Problems with jQuery ajax function

Question

I'm having a trouble since jQuery.ajax, in this particular case, doesn't seem to happen, so that the function always return ~~NaN~~ undefined as result:

    function requestUploadedSearch()
    {
        var cookie = JSON.parse(readCookie("user_search_cookie"));
        $.ajax({
            dataType: "script",
            async: false,
            data: {
                context: "search-get",
                code: removeNull(cookie, cookie !== null, "code")
            },
            success: function(data)
            {
                return search_return["keywords"];
            }
        });
        delete cookie;
    }

I've also tried to write something like

success: function() { return "<nothing happens>"; }

But what I receive is undefined.

Please answer, I'm really freaking out with that.
Thanks in advance.

Using "delete" on that local "cookie" variable is not really necessary. — Pointy
– Pointy, Commented Nov 19, 2011 at 14:31
Ok. thank you, Pointy. I'm new to jQuery and sort of to Javascript, so I didn't get that used. I forgot it has "garbage collection". — user1055350
– user1055350, Commented Nov 19, 2011 at 18:15
Yes. I can, Ashok Padmanabhan. What I'm trying to do is a search page that sends and receives data from the server. The point here is to know what was typed by the user when the search page appears, or other search keywords are sent to the server by the user. It works a little like this: in every page, there is a search "box" formed by a fieldset > table > tbody > tr > td-content editable, td-button order where the click on the button td redirects the user to the search page and makes the server generate a code. — user1055350
– user1055350, Commented Nov 19, 2011 at 18:19

Pointy · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-19 18:33:21Z

2

What you're trying to do is fundamentally impossible. Your ajax operation is ~~asynchronous~~ (no it isn't durrr).

Instead, re-architect your API:

function requestUploadedSearch( callback )
{
    var cookie = JSON.parse(readCookie("user_search_cookie"));
    $.ajax({
        dataType: "script",
        async: false,
        data: {
            context: "search-get",
            code: removeNull(cookie, cookie !== null, "code")
        },
        success: function(data)
        {
            callback( search_return["keywords"] );
        }
    });
    delete cookie;
}

Then, when you invoke it, instead of expecting a return value, pass in a function to respond to the returned data:

requestUploadedSearch( function( value ) {
  // ... do stuff with "value" ...
});

edit — Doh! @nickd is correct; since you're making the call synchronously (which you really should seriously consider not doing; it's pretty bad for your user experience) the story is different. Still, however, the approach above would work.

edited Nov 19, 2011 at 18:33

answered Nov 19, 2011 at 14:29

Pointy

415k62 gold badges600 silver badges631 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

4 Comments

nickd Over a year ago

OP has async: false, so the call blocks, no?

user1055350 Over a year ago

Well... but that is a point. My function makes synchronously the request. So, I think It should call success method.

Pointy Over a year ago

@nickd oops and I saw that too! My brain just flipped it over. I blame lack of coffee :-) Thanks, I'll update the answer.

Pointy Over a year ago

Sorry user1055350 you're right, but that's what nickd's comment meant also :-)

nickd · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-19 16:09:20Z

1

Pointy is pointing (hah) you in the more usual way of doing things. However as you have async: false set, your success: function is never called. Putting

return search_return["keywords"];

after the delete cookie line will return as you have it in your example, but you aren't using the result of the ajax call anywhere I can see, so I'm not sure that there's any point.

answered Nov 19, 2011 at 16:09

nickd

4,0612 gold badges22 silver badges26 bronze badges

2 Comments

user1055350 Over a year ago

But how? "search_return" is the result of the ajax operation. it is declared as var search_return={"keywords" : "something", "code" : "<<54 character code>>"}

user1055350 Over a year ago

code is like the server's "address" to your search keywords, so they are easily managed by the administrator. It is saved as a string pair in the server (was wrote in delphi) formed by <<the code string>>=<<the keywords string>>.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Problems with jQuery ajax function

2 Answers 2

4 Comments

2 Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

4 Comments

2 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related