Accessing Global object of an object in Javascript function

Question

I have a global object abc with the following structure

abc = {
    dir_content: {
        dir: [
            "hi"
        ]
        files: [
            "1.txt",
            "2.txt"
        ]
    }
    directory: "greeting"
}

hope I got the notations correct.

dir_content has its values passed from a JSON object by abc.dir_content = data;

I have a function as below

function show_dir() {
    console.log(abc.dir_content.dir);
    console.log(abc.directory);
}

I am expecting console.log(abc.dir_content.dir) to show hi. But its saying its undefined instead. console.log(abc.directory) shows greeting just fine.

Adding: I can print the correct results in the console with console.log(abc.dir_content.dir) . But it says undefined when called in the function.

I need to loop through the arrays of dir and files in the function. But now I stuck at getting js to read the values in the function.

Edit: I found something wrong this my global object declaration. fiddle link http://jsfiddle.net/xh5YH/ . Whats wrong with the anonymous function declaration?

Your notation actually does not make much sense. Is dir supposed to be an array? — pimvdb
– pimvdb, Commented Nov 18, 2011 at 11:05
This obviously means that the value for abc.dir_content is not set. try logging abc.dir_content to see if the values from the JSON object are set — pradeek
– pradeek, Commented Nov 18, 2011 at 11:07
ok..i'm bad at notations. anyway, abc is a global object. dir_content is a property of abc with a JSON object with arrays namely dir and files. adding...i can read the global object without problem in the console. however, the same commands passed in the function is returning error. — resting
– resting, Commented Nov 18, 2011 at 11:16

Kenan Banks · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-18 11:15:45Z

1

abc = {
    dir_content: {
        // array of one dir
        dir: [ "hi" ], 
        // array of two files
        files: [
            "1.txt",
            "2.txt"
        ]
    },
    directory: "greeting"
}

answered Nov 18, 2011 at 11:15

Kenan Banks

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1 Comment

resting Over a year ago

upvoted, but that doesn't really answer my question. had put up a fiddle link at the bottom of my original post. i'm not sure why anonymous function to declare the global object doesn't work.

leo.vingi · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-18 11:11:51Z

0

dir_content: {
    dir: {
        key: "hi"
    },
    files: {
        key1: "1.txt",
        key2: "2.txt"
    }
}

Notice the difference between [], () and {}

[] means you are creating an array, but you need an Object, hence the {} brackets. Also, the returned dir_content is not structured correctly. An Object is always structured like this:

{ key: 'content' }

That is why I've added key, key1 and key 2 to the returned data. If you manage to structure the data correctly, everything will work.

answered Nov 18, 2011 at 11:11

leo.vingi

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3 Comments

leo.vingi Over a year ago

Why the downvote? To access the contents of the returned data, it needs to be structured like in the code I posted.

resting Over a year ago

dir and files are arrays. ok..let me add in the keys.

leo.vingi Over a year ago

If they are arrays, you don't have to add the keys. I just posted the code before I saw your comment about the arrays ;)

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