Error message on a js newsfeed

[danielm60]

Hi

I'm trying to use a free RSS news feed in my webpage and it works like a charm but throws up an error message on the first load:

myElement.getElementsByTagName(naming)[0].firstChild is null

In firefox error console the message is :

Error: document.getElementById("TICKER") is null
Source File: http://www.xxxxxx.com/js/webticker_lib.js Line: 5

But in line 5 of the webticker_lib.js is the statement :

05 TICKER_CONTENT = document.getElementById("TICKER").innerHTML;

It also come up with another error within the page:

Error: st is undefined
Source File: http://www.xxxxxx.com/js/ticker.js Line: 103

But again in the js it is :

Line: 103

103 if ( itemLen > st.length ) {
storyCount++;
if ( storyCount >= rssItems.length ) {
storyCount = 0;


Can someone help please

Thanks
Daniel

[jkmyoung]

Do you actually have an element with an id attribute of "TICKER"? in your feed?

You haven't defined st? What is this st you speak of?

[danielm60]

Hi
Yes the id TICKER is used in the html

And I really don't know what the st is but thats the error message that comes up in the error console I can only presume it refers to the string length of the news story !

[danielm60]

Any luck yet?
Anyone ?

[jkmyoung]

I thought you solved it when you said:
"And I really don't know what the st is but thats the error message that comes up in the error console I can only presume it refers to the string length of the news story ! "

st is either a typo, or a variable that isn't set properly.

[danielm60]

No still showing
Error: st is undefined
Source File: http://www.xxxxxx.com/js/ticker.js Line: 103




103 if ( itemLen > st.length ) {
storyCount++;
if ( storyCount >= rssItems.length ) {
storyCount = 0;

[danielm60]

and error

myElement.getElementsByTagName(naming)[0].firstChild is null

In firefox error console the message is :

Error: document.getElementById("TICKER") is null
Source File: http://www.xxxxxx.com/js/webticker_lib.js Line: 5

[jkmyoung]

EXACTLY! Define st. Yes, YOU, danielm60.

There's no context as to what itemLen is. For all we know, you might be able to just take it out.

[danielm60]

Ok but what about the first error ?

[jkmyoung]

Post a link to your feed. You're certain you have an element like:
<someElement id="TICKER">
?

It is case sensitive.

[danielm60]

Hi
Yes the element TICKER is def defined in the right case but it was a freebie so ...

Anyway thanks for your help and here is the link
http://www.ukvine.com/jg/contact.html

[jkmyoung]

Do you have control over the html or the js?

You haven't added the ticker to the html that the webticker is to be used for.
You haven't specified a proper rss feed to be used.

[danielm60]

Hi

err yes I have ... as I said it already works so if it didn't .. it wouldn't work.

It calls it from the webticker_lib.js which in turn uses grab.php to retrieve the feed.
Sorry I must be in the wrong site. I thought if I gave you an error code you could simply point me in the right direction of a fix.

Don't worry I'll go and find another site.

[jkmyoung]

Putting in the js doesn't put in the xml elements into your html.

You've put in one part, the overlying functions, but completely neglected to put in the structures with which it works with. I don't know how to make this any more clear.

Your html is missing essential parts for the js to work. It's like telling a function:
"Go increment the web counter", but then never putting a web counter on your page.
The function then goes, "uhhh... what web counter?"

In your case, you're saying "Go read the RSS feed!" and the function is telling you, "But boss, there is NO RSS feed!"

Good luck with your code.