Create script tag in IE8

Question

I was testing our site, in IE8 and got the dreaded Unexpected call to method or property access. error.

After lots of debugging (IE8's devtools suck), I found the offending line.

$('<script>').html(JSData).appendTo('head')

The problem is $('<script>').html(JSData). I tried running just that in the console, and I still got the error.

Why can't IE8 set the .html on a newly created script tag?

P.S. This fails too:

$(document.createElement('script')).html(JSData)

UPDATE: I tried to create the script tag without jQuery:

var scriptTag = document.createElement('script');
scriptTag.type = 'text/javascript';
scriptTag.innerHTML = JSData;

On the scriptTag.innerHTML = JSData; line, IE8 gives Unknown runtime error. Thanks IE8.

Seems like it'd be easier/better to just `eval()` the script anyway. — Pointy, Aug 30 '12 at 16:34
@Pointy: I could use `eval` (or rather, jQuery's `$.globalEval`), but I figured this may be "faster". — gen_Eric, Aug 30 '12 at 16:35
@adeneo: Haha, their example doesn't even work! http://samples.msdn.microsoft.com/workshop/samples/author/dhtml/refs/insertScript_2.htm EDIT: It works in IE8, not Chrome. I kinda need my solution to be cross-browser. — gen_Eric, Aug 30 '12 at 16:44
Am trying to add a script of type text/html. defer isnt working. — Ravi, Jan 08 '15 at 23:02

kennebec · Accepted Answer · 2012-08-30T16:48:45.160

16

Your javascript only method needs to add the script element to the document.

IE<9 does not recognize innerHTML or childNodes on script tags, but all browsers support the text property.

var scriptTag = document.createElement('script');
scriptTag.text= JSData;
document.body.appendChild(scriptTag);

edited Aug 30 '12 at 16:48

answered Aug 30 '12 at 16:46

kennebec

1

Hmm, this seems to work. Curious that `$(' – gen_Eric Aug 30 '12 at 16:51
1

@Rocket Hazmat: jQuery's .text() sets the textContent or innerText properties (not the text property). – robocat Feb 05 '15 at 01:03

1 Answers1