I created a small custom javascript file with a function definition in app/assets/javascripts/custom.js
round_number = function(num, dec) {
return Math.round(num * Math.pow(10, dec)) / Math.pow(10, dec);
};
The application works fine because the file is inserted in the asset pipeline. Then, for learning purpose, I converted it to coffescript:
round_number = (num, dec) ->
Math.round(num * Math.pow(10, dec)) / Math.pow(10, dec)
But with my surprise the application didn't work. I checked in localhost:3000/assets/custom.js that the coffescript was translated to:
(function() {
var round_number;
round_number = function(num, dec) {
return Math.round(num * Math.pow(10, dec)) / Math.pow(10, dec);
};
}).call(this);
Why the extra wrapping, that made the function unavailable where I need it?
If I insert the coffescript function not in custom.js.coffee file, but in app/assets/javascripts/orders.js.coffee (where Order is my class) it is translated in the expected javascript.
I wanted to put the shared javascript function in a separate file because it is more orderly. I know that, even if I put the function in orders.js.coffee it will be available in the whole application (that is what I want to accomplish), but I'm puzzled. Is there a best practice that I am missing here?
--- EDIT ---
I understood from "Can't find variable" error with Rails 3.1 and Coffeescript
I think that I will organize my Rails applications in this way:
1) Create a file app/assets/javascripts/global.js.coffee to contain all global variables and functions. In this file put a line
window.Global ||= {}
to define a namespace Global. Define the functions as
Global.function_name = (arguments) ->
...
2) Call the functions with:
Global.function_name(arguments)
