[Tip] Method as a function and as a method

by David Workman
Data Mosaic

Save some effort and have methods do double duty as both directly called methods or methods called by other methods. Just put a check in at the beginning of the code to see if the method was called by a UI object (you need to give the object a name) or if there is an argument being passed to the method (in which case you need to be passing an argument!).

Here's the basic idea by checking to see if a named object event is responsible for triggering the code:

if (application.getMethodTriggerElementName()) {
    //method called from UI event
    var input = application.getMethodTriggerElementName()
}
else {
    //method called from another method so grab the arguments
    var input = arguments[0]
}

Another example checking for a passed argument instead:

//set the tab panel name for this method
var tabPanelName = 'tabs_details';

//check to see if called from another method
if (!arguments[0])
{
    var btn_name = application.getMethodTriggerElementName();
}
else
{
    var btn_name = arguments[0];
}

//get number of tabs
var tab_num = elements[tabPanelName].getMaxTabIndex();

//activate correct tab and flip tab buttons
for ( var i = 1 ; i <= tab_num ; i++ )
{    
    var tab_name = 'tab_' + i;
    if (btn_name == tab_name)
    {
        //elements[tab_name].fgcolor = '#FAAF0A';
        elements[tab_name].bgcolor = '#ffffff'
        elements[tab_name].setFont('Verdana,1,10');
        
        //set tab index
        elements[tabPanelName].tabIndex = i;    
    }
    else
    {
        //elements[tab_name].fgcolor = '#000000';
        elements[tab_name].bgcolor = '#999999'
        elements[tab_name].setFont('Verdana,0,10');
    }                
}