Array call returns undefined

Question

I'm trying to print the array (lines) but it's only possible inside the function (process data) but if i call it outside it's undefined.

$(document).ready(function() {
    $.ajax({
        type: "GET",
        url: "data.txt",
        dataType: "text",
        success: function(data) {processData(data);}
     });
});


var lines = [];

function processData(allText) {
    var allTextLines = allText.split(/\r\n|\n/);
    var headers = allTextLines[0].split(',');


    for (var i=1; i<allTextLines.length; i++) {
        var data = allTextLines[i].split(',');
        if (data.length == headers.length) {

            var tarr = [];
            for (var j=0; j<headers.length; j++) {
                tarr.push(data[j]);
            }


            lines.push(tarr);
        }
    }

}

 alert(lines);

lines is initialized empty, so it is undefined until processData puts data into it. — depperm, Jul 01 '15 at 15:33
place var lines = []; and alert(lines); inside processData function — Mathivanan, Jul 01 '15 at 15:34

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 01 '15 at 15:33

2

You are printing it before waiting for the function call. Do it as follows:

$(document).ready(function() {
    $.ajax({
        type: "GET",
        url: "data.txt",
        dataType: "text",
        success: function(data) {processData(data); alert(lines);}
     });
});

answered Jul 01 '15 at 15:33

Joanvo

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Also, you may want to use `alert(JSON.stringify(lines));` instead – Joanvo Jul 01 '15 at 15:36
3

Joanvo: Just don't use `alert()` for debugging. The `console.log()` and other tools exist for that purpose. – Jul 01 '15 at 15:39
1

@squint you are right – Joanvo Jul 01 '15 at 15:40

Array call returns undefined

1 Answers1