ansaurus

Question

Invoking jQuery function without an element

Answer 1

+1 A:

Is there anyway you change the javascript method to javascript:popup('menu', this);? I've used this method successfully many times.

Jarrett Meyer 2010-05-17 19:21:51

Yes, that would be possible, but when I tried it, the "this" never did seem to point to the A tag. I'll try it again and have a look.

Sandman 2010-05-17 19:22:49

@Sandman: again, see http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2479557/why-is-it-bad-practice-to-use-links-with-the-javascript-protocol `this` is meaningless when used inside `href="javascript:..."`.

Crescent Fresh 2010-05-17 19:24:56

Yes, that's what I said. I get an error even when using it as onclick=""... but that could be for some other reason. I know of the difference between onclick and javascript: and the system actually translates javascript: to onclick on the fly, so my examples would actually become onclicks :)

Sandman 2010-05-17 19:39:20

Answer 2

+1 A:

Instead of referring to "this" try referring to $('a:focus') to refer to the link that was clicked.

Here's a quick and, as @Crescent Fresh would add, dirty (☺) sample:

<body>
<p><a href="javascript:popup('menu')">Show popup()</a></p>
<div id="menu" style="display:none">Today's menu</div>

<script type="text/javascript">
function popup(elm) {
    $('#' + elm).show();
    alert( $('a:focus').text() )
}
</script>
</body>

I tried just ":focus" but IE7 returned too much content. I tested this in FF 3.6.3, IE7, Chrome 4.1.249.1064 (all on Windows) and it seems OK, but I see now (when I was just about to hit "Post Your Answer") this relies on the browser's native support for querySelectorAll - see this jQuery Forum post ":focus selector filter?" and the jQuery.expr entry in the jQuery Source Viewer (where it appears Paul's idea was not implemented).

David Lantner 2010-05-17 20:59:16

Interesting. It would probably mess upp bested links (which is invalid anyway) and wouldn't work if the onclick="" handler is added to anything but a link. It could be a fallbak if the popup() function fails to find a "this". Thanks!

Sandman 2010-05-20 11:31:28

Answer 3

+1 A:

How about

<a href="javascript:popup(event, 'menu')">Show menu</a>

Once you get the event object you can virtually do anything to it.

coolnalu 2010-05-17 21:25:36

Also a good way to go around it. Thanks!

Sandman 2010-05-20 11:30:01

ansaurus

tags:

views:

answers:

Invoking jQuery function without an element

related questions