images. Usually document ready is the right one.
Maybe I misunderstand your question, but you should be able to do something like this:
<script type="text/javascript" src="fp_footer2.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
footerFunction(1_basic_web_page_with_links, 1bwpwl.html);
</script>
Have you tried calling it from a document.ready?
<script type="text/javascript">
$(document).ready(function() {
footerFunction(1_basic_web_page_with_links, 1bwpwl.html);
});
</script>

Reload? Javascript after Jquery .live/.load

I wanted to load some fragments of external content inside a div, through a menu.
Found "load" and "live", found a tutorial used it = success!
Except, like what's explicit in the documentation, it doesn't load JavaScript.
The thing is, the destination page already loads, inside the header, that same JavaScript, 'cause Wordpress loads it in every page. In this particular page, I'm only using the plugin (nextgen gallery) through the jQuery AJAX call.
So, what I believe is my problem is that I somehow need to alert/reload the JavaScript, right?
And how can I do this?
<script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8">
jQuery(document).ready(function(){
// ajax pagination
jQuery('#naveg a').live('click', function(){ // if not using wp-page-numbers, change this to correct ID
var link = jQuery(this).attr('href');
// #main is the ID of the outer div wrapping your posts
jQuery('#fora').html('<div class="loading"><h2>Loading...</h2></div>');
// #entries is the ID of the inner div wrapping your posts
jQuery('#fora').load(link+' #dentro')
return false;
});
}); // end ready function
</script>
PS: I've substituted "live" with "on" but didn't work either.
I'm not sure if I understand... your load() command is puling in some Javascript that you want executed? I'm not sure if you can do that. But if you just need to call some JS upon load() completion, you can pass it a function like so:
jQuery('#fora').load(link+' #dentro', function() {
console.log("load completed");
// JS code to be executed...
});
If you want to execute Javascript code included in the loaded page (the page you retrieve via .load()), than you have to use the url-parameter without the "suffixed selector expression". See jQuery documentation for (.load()):
Note: When calling .load() using a URL without a suffixed selector expression, the content is passed to .html() prior to scripts being
removed. This executes the script blocks before they are discarded. If
.load() is however called with a selector expression appended to the
URL, the scripts are stripped out prior to the DOM being updated,
which is why they are never executed. An example of both cases can be
seen below:
Here, any JavaScript loaded into #a as a part of the document will
successfully execute.
$('#a').load('article.html');
However in this case, script blocks in the document being loaded into
#b are stripped out prior to being executed:
$('#b').load('article.html #target');
I think that's your problem (although I have no solution for you, sorry).
Proposal: Maybe you can load the whole page (including the Scripts) and remove (or hide) the parts you don't need?
Cheers.

AS3 navigateToURL(); javascript function not firing when using jQuery

I have a problem I cannot seem to solve. I am using AS3's navigateToURL(); function to call a simple javascript function. At the moment it just alerts the first parameter. The problem is, when this function is placed inside of the $(document).ready(function(){..}) block it does not fire. Example of my code:
<script type="text/javascript">
$(document).ready(function(){
function mapLink(aVar){
alert(aVar);
};
});
</script>
Example of simple AS3 call to function:
navigateToURL(new URLRequest('Javascript: mapLink("'+mapObject.tooltipMoreLink+'");'), '_self');
When the function is placed OUTSIDE of the jquery code, it works fine. Why does it need to be inside of the jquery code you may be asking? I need the jQuery DOM selectors to manipulate certain dom elements based on the value of 'aVar' in my javascript function.
Any guidance is welcomed with an open mind.
eh. this is what the ExternalInterface class was designed for.
You issue has to do with scope. Your function is scoped to the jquery object, and not globally, so it is invisible to your call. If you need jquery selectors, then you could easily set the flash var independently, followed by the jquery routine.
update
maybe I'm missing something, but shouldn't this be as be easy as:
function externalCall(param){
$(domElement).doSomething(param);
}
?
I wouldn't think this need be tied to the jq ready function. I mean, if flash has already loaded, and the user is interacting, then certainly the ready event has long since fired successfully.
Hope that helps. I'm not sure I'm following exactly what you're trying to do ;)
...
btw - I really would look into ExternalInterface, NavToURL may work, but you can call your js directly with the former method.
It won't work because you have created a function inside the DOMReady Event
that is $(document).ready and calling it from outside the scope of the function.
You can access jQuery DOM Selectors from anywhere provided you have referenced jQuery.js in your page.
Example
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.6/jquery.min.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
function mapLink(aVar){
alert(aVar);
}
</script>

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