ng-model not working for angular radio buttons with JSON object as values

Question

I have a simple filter where I want to select a particular value and type and make other calls using that. Here is a close representation of what I have in my view (I am not using ng-repeat to create these radio buttons).

<form>
<label>
    <input type="radio" name="ptf" ng-value="cntrl.filter.today_filter" ng-model="cntrl.filter.filter_value"> Today
</label>
<label>
    <input type="radio" name="ptf" ng-value="cntrl.filter.hour_filter" ng-model="cntrl.filter.filter_value"> Last 
</label>
    <select ng-model="cntrl.filter.hours" ng-options="num for num in cntrl.filter.time_range"></select>
<label> hours</label>
<label>
    <input type="radio" name="ptf" ng-value="cntrl.filter.date_filter" datepicker="" ng-model="cntrl.filter.filter_value">Select a Date
</label>
<button class="btn btn-info float-right" ng-click = "cntrl.refreshData()" >Update</button>
</form>

This basically gives me 3 options where I can select either today, or last n hours or another date. Here is the relevant code from my cntrl.

vm.filter = {
        today_filter: {
            type: 'today',
            value: 1
        },
        date_filter: {
            type: 'date',
            value: 2
        },
        hour_filter: {
            type: 'hours',
            value: 3
        },
        hours: 8,
        today: getFormattedDate(vm.current_date),
        time_range: [],
        filter_value: {
            type: 'today',
            value: 1
        }
    };

Now I have filter_value (ng-model) set as an object with type today and value 1. So I am expecting that by default my radio button with value of cntrl.filter.today_filter should be selected. And as I select other radio buttons, the filter_value object should update accordingly. Of course this is not happening. Is there some basic thing that is wrong here? Any pointers on how to fix this or maybe a different approach on this?

Answer 1

There are a few things wrong with your code:

1. You use the wrong aliasses for your controller in your view (spDashboardCntrl and cntrl)
2. Use the actual same object as the initial value instead of a new object that just looks the same.

For clarity, see the working example below.

angular.module('app',[])
.controller('myController', function() {
  var vm = this;
  
  vm.filter = {
        today_filter: {
            type: 'today',
            value: 1
        },
        date_filter: {
            type: 'date',
            value: 2
        },
        hour_filter: {
            type: 'hours',
            value: 3
        },
        hours: 8,
        today: '', //getFormattedDate(vm.current_date),
        time_range: []
    };
 vm.filter.filter_value = vm.filter.today_filter;
});

<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/angularjs/1.5.8/angular.min.js"></script>
<div ng-app="app">
  <div ng-controller="myController as vm">
    <form>
      <label>
        <input type="radio" name="ptf" ng-value="vm.filter.today_filter" ng-model="vm.filter.filter_value">Today
      </label>
      <label>
        <input type="radio" name="ptf" ng-value="vm.filter.hour_filter" ng-model="vm.filter.filter_value">Last
      </label>
      <select ng-model="vm.filter.hours" ng-options="num for num in vm.filter.time_range"></select>
      <label>hours</label>
      <label>
        <input type="radio" name="ptf" ng-value="vm.filter.date_filter" datepicker="" ng-model="vm.filter.filter_value">Select a Date
      </label>
      <button class="btn btn-info float-right" ng-click="vm.refreshData()">Update</button>
    </form>
    
    {{vm.filter.filter_value}}
  </div>
</div>