javascript/jquery: on click copy relevant array items to new array

1293

November 23, 2016, at 9:36 PM

I think I'm missing an obvious answer. I have an array of arrays, like this

var arraylist = [
    {
    "id" = 0,
    "title" = "title number 1",
    "info" = "some info etc 1"
    },
    {
    "id" = 1,
    "title" = "title number 2",
    "info" = "some info etc 2"
    },
]

...etc. And a function that makes some html from each array, which is appended to a ul element.

function makeBox(){
    for (i = 0; i < arraylist.length; i++ ) {
        var boxHTML = '<li id="' + arraylist[i].id + '">'
            + '<div>' + arraylist[i].title + '</div>'
            + '</li>'
        $('ul').append(boxHTML);
    };
};

Now using a click function, on clicking the 'li' I want the relevant array from arraylist to be copied to a new array.

newArrayList = []

So clicking on li #0 would copy the first array from 'arraylist' to the 'newArrayList'.

I will then be making different HTML from 'newArrayList' using different values. So in the makeBox function I won't show the value "info", but when I make HTML from newArrayList I will. I could use innerHTML to get the data back out of the HTML to the newArrayList, but would have to append "info" to a hidden span, or something. This seems like the long way round. So what's the easy way?

I'm just learning so go easy on me. Also did a good search and couldn't find the answer. If it's already there please direct me politely.

Answer 1

So a few notes:

It's not an array of arrays. It's an array of objects. The [ ] block is an array. The { } is an object.
The $('ul') will select ALL uls on the page, not necessarily just the one you intend.

The object structure is incorrect, it should be using colon (:) rather than equal (=) characters. It should look more like this:

var arraylist = [{
    "id": 0,
    "title": "title number 1",
    "info": "some info etc 1"
}, {
    "id": 1,
    "title": "title number 2",
    "info": "some info etc 2"
}]

Here is a modified version of your function.

function makeBox(){
  var $ul = $('ul.from_array_one');
  for (var i = 0; i < arraylist.length; i++) {
    var item = arraylist[i];
    var $boxHTML = $('<li id="' + item.id + '">' + item.title + '</li>');
    $boxHTML.click(onSelectItem(item));
    $ul.append($boxHTML);
  };
};

Where a new function exists accepting the array object item, such as:

function onSelectItem( item ){
  return function(){
    var $ul2 = $('ul.from_array_two');
    var $boxHTML2 = $('<li id="' + item.id + '">' + item.info + '</li>');
    $ul2.append($boxHTML2);
  }
}

Answer 2

Shaun's solution should work when implemented correctly (one point for your effort).

Here is another way.

I modified your (OP's) function so can be reused for other array of same types. Since you're learning, I encourage you to read up on DRY principle a.k.a. "don't repeat yourself". Adhering to this principle while designing your code, will help you write code that is more reusable resulting in shorter code, in the longer run a more maintainable code base. And in the process you will become an even better coder.

var arraylist = [ 
    { 
    "id": 0, 
    "title": "title number 1", 
    "info": "some info etc 1" 
    }, 
    { 
    "id" : 1, 
    "title": "title number 2", 
    "info": "some info etc 2" 
    }, 
]; 
var newArrayList = []; 
 
/// 
function makeBox(arrayToMake, ulToAppendTo, liClass){ 
    for (i = 0; i < arrayToMake.length; i++ ) { 
        var boxHTML = '<li class="'+liClass+'" id="' + arrayToMake[i].id + '">' 
            + '<div>' + arrayToMake[i].title + '</div>' 
            + '</li>' 
        $(ulToAppendTo).append(boxHTML); 
    }; 
}; 
 
var firstListClass = "first_list_item"; 
var secondListClass = "second_list_item"; 
 
makeBox(arraylist,'.ul_one',firstListClass); 
$("."+firstListClass).click(function(){ 
	copyArray(arraylist,newArrayList);     
   	makeBox(newArrayList,'.ul_two',secondListClass); 
}); 
 
function copyArray(sourceArray, targetArray) 
{ 
   sourceArray.forEach(function(item){ 
       //for demo purpose only 
       item.title="new title " + item.id; 
       targetArray.push(item); 
   });}

<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/2.1.1/jquery.min.js"></script> 
<p>first array result</p> 
<ul class='ul_one'></ul> 
<p>new array result</p> 
<ul class='ul_two'></ul>