$scope.$watch not detecting changes in directive in same module - angularjs

I'm implementing a watch in the controller, when user toggles a button. I have a watch inside the directive and that is working, e.g. it detects that the scope variable has changes but if I have a watch inside the controller it does not detects
<button toggle-button active-text="Yes" inactive-text="No" ng-model="light.state">Show millions</button><br>
here is the code:
'use strict';
angular.module('fiveYearOverview', ['fiveYearOverviewServices', 'fiveYearOverviewDirectives'])
.controller('fiveYearCtrl', [
'$scope', 'reports',
function ($scope, reports) {
//not working
$scope.$watch('lightState', function (newValue, oldValue) {
if (newValue)
console.log("I see a data change!");
}, true);
}
])
.directive('toggleButton', function () {
return {
require: 'ngModel',
scope: {
activeText: '#activeText',
inactiveText: '#inactiveText',
lightState: '=ngModel'
},
replace: true,
transclude: true,
template: '<div>' +
'<span ng-transclude></span> ' +
'<button class="btn" ng-class="{\'btn-primary\': state.value}" ng-click="state.toggle()">{{activeText}}</button>' +
'<button class="btn" ng-class="{\'btn-primary\': !state.value}" ng-click="state.toggle()">{{inactiveText}}</button>' +
'</div>',
link: function postLink(scope) {
scope.lightState = scope.inactiveText;
scope.state = {
value: false,
toggle: function () {
this.value = !this.value;
scope.lightState = this.value ? scope.activeText : scope.inactiveText;
console.log(scope.lightState);
//working
scope.$watch('lightState', function (newValue, oldValue) {
if (newValue)
console.log("I see a data change!");
}, true);
}
};
}
}
});
What is that i'm doing wrong ?

By defining a scope in the directive you are creating an isolated scope for it. Thats why you cant access its members from the controller.

lightState is being declared in a scope below that of fiveYearCtrl making it inaccessible as outlined here.
An alternative solution could be to define the callback function in fiveYearCtrl and call it from the directive.
.controller('fiveYearCtrl', [
'$scope', 'reports',
function ($scope, reports) {
this.consoleLog = function (newValue, oldValue) {
if (angular.isDefined(newValue))
console.log("I see a data change!");
};
}
])
link: function postLink(scope, element, attrs, ctrl)
{
scope.lightState = scope.inactiveText;
scope.state = {
value: false,
toggle: function () {
this.value = !this.value;
scope.lightState = this.value ? scope.activeText : scope.inactiveText;
console.log(scope.lightState);
//working
scope.$watch('lightState', ctrl.consoleLog, true);
}
};
}

Related

How to make my own ng-change and ng-model in a directive?

I am trying to implement a directive with its own model and change attribute (as an overlay for ng-model and ng-change). It works apparently fine but when the function of the father scope is executed and some variable of the scope is modified in it, it is delayed, the current change is not seen if not the one executed in the previous step.
I have tried adding timeouts, $apply, $digest ... but I can not get it synchronized
angular.module('plunker', []);
//Parent controller
function MainCtrl($scope) {
$scope.directiveValue = true;
$scope.textValue = "init";
$scope.myFunction =
function(){
if($scope.directiveValue === true){
$scope.textValue = "AAAA";
}else{
$scope.textValue = "BBBB";
}
}
}
//Directive
angular.module('plunker').directive('myDirective', function(){
return {
restrict: 'E',
replace: true,
scope: {
myModel: '=model',
myChange: '&change'
},
template: '<span>Check<input ng-model="myModel" ng-change="myChange()"
type="checkbox"/></span>',
controller: function($scope) {
},
link: function(scope, elem, attr) {
var myChangeAux = scope.myChange;
scope.myChange = function () {
setTimeout(function() {
myChangeAux();
}, 0);
};
}
});
// Html
<body ng-controller="MainCtrl">
<my-directive model="directiveValue" change="myFunction()"></my-directive>
<div>Valor model: {{directiveValue}}</div>
<div>Valor texto: {{textValue}}</div>
</body>
The correct result would be that the "myFunction" function runs correctly
Example: https://plnkr.co/edit/q3IqRCIhwLChlGrkDxyO?p=preview
You should use AngularJS' $timeout which is a wrapper for the browser default setTimeout and internally calls setTimeout as well as $digest, all at the right time in the execution.
Your directive code should change as such:
angular.module('plunker').directive('myDirective', function($timeout){
return {
restrict: 'E',
replace: true,
scope: {
myModel: '=model',
myChange: '&change'
},
template: '<span>Check<input ng-model="myModel" ng-change="myChange()" type="checkbox"/></span>',
controller: function($scope) {
},
link: function(scope, elem, attr) {
var myChangeAux = scope.myChange;
scope.myChange = function () {
$timeout(myChangeAux, 0);
};
}
};
});
Docs for AngularJS $timeout

Calling parent directive scope function from child directive which triggers parent watcher

I have 2 directives: calculatorForm and calculatorAttribute. CalculatorForm is the parent directive, specifically a form which contains input tags which are calculatorAttribute directives.
I want the calculatorAttribute call calculatorForm function that changes a scope variable and trigger a watcher.
Here's my code:
angular
.module('calculator')
.directive('calculatorForm', ['CalculatorDataModel', 'CalculatorPriceModel',
function(CalculatorDataModel, CalculatorPriceModel) {
return {
restrict : 'A',
replace : true,
templateUrl : function(element, attrs) {
return attrs.templateUrl;
},
link : function(scope, element, attrs) {
scope.model = CalculatorDataModel;
scope.price = CalculatorPriceModel;
scope.model.initialize(calculator_data);
scope.updateSelectedSpecs = function(attribute_id, prod_attr_val_id) {
var selected_specs = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(scope.model.selected_specs));
selected_specs[attribute_id] = prod_attr_val_id;
scope.model.selected_specs = selected_specs;
}
scope.$watch('model.selected_specs', function(selected_specs, previous_selected_specs) {
if (selected_specs != previous_selected_specs) {
scope.model.setCalculatorData();
scope.price.computePrice();
}
});
}
}
}
])
.directive('calculatorAttribute', [
function() {
return {
restrict : 'A',
template : "<input type='radio' name='attr{{attribute_id}}' ng-value='prod_attr_val_id'/>",
replace : true,
link : function(scope, element, attrs) {
scope.attribute_id = attrs.attributeId;
scope.prod_attr_val_id = attrs.prodAttrValId;
element.on('click', function() {
scope.$parent.updateSelectedSpecs(scope.attribute_id, scope.prod_attr_val_id);
});
}
}
}
]);
My problem is updateSelectedSpecs in the parent is called but watcher has never been triggered when I use element.on click in the child directive.
Please help everyone Thank you!!!
Okay, after wrestling with this for a bit, I managed to produce a working version of a slimmed-down example:
angular.module('myApp', [])
.directive('calculatorForm', function() {
return {
restrict: 'A',
replace: true,
transclude: true,
template: '<div ng-transclude></div>',
link: function(scope, element, attrs) {
scope.model = {};
scope.price = {};
scope.updateSelectedSpecs = function(attribute_id, prod_attr_val_id) {
scope.$apply(function() {
console.log('update selected specs');
var selected_specs = {};
selected_specs[attribute_id] = prod_attr_val_id;
scope.model.selected_specs = selected_specs;
});
}
scope.$watch('model.selected_specs', function(selected_specs, previous_selected_specs) {
console.log('new selected specs', selected_specs, previous_selected_specs);
if (selected_specs != previous_selected_specs) {
console.log("and they're different");
}
});
}
};
})
.directive('calculatorAttribute', function() {
return {
restrict: 'A',
template: "<input type='radio' name='attr{{attribute_id}}' ng-value='prod_attr_val_id'/>",
replace: true,
link: function(scope, element, attrs) {
scope.attribute_id = attrs.attributeId;
scope.prod_attr_val_id = attrs.prodAttrValId;
element.on('click', function() {
scope.$parent.updateSelectedSpecs(scope.attribute_id, scope.prod_attr_val_id);
});
}
}
});
<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/angularjs/1.4.8/angular.min.js"></script>
<form calculator-form ng-app="myApp">
<input calculator-attribute attribute-id=1 prod-attr-val-id=1>
</form>
Just look at the console to see it getting into the $watch. The problem seemed to be the fact that you didn't trigger a $digest cycle in your updateSelectedSpecs function. Usually a $timeout, $http call, or ngClick or other event would start the $digest cycle for you, but in this case you have to start it yourself using scope.$apply().

Angularjs controller required by directive can not be found in transclude content

Recently I use angular to develop a directive, there is an directive which like ng-repeat to generate some records, I used transclude to implement it. but it raise an error that "Controller 'aArea', required by directive 'bSpan', can't be found!".
1. ModuleA code
var moduleA = angular.module("moduleA", []);
moduleA.directive("aArea", function () {
return {
restrict: 'E',
transclude:'element',
scope: {
amount:"="
},
template: '<div id=\"cc\" ng-transclude></div>',
controller: function ($scope,$element,$attrs) {
this.getData = function (data) {
return data + " is ok";
}
},
compile: function (tElement, attrs, linker) {
var parentElement = tElement.parent();
return {
pre: function () {
},
post: function (scope) {
linker(scope.$parent,function (clone,scope) {
parentElement.append(clone);
});
linker(scope.$parent, function (clone, scope) {
parentElement.append(clone);
});
linker(scope.$parent, function (clone, scope) {
parentElement.append(clone);
});
}
}
}
}
});
moduleA.directive("bSpan", function () {
return {
restrict: 'E',
scope: {
data: "=",
},
template: '<span style=\"background-color:gray;color:orange\">{{data}}</span>',
require: "^aArea",
link: function ($scope, $element, $attrs, controller) {
var data = "abc";
}
}
});
2. ModuleB COde
var moduleB = angular.module("moduleB", []);
moduleB.directive("myItem", function () {
return {
restrict: 'E',
scope: {
item: "=",
itemTemplate: '='
},
priority: 1000,
terminal:false,
template: '<ng-include src=\"itemTemplate\"/>',
controller: function ($scope, $element, $attrs) {
var data = "";
}
}
})
3. ModuleC Code
var moduleC = angular.module("moduleC", ["moduleA", "moduleB"]);
moduleC.controller("Ctr", function ($scope) {
$scope.item = {};
$scope.item.dataAmount = 1000;
$scope.item.templateUrl = "item-template.html";
})
4. Html Code
<body>
<div ng-app="moduleC">
<div ng-controller="Ctr">
<a-area>
<my-item item="item" item-template="item.templateUrl"></my-item>
</a-area>
</div>
</div>
</body>
5. template code
<div>
<span style="display:block">hello every one</span>
<b-span data="item.dataAmount"></b-span>
</div>
You should not use the transclude function (that you called linker) of the compile function - it is deprecated.
From $compile documentation:
Note: The transclude function that is passed to the compile function is deprecated, as it e.g. does not know about the right outer scope. Please use the transclude function that is passed to the link function instead.
Following this guidance (and a few other minor changes for the better), change the aArea directive as follows:
compile: function(tElement, tAttrs) {
// don't use the template element
//var parentElement = tElement.parent();
return function(scope, element, attrs, ctrls, transclude) {
transclude(function(clone, scope) {
element.after(clone);
});
transclude(function(clone, scope) {
element.after(clone);
});
transclude(function(clone, scope) {
element.after(clone);
});
};
}
In fact, you don't even need the transclude function at all and you don't need to do transclude: "element". You could just change to transclude: true and use <div ng-transclude> 3 times in the template.

Why using $watch on a directive attribute is not working?

I have directive that use another directive that is setting his property 'gridWidth', but I'm trying to watch that property changes and its not working at all. Can anyone explain what I'm doing wrong?
angular.module('myApp')
.directive('myGrid', function () {
'use strict';
return {
restrict: 'E',
replace: true,
scope: {
gridWidth: '='
},
controller: ['$scope', function(scope) {
scope.$watch('gridWidth', function (newValue, oldValue) {
console.log("width is changed");
}, true);
}],
template: '<div element-resize gridWidth="{{windowWidth}}"></div>'
};
});
The 'windowWidth' is changes fine and I can see it in HTML dom changes, but the $watch not working for some reason so I can't do anything when it is being updated. Here is the another directive updating the first one with width:
angular.module('myApp')
.directive('elementResize', function () {
'use strict';
return {
restrict: 'A',
controller: ['$scope', '$element', function($scope, $element) {
$scope.getElementDimensions = function () {
return { 'h': $element.height(), 'w': $element.width() };
};
$scope.$watch($scope.getElementDimensions, function (newValue, oldValue) {
$scope.windowHeight = newValue.h;
$scope.windowWidth = newValue.w;
}, true);
}]
};
});

How to expose a public API from a directive that is a reusable component?

Having a directive in angular that is a reusable component, what is the best practice to expose a public API that can be accessed from the controller?
So when there are multiple instances of the component you can have access from the controller
angular.directive('extLabel', function {
return {
scope: {
name: '#',
configObj: '='
},
link: function(scope, iElement, iAttrs) {
// this could be and exposed method
scope.changeLabel = function(newLabel) {
scope.configObj.label = newLabel;
}
}
}
});
Then when having:
<ext-label name="extlabel1" config-obj="label1"></ext-label>
<ext-label name="extlabel2" config-obj="label2"></ext-label>
<ext-label name="extlabel3" config-obj="label3"></ext-label>
How can I get the access the scope.changeLabel of extLabel2 in a controller?
Does it make sense?
Does this work for you?
angular.directive('extLabel', function() {
return {
restrict: 'E',
scope: {
api: '='
},
link: function(scope, iElement, iAttrs) {
scope.api = {
doSomething: function() { },
doMore: function() { }
};
}
};
});
From containing parent
<ext:label api="myCoolApi"></ext:label>
And in controller
$scope.myCoolApi.doSomething();
$scope.myCoolApi.doMore();
I like Andrej's and use this pattern regularly, but I would like to suggest some changes to it
angular.directive('extLabel', function {
return {
scope: {
api: '=?',
configObj: '='
},
// A controller, and not a link function. From my understanding,
// try to use the link function for things that require post link actions
// (for example DOM manipulation on the directive)
controller: ['$scope', function($scope) {
// Assign the api just once
$scope.api = {
changeLabel: changeLabel
};
function changeLabel = function(newLabel) {
$scope.configObj.label = newLabel;
}
}]
}
});
<ext-label name="extlabel1" config-obj="label1"></ext-label>
<ext-label api="label2api" name="extlabel2" config-obj="label2"></ext-label>
<ext-label name="extlabel3" config-obj="label3"></ext-label>
In controller of course label2api.changeLabel('label')
I faced this problem when writing a directive to instantiate a dygraph chart in my Angular applications. Although most of the work can be done by data-binding, some parts of the API require access to the dygraph object itself. I solved it by $emit()ing an event:
'use strict';
angular.module('dygraphs', []);
angular.module('dygraphs').directive('mrhDygraph', function ($parse, $q) {
return {
restrict: 'A',
replace: true,
scope: {data: '=', initialOptions: '#', options: '='},
link: function (scope, element, attrs) {
var dataArrived = $q.defer();
dataArrived.promise.then(function (graphData) {
scope.graph = new Dygraph(element[0], graphData, $parse(scope.initialOptions)(scope.$parent));
return graphData.length - 1;
}).then(function(lastPoint) {
scope.graph.setSelection(lastPoint);
scope.$emit('dygraphCreated', element[0].id, scope.graph);
});
var removeInitialDataWatch = scope.$watch('data', function (newValue, oldValue, scope) {
if ((newValue !== oldValue) && (newValue.length > 0)) {
dataArrived.resolve(newValue);
removeInitialDataWatch();
scope.$watch('data', function (newValue, oldValue, scope) {
if ((newValue !== oldValue) && (newValue.length > 0)) {
var selection = scope.graph.getSelection();
if (selection > 0) {
scope.graph.clearSelection(selection);
}
scope.graph.updateOptions({'file': newValue});
if ((selection >= 0) && (selection < newValue.length)) {
scope.graph.setSelection(selection);
}
}
}, true);
scope.$watch('options', function (newValue, oldValue, scope) {
if (newValue !== undefined) {
scope.graph.updateOptions(newValue);
}
}, true);
}
}, true);
}
};
});
The parameters of the dygraphCreated event include the element id as well as the dygraph object, allowing multiple dygraphs to be used within the same scope.
In my opinion, a parent shouldn't access a children scope. How would you know which one to use and which one to not use. A controller should access his own scope or his parent scopes only. It breaks the encapsulation otherwise.
If you want to change your label, all you really need to do is change the label1/label2/label3 variable value. With the data-binding enabled, it should work. Within your directive, you can $watch it if you need some logic everytime it changes.
angular.directive('extLabel', function {
return {
scope: {
name: '#',
configObj: '='
},
link: function(scope, iElement, iAttrs) {
scope.$watch("configObj", function() {
// Do whatever you need to do when it changes
});
}
}
});
Use these directives on the element that you want to go prev and next:
<carousel>
<slide>
<button class="action" carousel-next> Next </button>
<button class="action" carousel-prev> Back </button>
</slide>
</carousel>
.directive('carouselNext', function () {
return {
restrict: 'A',
scope: {},
require: ['^carousel'],
link: function (scope, element, attrs, controllers) {
var carousel = controllers[0];
function howIsNext() {
if ((carousel.indexOfSlide(carousel.currentSlide) + 1) === carousel.slides.length) {
return 0;
} else {
return carousel.indexOfSlide(carousel.currentSlide) + 1;
}
}
element.bind('click', function () {
carousel.select(carousel.slides[howIsNext()]);
});
}
};
})
.directive('carouselPrev', function () {
return {
restrict: 'A',
scope: {},
require: ['^carousel'],
link: function (scope, element, attrs, controllers) {
var carousel = controllers[0];
function howIsPrev() {
if (carousel.indexOfSlide(carousel.currentSlide) === 0) {
return carousel.slides.length;
} else {
return carousel.indexOfSlide(carousel.currentSlide) - 1;
}
}
element.bind('click', function () {
carousel.select(carousel.slides[howIsPrev()]);
});
}
};
})

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