How do you create javascript functions that are available project-wide in Ruby on Rails?
ruby-on-rails, ruby-on-rails-3
Solution
Assuming you are using asset pipeline & coffeescript: Don't write code in application.js
In order to keep clean structure, create a folder (eg: `application`) in `app/assets/javascripts`
then require it in your `application.js`
//= require jquery
//= require jquery_ujs
//= require_tree ./application
Create a coffee file (eg: `app/assets/javascripts/application/my_feature.js.coffee`
@test = ->
alert('Hello world')
Coffee output:
(function() {
this.test = function() {
return alert('Hello world');
};
}).call(this);
It's preferable to use namespaces:
@myGreatFeature =
test: ->
alert('Hello world')
or according to the coffeescript FAQ, you could write
namespace = (target, name, block) ->
[target, name, block] = [(if typeof exports isnt 'undefined' then exports else window), arguments...] if arguments.length < 3
top = target
target = target[item] or= {} for item in name.split '.'
block target, top
namespace 'myGreatFeature', (exports) ->
exports.test = ->
alert('Hello world')
then you can call `myGreatFeature.test()` everywhere
Problem
I put the following function in my application.js: ``` function test() { alert("See Me") } ``` classrooms/_new_small.html.haml: ``` :javascript alert('test'); test(); ``` In my application.html.haml I'm using the following: ``` = javascript_include_tag 'application' ``` I'm getting a `test is not defined` error in my firebug console. Isn't the test function supposed to be available project-wide because its in the application.js file? Thanks edit: I'm rendering the page via javascript. Would that affect it? ``` $('#test_container').html("<%= escape_javascript(render :partial => 'classrooms/new_small') %>"); ```