Angular directive open date picker - angularjs

Question

I have an Angular directive that includes a form with a datepicker. I am trying to create a function to keep the button click from calling submit on the form. I can not determine where to find the .opened attribute. When I was performing the open with ng-click everything worked. Below is sample code.
HTML:
<form ng-submit="editAlert.$valid && vm.handleSubmit()" name="editAlert" id="editAlert" class="buffer-bottom" novalidate>
<div class="form-group">
<label class="control-label" for="effectiveDate">Effective Date</label>
<div class="input-group">
<input type="text" class="form-control" uib-datepicker-popup="MM-dd-yyyy" is-open="dpEffectiveDate.opened" ng-model="alertMsg.effectiveDateFmt" name="effectiveDate" id="effectiveDate">
<span class="input-group-btn">
<button class="btn btn-default" ng-click="vm.openDateHandler($event)"><i class="fa fa-calendar"></i></button>
</span>
</div>
<p class="help-block" ng-show="editAlert.effectiveDate.$error.endBeforeStart">Effective date must be before expire date.</p>
</div>
</form>
I also tried passing dpEffectiveDate into the openDateHandler function.
Below is my Typescript function
openDateHandler = ($event) => {
$event.preventDefault();
//dpDate.opened = !dpDate.opened;
}
How do I access the .opened attribute?

Answer 1

If all you are trying to do is prevent the submit behaviour, simply add 'type="button"' to your button element.
<button type="button" class="btn btn-default" ng-click="vm.openDateHandler($event)">
By default, a button inside a form will act as a submit button unless it's given a different type.
You shouldnt need to mess with the opened state of a date picker to prevent a form submitting.