Angular ui router controlleras syntax not working - angularjs

Question

I an trying to develop an angular app using ui router, however I am stuck trying to get the controllerAs syntax working correctly.
my stateProvider looks like this
$stateProvider
.state('microsite', {
url: "/",
templateUrl: "microsite.tmpl.html",
abstract: true
})
.state('microsite.home', {
url: "",
templateUrl: "home.tmpl.html",
controller: 'MicrositeController as vm',
data: {
page_name: 'Introduction'
}
})
.state('microsite.features', {
url: "/features",
templateUrl: "features.tmpl.html",
controller: 'MicrositeController as vm',
data: {
page_name: 'Features'
}
})
.state('microsite.about', {
url: "/about",
templateUrl: "about.tmpl.html",
controller: 'MicrositeController as vm',
data: {
page_name: 'About'
}
});
As you can see I setup an abstract default view, and three pages.
I have also assigned a data object with a page_name for each page. This feeds into my controller
myapp.controller('MicrositeController', ['$state', function($state) {
var vm = this;
vm.page_name = $state.current.data.page_name;
vm.sidenav_locked_open = false;
vm.toggleSideNav = function() {
if ($mdMedia('gt-sm')) {
vm.sidenav_locked_open = !vm.sidenav_locked_open;
} else {
$mdSidenav('left').toggle();
}
}
}]);
and then delivers the name to the page via the vm.page_name variable.
However this is not happening. The variable never makes it to the page.
Also I have a vm.toggleSideNav function that is suppose to open and close the sidenav, but that never gets called.
the toolbar with the sidenav button is this
<md-toolbar layout="row" class="md-whiteframe-glow-z1 site-content-toolbar">
<div class="md-toolbar-tools docs-toolbar-tools" tabIndex="-1">
<md-button class="md-icon-button" ng-click="vm.toggleSideNav()" aria-label="Toggle Menu">
XXX
</md-button>
<h1>{{vm.page_name}}</h1>
</div>
</md-toolbar>
here is a plnkr example http://plnkr.co/edit/Na5zkF?p=preview
I am looking for someone to help me figure out the last piece on how to get the toggleSideNav function to get called when I click on the xxx button, and how to get the title to display in the toolbar.

Answer 1

From the Docs:
controller
(optional)
string
function
Controller fn that should be associated with newly related scope or the name of a registered controller if passed as a string. Optionally, the ControllerAs may be declared here.
controller: "MyRegisteredController"
controller:
"MyRegisteredController as fooCtrl"
controller: function($scope, MyService) {
$scope.data = MyService.getData(); }
— UI Router $stateProvider API Reference.
According to the Docs, your controller declaration is correct.
controller: 'MicrositeController as vm'
You need to look for your problem elsewhere.
UPDATE
Put the controller in the root state:
$stateProvider
.state('microsite', {
url: "/",
templateUrl: "microsite.tmpl.html",
//IMPORTANT == Put controller on root state
controller: 'MicrositeController as vm',
abstract: true
})
.state('microsite.home', {
url: "",
templateUrl: "home.tmpl.html",
̶c̶o̶n̶t̶r̶o̶l̶l̶e̶r̶:̶ ̶'̶M̶i̶c̶r̶o̶s̶i̶t̶e̶C̶o̶n̶t̶r̶o̶l̶l̶e̶r̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶v̶m̶'̶,̶
data: {
page_name: 'Introduction'
}
})
.state('microsite.features', {
url: "/features",
templateUrl: "features.tmpl.html",
̶c̶o̶n̶t̶r̶o̶l̶l̶e̶r̶:̶ ̶'̶M̶i̶c̶r̶o̶s̶i̶t̶e̶C̶o̶n̶t̶r̶o̶l̶l̶e̶r̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶v̶m̶'̶,̶
data: {
page_name: 'Features'
}
})
.state('microsite.about', {
url: "/about",
templateUrl: "about.tmpl.html",
̶c̶o̶n̶t̶r̶o̶l̶l̶e̶r̶:̶ ̶'̶M̶i̶c̶r̶o̶s̶i̶t̶e̶C̶o̶n̶t̶r̶o̶l̶l̶e̶r̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶v̶m̶'̶,̶
data: {
page_name: 'About'
}
});
})
The DEMO on PLNKR

Answer 2

Try adding the option controllerAs: 'vm' to the state params instead defining the controller as in the controller option.

Answer 3

Try adding the option controllerAs: 'vm' to the state params instead defining the controller as in the controller option.
or, if I'm not mistaken, you can add
myapp.controller('MicrositeController as vm' ...