Calling invoke on Backbone Collection - backbone.js

I've a Backbone Collection initialized but calling invoke on collection doesn't work. For some reason I'm getting JS error:
var vw = new SomeView(); // A view with function 'refresh'
var col = new Backbone.Collection();
col.add(vw);
...
setTimeout(function(){ col.invoke('refresh'); }, 1000); // Error: Cannot call method 'apply' of undefined
However, invoking method like isEmpty works fine
console.log("Is empty? ", col.isEmpty()); // prints: 'Is Empty? false'
It seems I'm missing something very obvious.
N.B: I'm not interested in calling each function and then invoking refresh on view object because that's just clunky.

A collection in backbone is a list of models. So when you add a view to a collection internally it will call something like this col.add(Backbone.Model.extend(vw)). So it will create a new model with your view as constructor params. I f you wanna store your view in a list just use a JavaScript array or a smarter underscore collection

you try to create a collection by instantiating the collection itself,
you first have to extend from it and tell it what models it's holding
and of what i see above you are trying to put your views in a collection?
that is not possible directly, as a collection holds a list of models, not views.
you can however create a model defining your view.
var myView = Backbone.View.extend({});
var myModel = Backbone.Model.extend({});
var myCollection = Backbone.Collection.extend({ model: myModel });
$(function(){
// creating your view
var vw = new SomeView();
// creating a model for the view
var viewModel = new myModel({ linkedview : vw });
// creating a collection
var modelList = new myCollection();
modelList.add(viewModel);
});
the gist of it is, that you create a model, containing a reference to your view, and not add the view directly into the collection (which will not work)

Related

Cannot read property 'length' of undefined error when passing collection of models to a CollectionView in Marionette

I am working in Backbone/Marionette and have a Collection, where I am parsing data, and creating a collection of models, which I then pass to a CollectionView, and a childView is set for that CollectionView.
The collection successfully makes it into the CollectionView, but it seems when my app attempts to display the childView, I get an Uncaught TypeError: Cannot read property 'length' of undefined
The error gets thrown in marionette here:
_filteredSortedModels: function(addedAt) {
var viewComparator = this.getViewComparator();
var models = this.collection.models;
addedAt = Math.min(Math.max(addedAt, 0), models.length - 1);
it appears as though "models" is undefined here.
My app is set up this way:
DrawerCollection:
App.module('Home.Drawer.Collections', function (Collections, App, Backbone, Marionette) {
model: App.Home.Drawer.Models.DrawerModel,
...make a request, parse some data...
responseData.push( new App.Home.Drawer.Models.DrawerModel({
...model properties...
});
var DrawerLayoutCollection = new App.Home.DrawerCollectionView({collection: responseData});
App.mainContainer.show(shelfLayoutCollection);
DrawerView:
App.module('Home', function(Home, App, Backbone, Marionette) {
Home.DrawerComponent = Backbone.Marionette.LayoutView.extend({
...my template, events, ui, etc....
});
});
Collection View (which has the DrawerView set to be its childView):
Home.DrawerCollectionView = Backbone.Marionette.CollectionView.extend({
childView: Home.DrawerComponent
});
Any input would be much appreciated!!!
Few things seem wrong with this line:
var DrawerLayoutCollection = new App.Home.DrawerCollectionView({collection: responseData});
First, DrawerLayoutCollection is not a constructor, but an instance.
Second, it's called a collection but it's actually a view instance.
You are passing responseData as a collection to the collection view instead of an actual backbone collection.
It should be something like
var drawerLayoutCollectionView = new App.Home.DrawerCollectionView({collection: new Backbone.Collection(responseData)});

backbone.js set in model initialize not effecting models in collection

While performing a fetch() on my backbone collection, and instantiating models as children of that collection, I want to add one more piece of information to each model.
I thought that I could do this using set in the model initialize. (My assumption is that fetch() is instantiating a new model for each object passed into it. And therefore as each initialize occurs the extra piece of data would be set.
To illustrate my problem I've pasted in four snippets, first from my collection class. Second the initialize function in my model class. Third, two functions that I use in the initialize function to get the needed information from the flickr api. Fourth, and finally, the app.js which performs the fetch().
First the collection class:
var ArmorApp = ArmorApp || {};
ArmorApp.ArmorCollection = Backbone.Collection.extend({
model: ArmorApp.singleArmor,
url: "https://spreadsheets.google.com/feeds/list/1SjHIBLTFb1XrlrpHxZ4SLE9lEJf4NyDVnKnbVejlL4w/1/public/values?alt=json",
//comparator: "Century",
parse: function(data){
var armorarray = [];
var entryarray = data.feed.entry;
for (var x in entryarray){
armorarray.push({"id": entryarray[x].gsx$id.$t,
"Filename": entryarray[x].gsx$filename.$t,
"Century": entryarray[x].gsx$century.$t,
"Date": entryarray[x].gsx$date.$t,
"Country": entryarray[x].gsx$country.$t,
"City": entryarray[x].gsx$city.$t,
"Type": entryarray[x].gsx$type.$t,
"Maker": entryarray[x].gsx$maker.$t,
"Recepient": entryarray[x].gsx$recipient.$t,
"Flickrid": entryarray[x].gsx$flickrid.$t,
"FlickrUrl": "", //entryarray[x].gsx$flickrurl.$t,
"FlickrUrlBig": ""//entryarray[x].gsx$flickrurlbig.$t,
});
}
return armorarray;
}
});
Second, the initialization in my model.
initialize: function(){
//console.log("A model instance named " + this.get("Filename"));
item = this;
var flickrapi = "https://api.flickr.com/services/rest/?&method=flickr.photos.getSizes&api_key=<my_apikey>&photo_id=" + this.get("Flickrid") + "&format=json&jsoncallback=?";
sources = getFlickrSources(flickrapi);
sources.then(function(data){
sourceArray = parseFlickrResponse(data);
FlickrSmall = sourceArray[0].FlickrSmall;
console.log (FlickrSmall);
item.set("FlickrUrl", FlickrSmall);
console.log(item);
});
Notice here how I'm getting the "Flickrid" and using to get one more piece of information and then trying to add it back into the model with item.set("FlickrUrl", FlickerSmall);
console.log confirms that the property "FlickrUrl" has been set to the desired value.
Third, these are the functions my model uses to get the information it needs for the flicker api.
var getFlickrSources = function(flickrapi){
flickrResponse = $.ajax({
url: flickrapi,
// The name of the callback parameter, as specified by the YQL service
jsonp: "callback",
// Tell jQuery we're expecting JSONP
dataType: "jsonp"})
return flickrResponse;
}
var parseFlickrResponse = function(data){
flickrSourceArray = []
if (data.stat == "ok"){
sizeArray = data.sizes.size;
for (var y in sizeArray){
if (sizeArray[y].label == "Small"){
flickrSourceArray.push({"FlickrSmall": sizeArray[y].source});
}
else if (sizeArray[y].label == "Large"){
flickrSourceArray.push({"FlickrLarge": sizeArray[y].source});
}
}
}
return flickrSourceArray
}
But, fourth, when I try to perform the fetch and render the collection, I only get objects in my collection without the FlickrUrl property set.
//create an array of models and then pass them in collection creation method
var armorGroup = new ArmorApp.ArmorCollection();
armorGroup.fetch().then(function(){
console.log(armorGroup.toJSON());
var armorGroupView = new ArmorApp.allArmorView({collection: armorGroup});
$("#allArmor").html(armorGroupView.render().el);
});
var armorRouter = new ArmorApp.Router();
Backbone.history.start();
The console.log in this last snippet prints out all the objects/models supposedly instantiated through the fetch. But none of them include the extra property that should have been set during the initialization.
Any ideas what is happening?
What is this function ? getFlickrSources(flickrapi)
Why are you using this.get in the initialize function. Honestly it looks over-complicated for what you are trying to do.
If you want to set some parameter when you instantiate your model then do this var model = new Model({ param:"someparam", url:"someurl",wtv:"somewtv"});
If the point is to update your model just write an update function in your model something like update: function (newparam) { this.set;... etc and call it when you need it.
If I read you well you just want to set some params when your model is instantiated, so just use what I specified above. Here is some more doc : http://backbonejs.org/#Model-constructor
I hope it helps.
edit:
Put your call outside your model, you shouldn't (imo) make call inside your model this way it seems kinda dirty.
Sources.then(function(flickrdata) {
var mymodel = new Model({flicker:flickrdata.wtv});
});
It would be cleaner in my opinion.

Backbone.js - Build view with sub models

I have an edit view for a Backbone Model that I create each time the the element is clicked on. The problem I have is that the edit view needs two Backbone collections to create the edit form (it contains two <select> lists).
The view:
MyApp.elementView = Backbone.View.extend({
events: {
'click .edit': 'editForm',
},
editForm: function(ev) {
var editView = new TimeTrack.Views.EditJob({
model: this.model
// This view needs two more collections
// for the <select> elements
});
...
}
});
Instantiate the view:
var elementView = new MyApp.elementView({
collection: elementCollection
});
What is the best way to push the needed collections to the edit view? Do I have to pass the collections need for the edit view from the elementView form the instantiation? Or is there a better way of doing this?
I did so, passed in view 2 collections, 1 - the main and the other as follows:
to elementView - second collection and in elementView recive her.
example:
in router I'm
initialize: ->
(YourNameSpace).secondCollection = new (YourNameSpace).secondCollection
elements: =>
view = new (YourNameSpace).elementView( secondCollection: #secondCollection )
$('.l-yield').html(view.render().el)

Backbone.js error - Uncaught TypeError: Object [object Object] has no method 'set'

My Code:
I am new to Backbone.js and trying to build an app with Backbone.js and PHP. When I am trying to call add in the router, I am getting error:
Uncaught TypeError: Object [object Object] has no method 'set'.
Please help me to find my mistake.
Thanks.
// Models
window.Users = Backbone.Model.extend({
urlRoot:"./bb-api/users",
defaults:{
"id":null,
"name":"",
"email":"",
"designation":""
}
});
window.UsersCollection = Backbone.Collection.extend({
model:Users,
url:"./bb-api/users"
});
// Views
window.AddUserView = Backbone.View.extend({
template:_.template($('#new-user-tpl').html()),
initialize:function(){
this.model.bind("click", this.render, this);
},
render:function(){
$(this.el).html(this.template(this.model.toJSON()));
return this;
},
events:{
"click .add":"saveUser"
},
saveUser:function(){ alert('saveUser');
this.model.set({
name:$("#name").val(),
email:$("#email").val(),
designation:$("#designation").val()
});
if(this.model.isNew()){
this.model.create(this.model);
}
return false;
}
});
// Router
var AppRouter = Backbone.Router.extend({
routes:{
"":"welcome",
"users":"list",
"users/:id":"userDetails",
"add":"addUser"
},
addUser:function(){
this.addUserModel = new UsersCollection();
this.addUserView = new AddUserView({model:this.addUserModel});
$('#content').html(this.addUserView.render().el);
}
});
var app = new AppRouter();
Backbone.history.start();
As suggested in the comments, the problem starts here here:
this.addUserModel = new UsersCollection();
this.addUserView = new AddUserView({model:this.addUserModel});
and finishes here:
saveUser:function(){ alert('saveUser');
this.model.set({
By passing a collection in place of a model you create confusion, and as a result later in the saveUser function you try to call a Backbone.Model method (set) on a Backbone.Collection instance.
Note: As of version 1.0.0 Backbone.Collection now has a set method. In previous versions, such as the one used by the question's author, that method was instead called update.
There are several steps you can take to clarify this code. For starters, I would rename your model and collection classes so that it's clear that the model is the singular form and the collection is the plural form:
window.Users => window.User
window.UsersCollection => window.Users
Next, I would create a new User model, instead of a Users collection, and pass that to your view:
this.addUserModel = new User();
this.addUserView = new AddUserView({model:this.addUserModel});
Finally, I'd remove these lines:
if(this.model.isNew()){
this.model.create(this.model);
}
For one thing, the model will always be new (as you just created it before passing it in), but more importantly you don't need to call the Collection's create method because that method creates a new model, when you already have one created. Perhaps what you should add instead is :
this.model.save();
if your intent is to save the model to your server.
Since you already specified a urlRoot for the model, that should be all you need to create a new model, pass it to your view, have your view fill in its attributes based on DOM elements, and finally save that model's attributes to your server.
I think you are facing problem with object scope. When event fired it send to event object to that function. Just try this it may work
Declare global variable with the current view inside the initialize
initialize : function(){ self = this; }
then change this to self,
saveUser:function(){ alert('saveUser');
self.model.set({
name:$("#name").val(),
email:$("#email").val(),
designation:$("#designation").val()
});
if(self.model.isNew()){
self.model.create(this.model);
}
return false;
}

Automatically save after adding model to collection

I have a collection myCollection to which I add models as follows:
myCollection.add({title: Romeo and Juliette, author: Shakespear});
Have can I now save this added model to the server? Backbone Collections do not have a save() and I do not a reference to the added model to call save directly.
You can use the create function on the collection to add a model and have it automatically saved to the server.
myCollection.create({title: Romeo and Juliette, author: Shakespeare});
Here's the documentation on the create function.
You could bind the save method of your collection to the add event:
MyCollection = Backbone.Collection.extend({
initialize: function(){
this.bind('add', this.save, this)
}
save: function(){
$.post(this.url, this.toJSON())
}
})

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