JavaScript string of sub functions to actual functions

Question

I learned I can call functions by a string representing the function name. Example here: http://www.sitepoint.com/call-javascript-function-string-without-using-eval/

My question is, how can I call the SubTest function in this case:

  function Test() {
     this.SubTest = function() { }
  }

  var functionString = 'Test.SubTest';

It doesn't work with window[functionString].

I even tried this (it's basic; just for testing) but it returns false:

function GetFunction(functionName) {
    var functions = functionName.split('.');
    if ( functions.length === 1 ) {
        var functionObj = window[functions[0]];
        if ( typeof functionObj === 'function' )
            return functionObj;
        return false;
    }
    else if ( functions.length > 1 ) {
        var functionObj = window[functions[0]];
        for ( var i = 1; i < functions.length; i++ ) {
          functionObj = functionObj[functions[i]];
        }
        if ( typeof functionObj === 'function' )
            return functionObj;
        return false;
    }
    return false;
}

var functionName = 'Test.SubTest'; // from the above code example
var functionObj = GetFunction(functionName); // returns false

Update:

Found this: How to turn a String into a javascript function call? but the getFunctionFromString still doesn't work.

You can't use Test.SubTest directly because SubTest is added on Test on it's initialization, you need to have var t = new Test() before you can use this function. GetFunction("Test.SubTest") work if you had Test.SubTest = function(){} — Hacketo
– Hacketo, Commented Mar 20, 2015 at 9:18

Hacketo · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-20 10:17:34Z

1

The thing is Test.SubTest does not exist

SubTest is a property defined in the constructor function Test

That mean that the only way to access this function is to define an object

var t = new Test();
t.SubTest();

The function GetFunction("Test.SubTest") would work if the function was static, like :

function Test() {}
Test.SubTest = function(){}

edited Mar 20, 2015 at 10:17

answered Mar 20, 2015 at 10:09

Hacketo

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Comments

reg4in · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-20 10:02:52Z

0

var Test = function () {
  this.SubTest = function () {}
} 

var obj = new Test()

obj['SubTest']()

or

Test = function () {}
Test.SubTest = function () {}

window['Test']['SubTest']()

answered Mar 20, 2015 at 10:02

reg4in

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3 Comments

Jay Blanchard Over a year ago

Why should the OP try this? Please add an explanation of what you did and why you did it that way not only for the OP but for future visitors to SO.

reg4in Over a year ago

If you have read the description of his problem, it is pretty self-explanatory.

Jay Blanchard Over a year ago

Sure, but a good answer, one that gets upvotes, explains the reasoning and logic.

Bellash · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-20 10:06:56Z

0

The problem is because typeof window['Test.SubTest'] is undefined... so, you need to instantiate the super object to call it's sub function(encapsulated function indeed). See bellow code

  .....
      else if ( functions.length > 1 ) {
    var functionObj = window[functions[0]];
    for ( var i = 1; i < functions.length; i++ ) {
      functionObj = eval('new '+functionObj+'().'+functions[i]);
    }
    if ( typeof functionObj === 'function' )
        return functionObj;
    return false;
    }
  .....

EDITS: I your comment stated you don't want to use eval consider the following solution

  .....
      else if ( functions.length > 1 ) {
    var functionObj = window[functions[0]];
    for ( var i = 1; i < functions.length; i++ ) {
       functionObj =new functionObj()[functions[i]];
    }
    if ( typeof functionObj === 'function' )
        return functionObj;
    return false;
    }
  .....

And here is the complete code for test

     function Test() {
       this.SubTest = function() { 
        this.subsubtest=function(){ alert('subsubtest')}
     }
    }

    var functionString = 'Test.SubTest.subsubtest';

    function GetFunction(functionName) {
      var functions = functionName.split('.');
      if ( functions.length === 1 ) {
          var functionObj = window[functions[0]];
          if ( typeof functionObj === 'function' )
              return functionObj;
          return false;
      }
      else if ( functions.length > 1 ) {
          var functionObj = window[functions[0]];
          for ( var i = 1; i < functions.length; i++ ) {
           functionObj =new functionObj()[functions[i]];
          }
          if ( typeof functionObj === 'function' )
              return functionObj;
          return false;
      }
      return false;
  }

  var functionName = 'Test.SubTest.subsubtest';  
  var functionObj = GetFunction(functionName); 
  alert(typeof functionObj);//function

edited Mar 20, 2015 at 10:06

answered Mar 20, 2015 at 9:29

Bellash

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5 Comments

VjS Over a year ago

Yeah, not gonna use eval.

Hacketo Over a year ago

eval il not required, new functionObj()[functions[i]]() should work but this notation and the for loop makes no sense as you could not use this method for static functions

Hacketo Over a year ago

As you edited your answer, could you tell what is the point of the for loop ?

Bellash Over a year ago

@VjS You didn't mention that! Now I edited my answer with non-eval code... Thank you Hacketo => :'( static functions

VjS Over a year ago

Sorry; eval is usually a bad idea and I had no idea JavaScript had eval.

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