AngularJS $watch controller variable from a directive with scope - angularjs

From the directive, I want to track changes to a controller variable using $watch.
I have created this jsfiddle. (https://jsfiddle.net/hqz1seqw/7/)
When the page loads, the controller and both directives $watch function gets called but when I change the radio buttons, only the controllers and dir-two $watch function gets called. Why isnt dir-ones $watch function being called?
I want both the directives $watch to fire however, I can only get one of them to (i.e. dir-two). Not sure what I need to change. Does it have something to do with isolated scope? Is there a better way of doing this?
AngularJS Code:
var mod = angular.module("myApp", []);
//Controller
mod.controller("myCtrl", function($scope){
$scope.tempformat = "C";
$scope.one="25 - dir-one";
$scope.$watch('tempformat', function(nv){
alert("nv from controller");
});
$scope.two="35 - dir-two";
});
//dir-one directive
mod.directive("dirOne", function(){
return{
restrict: 'E',
template: "<p>{{info}}</p>",
scope: {info: '='
},
link: function (scope, element, attr) {
scope.$watch('tempformat', function(nv){
alert("nv from directive-one");
if(scope.tempformat === "C"){
element.find("p").append("C");
}
else if(scope.tempformat === "F"){
element.find("p").append("F");
}
});
}
}});
//dir-two directive
mod.directive("dirTwo", function($window){
return{
restrict: "EA",
template: "<p></p>",
link: function (scope, element, attr) {
scope.$watch('tempformat', function(nv){
alert("nv from directive-two");
if(scope.tempformat === "C"){
element.find("p").append("C");
}
else if(scope.tempformat === "F"){
element.find("p").append("F");
}
});
}
}
});
HTML Code:
<div ng-app="myApp" ng-controller="myCtrl">
<h2>Temperature</h2>
<input type="radio" ng-model="tempformat" value="C"/> Celcius
<input type="radio" ng-model="tempformat" value="F"/> Farenheit
<dir-one info="one"></dir-one>
<dir-two info="two"></dir-two>
</div>

Does it have something to do with isolated scope?
The problem is the fact that dir-one separates its scope from the parent. There are some alternatives that can be done in this situation such as:
scope.$watch('$parent.tempformat', function(nv){ //...
which will look to the parent for the specified content.
Another alternative is to bind to the directive itself:
scope: {
info: '=',
tempformat: '='
},
and then in the html:
<dir-one info="one" tempformat="tempformat"></dir-one>
see: the documentation for more information. Particularly the Isolating the Scope of a Directive area.
Is there a better way of doing this?
In general isolate scopes help construct reusable components (as noted in the documentation) so if this is something that is being attempted (from the content noted in the answer) then I would support something along the lines of the second option where you can specify that watch content on the directive itself and consider that the "better" way of doing this.
From my experience, and this is solely my own preference, I would bind it to the directive since I usually isolate my scope(s) for a reason.

Related

pass data from controller to directive's link?

In my controller :
myApp.controller('homeCtrl', function($scope, $rootScope, $state, 'red';
$rootScope.$on('new_story', function(event, data) {
$scope.cardObj = {key:'value'};
});
});
In my HTML :
<div clickmeee ></div>
<div id="feedContainer" card='{{cardObj}}'> </div>
In my directive :
myApp.directive('clickmeee', function($compile, $rootScope) {
return {
restrict: 'A',
scope: {
card: '#'
},
link: function(scope, element, attrs) {
element.bind('click', function() {   
scope.$watch('card', function(newVal, oldVal) {
alert(scope.card);
});       
});
}
};
});
How do I pass data from controller to this directive. I compile some html and prepend it to the div. All of that is sorted out but I need some data from object I am trying to pass.
Any help??
There are several problems in your code:
you define a scope attribute named 'card', but you use cardObj instead
you use a watch that is completely unnecessary. And worse: you create a new watch every time the element is clicked
you don't define any card attribute on your clickmeee element. Instead, you're placing it on another element, on which the directive is not applied
you're passing the attribute with '#'. That works, but the directive will receive a string, containing the JSONified object, rather than the object itself
you're not showming us where you emit an event that will initialize cardObj in the controller scope
Here is a plunkr showing a working version of your code.
Also, note that using bind('click') is a bad idea. You'd better have a template in your directive and use ng-click in the template, or simply not use a directive at all and just use ng-click directly on the div element.
Bad news. You are doing it wrong all the ways.
Firstly
card='{{cardObj}}' >
this one should be put in the
<div clickmeee ></div>
So you can take it as binded scope variable in your directive registration
Secondly
If you managed to use '#' syntax
card: '#'
it will turn your input to string, not a binded scope. Use '=' instead.
In the end
You dont need to use watch here:
scope.$watch('card', function(newVal, oldVal) {
alert(newVal);
});
since scope.card is binded via '=' connector. Just simple use alert(scope.card). (Need to warn you that alert an object is not a good idea)
I have tried your code here: plunker. Changed a litte bit by using cardObj as string for easier presentation. Does it match your work?
You should watch the card object:
myApp.directive('clickmeee', function() {
return {
restrict: 'A',
scope: {
card: '#'
},
link: function(scope, element, attrs) {
scope.$watch('card', function(value) {
console.log(value);
});
}
};
});
And:
<div clickmeee id="feedContainer" card='{{cardObj}}'> </div>
Whenever the controller changes the cardObj, the directive's watch on card is triggered:
$scope.$apply(function() {
$scope.cardObj = "test";
}

ngChange fires before value makes it out of isolate scope

//main controller
angular.module('myApp')
.controller('mainCtrl', function ($scope){
$scope.loadResults = function (){
console.log($scope.searchFilter);
};
});
// directive
angular.module('myApp')
.directive('customSearch', function () {
return {
scope: {
searchModel: '=ngModel',
searchChange: '&ngChange',
},
require: 'ngModel',
template: '<input type="text" ng-model="searchModel" ng-change="searchChange()"/>',
restrict: 'E'
};
});
// html
<custom-search ng-model="searchFilter" ng-change="loadResults()"></custom-search>
Here is a simplified directive to illustrate. When I type into the input, I expect the console.log in loadResults to log out exactly what I have already typed. It actually logs one character behind because loadResults is running just before the searchFilter var in the main controller is receiving the new value from the directive. Logging inside the directive however, everything works as expected. Why is this happening?
My Solution
After getting an understanding of what was happening with ngChange in my simple example, I realized my actual problem was complicated a bit more by the fact that the ngModel I am actually passing in is an object, whose properties i am changing, and also that I am using form validation with this directive as one of the inputs. I found that using $timeout and $eval inside the directive solved all of my problems:
//main controller
angular.module('myApp')
.controller('mainCtrl', function ($scope){
$scope.loadResults = function (){
console.log($scope.searchFilter);
};
});
// directive
angular.module('myApp')
.directive('customSearch', function ($timeout) {
return {
scope: {
searchModel: '=ngModel'
},
require: 'ngModel',
template: '<input type="text" ng-model="searchModel.subProp" ng-change="valueChange()"/>',
restrict: 'E',
link: function ($scope, $element, $attrs, ngModel)
{
$scope.valueChange = function()
{
$timeout(function()
{
if ($attrs.ngChange) $scope.$parent.$eval($attrs.ngChange);
}, 0);
};
}
};
});
// html
<custom-search ng-model="searchFilter" ng-change="loadResults()"></custom-search>
The reason for the behavior, as rightly pointed out in another answer, is because the two-way binding hasn't had a chance to change the outer searchFilter by the time searchChange(), and consequently, loadResults() was invoked.
The solution, however, is very hacky for two reasons.
One, the caller (the user of the directive), should not need to know about these workarounds with $timeout. If nothing else, the $timeout should have been done in the directive rather than in the View controller.
And two - a mistake also made by the OP - is that using ng-model comes with other "expectations" by users of such directives. Having ng-model means that other directives, like validators, parsers, formatters and view-change-listeners (like ng-change) could be used alongside it. To support it properly, one needs to require: "ngModel", rather than bind to its expression via scope: {}. Otherwise, things would not work as expected.
Here's how it's done - for another example, see the official documentation for creating a custom input control.
scope: true, // could also be {}, but I would avoid scope: false here
template: '<input ng-model="innerModel" ng-change="onChange()">',
require: "ngModel",
link: function(scope, element, attrs, ctrls){
var ngModel = ctrls; // ngModelController
// from model -> view
ngModel.$render = function(){
scope.innerModel = ngModel.$viewValue;
}
// from view -> model
scope.onChange = function(){
ngModel.$setViewValue(scope.innerModel);
}
}
Then, ng-change just automatically works, and so do other directives that support ngModel, like ng-required.
You answered your own question in the title! '=' is watched while '&' is not
Somewhere outside angular:
input view value changes
next digest cycle:
ng-model value changes and fires ng-change()
ng-change adds a $viewChangeListener and is called this same cycle.
See:
ngModel.js#L714 and ngChange.js implementation.
At that time $scope.searchFilter hasn't been updated. Console.log's old value
next digest cycle:
searchFilter is updated by data binding.
UPDATE: Only as a POC that you need 1 extra cycle for the value to propagate you can do the following. See the other anwser (#NewDev for a cleaner approach).
.controller('mainCtrl', function ($scope, $timeout){
$scope.loadResults = function (){
$timeout(function(){
console.log($scope.searchFilter);
});
};
});

Angularjs - Pass argument to directive

Im wondering if there is a way to pass an argument to a directive?
What I want to do is append a directive from the controller like this:
$scope.title = "title";
$scope.title2 = "title2";
angular.element(document.getElementById('wrapper')).append('<directive_name></directive_name>');
Is it possible to pass an argument at the same time so the content of my directive template could be linked to one scope or another?
here is the directive:
app.directive("directive_name", function(){
return {
restrict:'E',
transclude:true,
template:'<div class="title"><h2>{{title}}</h3></div>',
replace:true
};
})
What if I want to use the same directive but with $scope.title2?
You can pass arguments to your custom directive as you do with the builtin Angular-directives - by specifying an attribute on the directive-element:
angular.element(document.getElementById('wrapper'))
.append('<directive-name title="title2"></directive-name>');
What you need to do is define the scope (including the argument(s)/parameter(s)) in the factory function of your directive. In below example the directive takes a title-parameter. You can then use it, for example in the template, using the regular Angular-way: {{title}}
app.directive('directiveName', function(){
return {
restrict:'E',
scope: {
title: '#'
},
template:'<div class="title"><h2>{{title}}</h2></div>'
};
});
Depending on how/what you want to bind, you have different options:
= is two-way binding
# simply reads the value (one-way binding)
& is used to bind functions
In some cases you may want use an "external" name which differs from the "internal" name. With external I mean the attribute name on the directive-element and with internal I mean the name of the variable which is used within the directive's scope.
For example if we look at above directive, you might not want to specify another, additional attribute for the title, even though you internally want to work with a title-property. Instead you want to use your directive as follows:
<directive-name="title2"></directive-name>
This can be achieved by specifying a name behind the above mentioned option in the scope definition:
scope: {
title: '#directiveName'
}
Please also note following things:
The HTML5-specification says that custom attributes (this is basically what is all over the place in Angular applications) should be prefixed with data-. Angular supports this by stripping the data--prefix from any attributes. So in above example you could specify the attribute on the element (data-title="title2") and internally everything would be the same.
Attributes on elements are always in the form of <div data-my-attribute="..." /> while in code (e.g. properties on scope object) they are in the form of myAttribute. I lost lots of time before I realized this.
For another approach to exchanging/sharing data between different Angular components (controllers, directives), you might want to have a look at services or directive controllers.
You can find more information on the Angular homepage (directives)
Here is how I solved my problem:
Directive
app.directive("directive_name", function(){
return {
restrict: 'E',
transclude: true,
template: function(elem, attr){
return '<div><h2>{{'+attr.scope+'}}</h2></div>';
},
replace: true
};
})
Controller
$scope.building = function(data){
var chart = angular.element(document.createElement('directive_name'));
chart.attr('scope', data);
$compile(chart)($scope);
angular.element(document.getElementById('wrapper')).append(chart);
}
I now can use different scopes through the same directive and append them dynamically.
You can try like below:
app.directive("directive_name", function(){
return {
restrict:'E',
transclude:true,
template:'<div class="title"><h2>{{title}}</h3></div>',
scope:{
accept:"="
},
replace:true
};
})
it sets up a two-way binding between the value of the 'accept' attribute and the parent scope.
And also you can set two way data binding with property: '='
For example, if you want both key and value bound to the local scope you would do:
scope:{
key:'=',
value:'='
},
For more info,
https://docs.angularjs.org/guide/directive
So, if you want to pass an argument from controller to directive, then refer this below fiddle
http://jsfiddle.net/jaimem/y85Ft/7/
Hope it helps..
Controller code
myApp.controller('mainController', ['$scope', '$log', function($scope, $log) {
$scope.person = {
name:"sangeetha PH",
address:"first Block"
}
}]);
Directive Code
myApp.directive('searchResult',function(){
return{
restrict:'AECM',
templateUrl:'directives/search.html',
replace: true,
scope:{
personName:"#",
personAddress:"#"
}
}
});
USAGE
File :directives/search.html
content:
<h1>{{personName}} </h1>
<h2>{{personAddress}}</h2>
the File where we use directive
<search-result person-name="{{person.name}}" person-address="{{person.address}}"></search-result>
<button my-directive="push">Push to Go</button>
app.directive("myDirective", function() {
return {
restrict : "A",
link: function(scope, elm, attrs) {
elm.bind('click', function(event) {
alert("You pressed button: " + event.target.getAttribute('my-directive'));
});
}
};
});
here is what I did
I'm using directive as html attribute and I passed parameter as following in my HTML file. my-directive="push" And from the directive I retrieved it from the Mouse-click event object. event.target.getAttribute('my-directive').
Insert the var msg in the click event with scope.$apply to make the changes to the confirm, based on your controller changes to the variables shown in ng-confirm-click therein.
<button type="button" class="btn" ng-confirm-click="You are about to send {{quantity}} of {{thing}} selected? Confirm with OK" confirmed-click="youraction(id)" aria-describedby="passwordHelpBlock">Send</button>
app.directive('ngConfirmClick', [
function() {
return {
link: function(scope, element, attr) {
var clickAction = attr.confirmedClick;
element.on('click', function(event) {
var msg = attr.ngConfirmClick || "Are you sure? Click OK to confirm.";
if (window.confirm(msg)) {
scope.$apply(clickAction)
}
});
}
};
}
])

AngularJS directive transclude part binding

I'd like to use a directive, transclude content, and call directive's controller method within the transcluded part:
<mydirective>
<div ng-click='foo()'>
click me
</div>
</mydirective>
app.directive "mydirective", ->
return {
restrict: 'EACM',
transclude: true
template: "<div ng-transclude></div>"
scope: { } #required: I use two way binding on some variable, but it's not the question here
controller: [ '$scope', ($scope)->
$scope.foo = -> console.log('foo')
]
}
plunkr here.
How can I do that please?
I have a different answer, which is not a hack and I hope it will be accepted..
see my plunkr for a live demo
Here is my usage of the directive
<div custom-directive custom-name="{{name}}">
if transclude works fine you should see my name right here.. [{{customName}}]
</div>
Note I am using customName within the directive and I assign it a value as part of the directive's scope.
Here is my directive definition
angular.module('guy').directive('customDirective', function($compile, $timeout){
return {
template : '<div class="custom-template">This is custom template with [{{customName}}]. below should be appended content with binding to isolated scope using the transclude function.. wait 2 seconds to see that binding works</div>',
restrict: 'AC',
transclude: true,
scope : {
customName : '#'
},
link : function postLink( scope, element, attrs, dummy, transcludeFn ){
transcludeFn( scope, function(clone, innerScope ){
var compiled = $compile(clone)(scope);
element.append(compiled);
});
$timeout( function(){
scope.customName = 'this stuff works!!!';
}, 2000);
}
}
});
Note that I am changing the value on the scope after 2 seconds so it shows the binding works.
After reading a lot online, I understood the following:
the ng-transclude directive is the default implementation to transclusion which can be redefined per use-case by the user
redefining a transclusion means angular will use your definition on each $digest
by default - the transclusion creates a new scope which is not a child of the isolated scope, but rather a sibling (and so the hack works). If you redefine the transclusion process you can choose which scope is used while compiling the transcluded content.. -- even though a new scope is STILL created it seems
There is not enough documentation to the transclude function. I didn't even find it in the documentation. I found it in another SO answer
This is a bit tricky. The transcluded scope is not the child of the directive scope, instead they are siblings. So in order to access foo from the ng-click of the transcluded element, you have to assign foo to the correct scope, i.e. the sibling of the directive scope. Be sure to access the transcluded scope from the link function because it hasn't been created in controller function.
Demo link
var app = angular.module('plunker', []);
app.directive("mydirective", function(){
return {
transclude: true,
restrict: 'EACM',
template: "<div> {{ name }} <br/><br/> <div ng-transclude> </div></div>",
scope: { },
link: function($scope){
$scope.name = 'Should change if click below works';
$scope.$$nextSibling.foo = function(){
console.log('foo');
$scope.name = 'it works!';
}
}
}
})
Another way is assigning foo to the parent scope because both prototypally inherits from the parent scope, i.e.
$scope.$parent.foo = ...
Technically, if you remove scope: { }, then it should work since the directive will not create an isolated scope. (Btw, you need to add restrict: "E", since you use the directive as element)
I think it makes more sense to call actions defined in parent scope from directive rather than call the actions in the directive from parent scope. Directive should be something self-contained and reusable. The actions in the directive should not be accessible from outside.
If you really want to do it, you can try to emit an event by calling $scope.$broadcast(), and add a listener in the directive. Hope it helps.

scope change in a directive not a apply in view

I have a directive in a template.html, included by a ng-include, in this directive I change the scope , but it is not change in my view
Here is my html
<div ng-controller="myCtrl">
<div id="modal">
<div ng-show="showDIv">Somthing to controll</div>
</div>
<div ng-include src="template.html">
</div>
Here is my template
<a ng-support></a>
And here is my directive
app.directive('ngSupport', function(){
return {
restrict: 'A',
link: function(scope, elem, attr, ctrl) {
elem.bind('click', function(e) {
$("#modal").dialog({height:518,width:900,modal:true });
scope.showDiv = true;
scope.$apply();
});
}
};
});
When i change the scope in the directive it is not apply in the view, anyone could help please ?
ng-include creates a new scope so scope.showDiv only affects the local scope.
Depending on how you want to structure your application, you could try accessing scope.$parent.showDiv instead, but it is not really future proof as it will depend on the HTML nesting.
A better solution would be to have the showDiv property stored inside an object in the parent scope. For example scope.ui = {}, this way, when you set scope.ui.showDiv = true in your directive, it will look up the parent scope automatically (using prototype inheritance), instead of adding the property to the local scope.
Finally, another solution would be to refactor your code to make it less complex: I think using a ng-include just for adding one element is an overkill, you could put directly <a ng-support></a> inside your html, which would avoid the problem you have with an intermediary scope being generated.
Another option is to broadcast an event, and watch for it in the controller. Something like this.
app.directive('ngSupport', function($rootScope){
return {
restrict: 'A',
link: function(scope, elem, attr, ctrl) {
elem.bind('click', function(e) {
$("#modal").dialog({height:518,width:900,modal:true });
$rootScope.$broadcast('event:modal-clicked');
});
}
};
});
With this in your controller.
$scope.$on('event:modal-clicked', function() {
$scope.showDiv = true;
});

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