AngularJS - set a model defined in a directives template - angularjs

Question

I have a directive defined like so:
angular.module('directives.myInput', [])
.directive('myInput', function($parse, $http, $sce){
return {
restrict: 'E',
template: '<input type="text" ng-model="searchStr" />',
controller: function($scope){
$scope.keyPressed = function(event){
$scope.showDropdown = true;
.
.
.
}
}
};
});
And then I have a button in html and directive above declared like so:
<div ng-controller="IndexCtrl">
<button ng-click="startNewLog()">Start</button>
<div ng-controller="ItemNewCtrl">
<myInput />
</div>
</div>
I want to change/initialize ng-model="searchStr" model on a button ng-click. How can I do that?
Thanks guys,
Jani

Answer 1

If I understand you right, first of all you need call child controller with $broadcast. Since we don't use isolate scope, we just call directive method from child controller:
[Short answer]
No isolate scope example
Demo 1 Fiddle
For isolate scope, I would map value to directive that listens on value change automatically:
Isolate scope example
Demo 2 Fiddle
[Full answer]
No isolate scope example
HTML
<div ng-controller = "IndexCtrl">
<button ng-click="startNewLog()">Start</button>
<div ng-controller="ItemNewCtrl">
<my-input></my-input>
</div>
</div>
JS
var app = angular.module('myModule', []);
app.controller('IndexCtrl', function ($scope) {
$scope.startNewLog = function(){
$scope.$broadcast('someEvent');
};
});
app.controller('ItemNewCtrl', function ($scope) {
$scope.$on('someEvent', function() {
$scope.callDirective();
});
});
app.$inject = ['$scope'];
app.directive('myInput', function(){
return {
restrict: 'E',
template: '<input type="text" ng-model="searchStr" />',
controller: function($scope){
$scope.searchStr;
$scope.keyPressed = function(event){
$scope.showDropdown = true;
}
},
link: function(scope, elm, attrs) {
scope.callDirective = function() {
scope.searchStr = 'callDirective';
};
}
};
});
Isolate scope example
HTML
<div ng-controller = "IndexCtrl">
<button ng-click="startNewLog()">Start</button>
<div ng-controller="ItemNewCtrl">
<my-input my-model='contInput'></my-input>
</div>
</div>
JS
var app = angular.module('myModule', []);
app.controller('IndexCtrl', function ($scope) {
$scope.startNewLog = function(){
$scope.$broadcast('someEvent');
};
});
app.controller('ItemNewCtrl', function ($scope) {
$scope.contInput = '';
$scope.count = 0;
$scope.$on('someEvent', function() {
$scope.contInput = 'hey mate';
});
});
app.$inject = ['$scope'];
app.directive('myInput', function(){
return {
restrict: 'E',
scope:{searchStr: '=myModel'},
template: '<input type="text" ng-model="searchStr" />',
controller: function($scope){
$scope.searchStr;
$scope.keyPressed = function(event){
$scope.showDropdown = true;
}
}
};
});