How to run some code only once in view

Question

I have a partial view called '_comment.erb', and it may be called by parent many times(e.g. in a loop). The '_comment.erb' looks like:

<script>
function aaa() {}
</script>

<%= comment.content %>
<%=link_to_function 'Do', 'aaa()' %>

You can see if the '_comment.erb' be called many times, that the javascript function 'aaa' will be re-defined many times. I hope it can be define only once, but I don't want to move it to parent view.

I hope there is a method, say 'run_once', and I can use it like this:

<%= run_once do %>
  <script>
  function aaa() {}
  </script>
<% end %>

<%= comment.content %>
<%=link_to_function 'Do', 'aaa()' %>

No matter how many time I call the '_comment.erb', the code inside 'run_once' will be run only once. What shall I do?

Answer 1

<% if !@once_flag && @once_flag=1 %>
  <script>
  function aaa() {}
  </script>
<% end %>

Answer 2

Test to see if the function has already been defined. If not, define/run it

   <script type="text/javascript">
   /*<![CDATA[*/
      if (!aaa) {
        function aaa() {}
      }
   /*]]>*/
    </script>

Answer 3

Hi Freewind

Try something like this

In your layout create a hidden textfield called 'flag' and make it default value as 0

(make sure you dont include this in your partial)

in your partial script

check that value and if it is != 1 execute your function

This is not a solid solution, but since your logic needs some flag to trace the number of executions this will be a workaround

cheers, sameera

Answer 4

Hmm, if you want to define stuff once, You can just define another partail.

Define javascript in and render _comment.erb partial multiple times here. It should take care of both issues.

Answer 5

As far as I know, there no function like "run_once" available so you either have to write it yourself or handle your code another way. For javascript just define it in your application.js file and then you can call it whenever you want. If it is ruby code then put it in your application helpers and for HTML it really should be a partial.