Develop Reference

Javascript: The value of the property is null or undefined, not a Function object

Okay, Stumped. I just use code to show possibilities to customers (am self-employed).
Trying to show get-selected-text-from-IE11-Browser. Don't need cross-Browser and expert stuff just yet (if customer goes ahead).
Have tried to write a javascript function to get the selected text from the browser. This has worked fine when called direct (put function into Console via F12 facility) and this returns the selection. But when calling from Context Menu HTM script it fails with the mentioned error. The code to get the selected text comes from another context menu script that works fine when all the code is in the one HTM script (cmGoogleMapSelection_1.htm). I was just trying to be a little more efficient with reuse and learn a little more myself. I will return to in-line code if I can't resolve the issue (with help from your marvellous selves).
Keep getting the following error reported in the HTM script :
The value of the property 'myGetSelectedText' is null or undefined, not a Function object.
Have read a number of posts and tried to ensure that I have covered their suggestions. Still stumped, any help appreciated.
The code, first the 'function', then the 'script'; both script file and function file are in the same local file folder (please excuse the Debug code - gulp):
fn_myGetSelectedText.js:
function myGetSelectedText(pDefault) {
var zDbug = 1;
var zDbugMsg = "Debug: ";
var zSelection = "";
if (zDbug) {alert(zDbugMsg + "Starting Function 'myGetSelectedText' from fn_myGetSelectedText.js");}
zSelection = "" + window.getSelection().toString();
if (zDbug) {alert(zDbugMsg + " Selection= '" + zSelection + "'");}
if (zSelection == "") {
zSelection = pDefault;
alert(zDbugMsg + "Null selection, using: " + zDefault + " !");
}
return zSelection;
}//EndOf: Function -----
cmGoogleMapSelection_2.htm:
<!-- saved from url=(0016)http://localhost -->
<script type="text/javascript" src="fn_myGetSelectedText.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
//- zDbug: 0 = false = no messages; 1 = true = show messages -----
var zDbug = 1;
var zDbugMsg = "Debug: ";
if (zDbug) {alert(zDbugMsg + "Starting cmGoogleMap_Selection2.htm V14");}
//- Google Maps stem URL & default location -----
var zMaps = "http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&q=";
var zDefault = "+London";
var zSelection = myGetSelectedText(zDefault); //- Error occurs here <<<<<<<<<<<
if (zDbug) {alert(zDbugMsg + " Selection= '" + zSelection + "'");}
//- Build Maps URL -----
var zGo = zMaps + zSelection;
//- Open new Maps window -----
if (zDbug) {alert(zDbugMsg + "Issuing Window.Open on URL: " + zGo);}
window.open(zGo, "_blank");
//- Close this window -----
window.close()
</script>
<!-- Just to put something into the main code window so I know which one it is -->
<style>
p {font-family: "Lucida Console"; color: Red; font-size: 16pt;}
</style>
<p> >>-- Map Selected Text Function --<< <br>
>>-- . . 'myGetSelectedText' . . --<< </p>
I am hoping like heck that I haven't missed a bracket somewhere - embarrassing!
Other stuff: Windows 10 Pro (fully updated); 64 bit IE11; just javascript; Compatibility View OFF; Registry Keys/Values pointing where they should (cloned from working version).

While browser downloads fn_myGetSelectedText.js file from the internet, it does not stop parsing other code in your HTML. There's concurrent downloading of assets going on while browser parses the DOM.
when browser reaches this line var zSelection = myGetSelectedText(); it does not see myGetSelectedText defined on the window object at that moment thus throws out error.
What you want to do is wrap your script/code in your HTML into DOMContentLoaded event and call it once page load completes.
<script>
document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {
console.log("DOM fully loaded and parsed");
});
</script>
reference: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Events/DOMContentLoaded

My guess would be that in your called function, pDefault is undefined, because you aren't passing a variable when you do the call.
So, this line: var zSelection = myGetSelectedText();
Should become: var zSelection = myGetSelectedText(zDefault);
HTH,
Jim

javascript runtime error 0x800a1391

I'm learning a bit HMTL5 to prepare to the 70-480 exam. I'm trying to do some javascript code. It looks something like this:
function inchestometers(inches) {
if (inches < 0)
return -1;
else {
var meters = inches / 39.37;
return meters;
}
}
var inches = 12;
var meters = inchestometers(inches);
document.write("the value in meters is " + meters);
var hello = document.getElementById("hello");
hello.firstChild.nodeValue = "Hello World";
and I have such html code:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>
<title>Htnl 5 test</title>
<script src="script/test.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
<p id="hello">Hello</p>
</body>
</html>
In my VS 2012 i have used the Asp.net Empty Web application project and added the Js file and also the html file. The problem is that The function runs properly without any exeptions. This function is taken from here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cte3c772(v=vs.94).aspx
But whem I'm trying to run the code where I'm getting the document element it' crashint with the error like in the subject. What I've investigated is that the hello gets the null value. I've also tried the code thaken from here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/yfc4b32c(v=vs.94).aspx - the example with the div. I have the same effect.
What is wrong? I know that there were simmilar subjects but I can't seem to find one matching to mine. Thank you kindly for your help.
Regards
Rafal

you are getting a problem because your javascript code is running before the element
<p id="hello">
is defined.
the simplest solution is to include your script at the end of the body section instead of in the head section but this would cause the document.write call to occur after the rest of the content.
another solution would be to place the code inside two functions like this
function do_conversion() {
var inches = 12;
var meters = inchestometers(inches);
document.write("the value in meters is " + meters);
}
function say_hello() {
var hello = document.getElementById("hello");
hello.firstChild.nodeValue = "Hello World";
}
then change the body section like this
<body onload='say_hello()'>
<script>
do_conversion();
</script>
<p id="hello">Hello</p>
</body>

JavaScript to call a VBA routine with parameters

I need to pass arguments to a Excel VBA code from JavaScript of HTA.
I can successfully call VBA function, but unable to pass string arguments correctly.
JavaScript function can pass different string arguments.
Below is code in simple and demo form.
Excel-VBA code
Sub subTest(strName As String)
MsgBox strName
End Sub
HTA code with Javascript
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>HTA</title>
<hta:application
id="oHta"
applicationname="htaNavi"
border="1"
borderstyle = normal
contextmenu = "yes"
caption="Navigator"
sysmenu="yes"
WINDOWSTATE="maximize"
>
</head>
<body>
<input type="button" value="testing" onclick="funRun('testng string')" />
<input type="button" value="testing second" onclick="funRun('testng')" />
</body>
<script>
var objExl;
var objWb;
var objExl =new ActiveXObject("Excel.Application");
objExl.Visible = true;
var objWb = objExl.Workbooks;
var strpath = '\path\testing_excel_web.xls';
objWb.Open(strpath);
function funRun(strName)
{
alert(strName);
objWb.Application.Run('testing_excel_web.xls!subTest(strName)');
}
</script>
</html>
I can call subTest, but message box populates strName as string but not 'testing string' as text.

I'm thinking you want:
objWb.Application.Run('testing_excel_web.xls!subTest("' + strName + '")');
This way, the value of the variable strName is concatenated to the command you are attempting to run.
I know nothing about this calling of a VBA function, so I'm not sure if you need the " around the strName like I provided or not.
In addition, to be safe, in case your strName value contains ", you should use this:
objWb.Application.Run('testing_excel_web.xls!subTest("' + strName.replace(/"/g, "\"") + '")');
Hopefully with this, the value of strName could be
The word "testing" here
or
"Here's a quote"
and it will still work.
The point is that if the string contains ", the Javascript would/could fail. If it would absolutely never contain ", then forget about it. But I think it's needed since any " in the value of strName will break the passing of it as a parameter.

function write(message) not working

I'm doing the PluralSight JavaScript Fundamentals course and he enters this code into the JavaScript window of jsbin (jsbin.com)
function write(message) {
document.getElementById('message').innerHTML += message + '<br/>';
}
var streetNumber = 49;
var streetName = "Brunswick";
write(typeof streetNumber + " " + streetNumber);
write(typeof streetName + " " + streetName);
and when he Previews it writes out the types and values. The video is a year old and now jsbin has a Render (not Preview) button. When I enter the above code and Render I get a blank screen.
I tried pasting the code into an .html file
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<!--<meta charset=utf-8 />-->
<title>JS Test</title>
</head>
<body>
<p id="hello">Hello World</p>
<script>
function write(message) {
document.getElementById('message').innerHTML += message + '<br/>';
}
var streetNumber = 49;
var streetName = "Brunswick"';
write(typeof streetNumber + " " + streetNumber);
write(typeof streetName + " " + streetName);
</script>
</body>
</html>
and then opened the file in IE9, and the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Opera (my OS is Win7 Ult). They all display Hello World and nothing else. I'm probably missing something really simple here, can someone help me out?

You don't have a message element. Change the #hello element to #message.
<p id="hello">Hello World</p>
To this
<p id="message">Hello World</p>
This is what is needed for the getElementById code to have a place to print your output. Without an element having the requested ID, nothing will turn up, and hence nothing will be printed.
You have a syntax error as well:
/* v----- This little guy here doesn't belong. */
var streetName = "Brunswick"';
Note the umatched single quote at the end of this string. Remove that and you should be good to go:

using a string as the for loop expressions and condition

The following loop works:
<html>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
var i=0;
for (i=0;i<=5;i++)
{
document.write("The number is " + i);
document.write("<br />");
}
</script>
</body>
</html>
But the following doesn't:
<html>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
var i=0;
var x="i=0;i<=5;i++"
for (x)
{
document.write("The number is " + i);
document.write("<br />");
}
</script>
</body>
</html>
I'd just like to create a simple variable.
Please bear with me as I'm a newbie in JavaScript and let me know what I'm missing.
Let me provide my sample Google gadget:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
<Module>
<ModulePrefs title="Sample Gadget" />
<UserPref name="order"
display_name="Results Order"
default_value="i = 0; i <= 5; i++" datatype="enum">
<EnumValue value="i = 0; i <= 5; i++" display_value="Ascending"/>
<EnumValue value="i = 5; i >= 0; i--" display_value="Descending"/>
</UserPref>
<Content type="html"><![CDATA[
<script type="text/javascript">
var i=0;
for (__UP_order__)
{
document.write("The number is " + i);
document.write("<br />");
}
</script>
]]></Content>
</Module>
It doesn't work because of the tags <> (they're not supported), and that's why I tried to define a variable for the EnumValue value.

When you say var x="i=0;i<=5;i++" you are creating a text string. This is not interpreted by JavaScript as you are expecting.
There is a definite difference between statements and text strings. Even though it looks to the eye like the same thing, it looks to the interpreter like a text string, like "hello" or "sdflkjsdflkjsdflj". JavaScript is not expecting a text string as loop parameters, it is expecting the three loop control parameters/statements. If you want to have a loop which starts and ends at different points, do something like this...
var i=0;
var start=0; //you can change the start position by changing this
var end=5; //and you can change the end also
for (i=start;i<=end;i++)
{
document.write("The number is " + i);
document.write("<br />");
}

In short: You're confusing code with data. "i=0;i<=5;i++" is data (a piece of text, a string). But when writing a for-loop you have to write initialization, condition and step as code - you cannot pass text that happens to look like the code you'd write there. (In fact, you don't want to - what should happen when the data isn't like valid code? Not to mention it's not needed - see El Ronnoco's)

Because x is a string and you cannot use for statement with a string inside.
If you need to change the upper bound of a for statement you can use a variable instead the fix number 5.