knockoutjs: can we create a dependentObservable function with a parameter?
knockout.js
Solution
In Knockout, bindings are implemented internally using dependentObservables, so you can actually use a plain function in place of a dependentObservable in your bindings. The binding will run your function inside of a dependentObservable, so any observables that have their value accessed will create a dependency (your binding will fire again when it changes).
Here is a sample: http://jsfiddle.net/rniemeyer/2pB9Y/
html
type "one", "two", or "three": <input data-bind="value: text" />
<hr />
<ul data-bind="template: { name: 'itemTmpl', foreach: items }"></ul>
js
<script id="itemTmpl" type="text/html">
<li data-bind="text: name, visible: viewModel.shouldThisBeVisible(name)"></li>
</script>
var viewModel = {
text: ko.observable("one"),
items: [{name: "one"}, {name: "two"}, {name: "three"}],
};
viewModel.shouldThisBeVisible = function(name) {
return this.text() === name;
}.bind(viewModel);
ko.applyBindings(viewModel);
Problem
I have multiple input boxes that I want to hide/unhide based on a selection from user. I can achieve this by having a separate dependentObservable for each input and in turn making the dependentObservable observe the parent selection. ``` viewModel.showField1= ko.dependentObservable(function () { return viewModel.selectedType() ? IsFeatureVisible(viewModel, "BusinessFieldName1") : false; }, viewModel ); viewModel.showField1= ko.dependentObservable(function () { return viewModel.selectedType() ? IsFeatureVisible(viewModel, "BusinessFieldName2") : false; }, viewModel ); ``` this is kind of tedious to do for each field. Can I bind the elements with a dependentObservable function that can take a parameter? Important thing is it should get triggered when the parent changes Other option is that when the parent changes, I loop through the elements and hide/unhide but that will require me to map the element id <-> business name of the field. Current ``` <tr data-bind="visible: showField1"> <tr data-bind="visible: showField2"> ``` Desired ``` <tr data-bind="visible: showField('BusinessFieldName1')"> <tr data-bind="visible: showField('BusinessFieldName2')"> ```