Question

I’m only working on my 3rd Javascript project, so this is probably easy to answer (at least I hope so).

I have learned to use JS object in place of arrays. In this project I have named multiple object with a nested system of IDs as follows:

animalia = new Object();
animalia.chordata = new Object();
animalia.chordata.actinopterygii = new Object();
animalia.chordata.actinopterygii.acipenseriformes = new Object();
etc.......

I’m having problems calling on objects named this way though. Here is my code:

function expand(event){
    var target = event.target;
    console.log(target);
    var parent = target.parentNode;
    console.log(parent);
    var parentclass = parent.getAttribute("class");
    console.log(parentclass);
    if (parentclass == "kingdom"){
        var newdiv = document.createElement("div");
        var newexpctrl = document.createElement("div");
        var parentid = parent.getAttribute("id");
        console.log(parentid);  
  ----> var parentobj = window[parentid];
        console.log(parentobj);}
    else{
        var upperclass = searchArray(parentclass);
        console.log(upperclass);
        var newdiv = document.createElement("div");
        var newexpctrl = document.createElement("div");
        var parentId = parent.getAttribute("id");
        console.log(parentId);
        var parentnode_ = document.getElementById(parentId);
        console.log(parentnode_);
        var gparentId = parentnode_.parentNode.id;
        console.log(gparentId);
  ----> var parentobj = window[gparentId.parentId];
        console.log(parentobj);
    }
    var childnumb = parentobj.children;
}

I am having my problem with the two statements indicated by “—->”. In the first case, using a single variable works for pulling up the proper object. However, in the second case, using two variables, I fail to be able to access the proper object. What is the proper syntax for doing this? I have tried a plethora of different syntax combinations, but nothing seems to work correctly. Or should is there a better method for calling on JS objects other than using “window[variable]”?

P.S.- If you haven’t figured it out by now, I am working on educational tools for use in learning biology. Thanks once again stackoverflow, you guys rule.

Answer 1

Assuming that the window object has something w/ the property matching a string that’s the value of gparentId, you should be able to do:

var parentobj = window[gparentId][parentId];