if a variable is started inside a closure, can it ever be redeclared and started over, outside of the original function?

[Jake Barnes]

In the function below, the reset() method has no effect. What is the
correct way to ensure that
singletonArrayT oHoldElementsFo rTheNextRenderi ngOfTheCommunic ationBox is
empty?
function getArrayOfEleme ntsForCommunica tionBox() {
// 02-12-06 - I'm thinking it would be nice to have a global
object that contains two
// arrays, plus get and set methods for those arrays. Functions
like setText() can use
// these methods to specify what the dialog box should look like,
and then setText()
// can call askForInput() which will show the dialog box. These
two arrays, below
// specify what HTML elements should be placed in the
communication box.
//
// 02-13-06 - PLEASE NOTE - this function is different from
storeReferences ToHTMLSafely
// in that manages references to HTML blocks whereas this carries
strings of ids and
// initial text that should fill in the communication box form.

var objectForAccess ingArrayOfItems ForCommunicatio nBox = new
Object();
var
singletonArrayT oHoldElementsFo rTheNextRenderi ngOfTheCommunic ationBox =
new Object();
var singletonCallBa ckAction = new Object();

objectForAccess ingArrayOfItems ForCommunicatio nBox.set =
function(idOfEl ement, initialValue) {

singletonArrayT oHoldElementsFo rTheNextRenderi ngOfTheCommunic ationBox[idOfElement]
= initialValue;
}

objectForAccess ingArrayOfItems ForCommunicatio nBox.get =
function() {
return
singletonArrayT oHoldElementsFo rTheNextRenderi ngOfTheCommunic ationBox;
}

objectForAccess ingArrayOfItems ForCommunicatio nBox.reset =
function() {
var
singletonArrayT oHoldElementsFo rTheNextRenderi ngOfTheCommunic ationBox =
new Object();
}
objectForAccess ingArrayOfItems ForCommunicatio nBox.setCallBac k =
function(callBa ck) {
singletonCallBa ckAction["callBack"] = callBack;
}

objectForAccess ingArrayOfItems ForCommunicatio nBox.getCallBac k =
function() {
var callBack = singletonCallBa ckAction["callBack"];
return callBack;
}

return objectForAccess ingArrayOfItems ForCommunicatio nBox;
}

var arrayOfElements ForCommunicatio nBox =
getArrayOfEleme ntsForCommunica tionBox();
arrayOfElements ForCommunicatio nBox.set("input Box", "Please type your
address here.");
arrayOfElements ForCommunicatio nBox.reset(); // var still has values in
it, even after this

[Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn]

Jake Barnes wrote:

In the function below, the reset() method has no effect. What is the
correct way to ensure that
singletonArrayT oHoldElementsFo rTheNextRenderi ngOfTheCommunic ationBox is
empty?

I do not know yet. Maybe it is just me or because it is late but I do think
you should post easily _legible_ source code if you wish that question to
be answered. You could use shorter identifiers for a start.
PointedEars

[RobG]

Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:

Jake Barnes wrote:

In the function below, the reset() method has no effect. What is the
correct way to ensure that
singletonArra yToHoldElements ForTheNextRende ringOfTheCommun icationBox is
empty?

I do not know yet. Maybe it is just me or because it is late but I do think
you should post easily _legible_ source code if you wish that question to
be answered. You could use shorter identifiers for a start.

Hey, it must be late for you or you are mellowing! :-)

Here is something that might be more legible:

<script type="text/javascript">

function getcbArray()
{

/*
re-named variables:
dataObj = objectForAccess ingArrayOfItems ForCommunicatio nBox
nextObj =
singletonArrayT oHoldElementsFo rTheNextRenderi ngOfTheCommunic ationBox
cbArray = arrayOfElements ForCommunicatio nBox
*/

var dataObj = new Object();
var nextObj = new Object();
var singletonCallBa ckAction = new Object();

dataObj.set =
function(idOfEl ement, initialValue) {
nextObj[idOfElement] = initialValue;
}

dataObj.get =
function() {return nextObj;}

dataObj.reset =
function() {

// Here is the 'faulty' line
// var nextObj = new Object();

// Fixed line (delete 'var' keyword)
nextObj = new Object();

}

dataObj.setCall Back =
function(callBa ck) {
singletonCallBa ckAction["callBack"] = callBack;
}

dataObj.getCall Back =
function() {
var callBack = singletonCallBa ckAction["callBack"];
return callBack;
}

return dataObj;
}

// A Fn to help with debug
function showObjProps(ob j)
{
var txt = '';
for (var p in obj){txt += p+': '+obj[p]+'\n';}
return txt;
}

// Now a small test

var cbArray = getcbArray();
// Show nextObj's properties
alert('Before set\n' + showObjProps(cb Array.get()));

cbArray.set("in putBox", "Please type your address here.");
alert('After set\n' + showObjProps(cb Array.get()));

cbArray.reset() ; // var still has values in it, even after this
alert('After reset\n' + showObjProps(cb Array.get()));

// Make sure nextObj is still usable
cbArray.set("se cond", "blah blah blah.");
alert('After set\n' + showObjProps(cb Array.get()));

cbArray.reset() ; // var still has values in it, even after this
alert('After reset\n' + showObjProps(cb Array.get()));

</script>
The faulty line creates a new object called 'nextObj' within the scope
of the function. What should happen is that the outer function's
nextObj should be re-set, so replacing the faulty line with:

nextObj = new Object();
fixes that. Is it better to set the object to null or delete it first?
--
Rob