Pass variable to external JS file?

Question

Hi SO:

Is it possible to pass a variable to a linked .js file? I tried this:

<sf:JsFileLink ID="JQueryLoader" runat="server" ScriptType="Custom" FileName="~/Files/Scripts/rotatorLoader.js?timeout=1000" />

But firebug is telling me that timeout is not defined. Here is the code for that .js file:

$(document).ready(function() {
    $("#rotator > ul").tabs({ fx: { opacity: "toggle"} }).tabs("rotate", timeout, true);
});

I am using <sf:JsFileLink ... /> tag is because the website I am working in utilizes sitefinity and this tag allows me to load external .js files.

UPDATE:

I was able to 'trick' the include by creating an aspx page that emulates a javascript page:

<%@ Page Language="C#" %>

<%
    Response.ContentType = "text/javascript";
    Response.Clear();
    string timeout;
    try
    {
        timeout = Session["timeout"].ToString();
    }
    catch
    {
        timeout = "4000";
    }
%>

$(document).ready(function() {
    $("#rotator > ul").tabs({ fx: { opacity: "toggle"} }).tabs("rotate", <%=timeout %>, true);
});

And on the user control page:

[DefaultProperty("BannerTimeout")]
public partial class Custom_UserControls_TabbedRotator : System.Web.UI.UserControl
{
    [Category("Configuration")]
    [Description("Sets the rotation timeout, in seconds.")]
    [DisplayName("Banner Timeout")]
    public int BannerTimeout { get; set; }

    protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        Session.Add("timeout", (BannerTimeout*1000));
    }
}

This achieved what I was looking for, and maybe this method can help someone else out.

Answer 1

No, you can't pass parameters like that and have the script read them in.

Technically you could grab them from the <script> tag, but that would be a real mess.

Could you just output a script block before you include the file?

<script type="text/javascript"> var timeout = 1000; </script>

Answer 2

No, but you can pass a the value directly to a function in that file or set a variable value that will be used in the external file.

Answer 3

try this:

<script>
var myvariable = "foo";
</script>
<script src="/link/to/js.js"></script>