nerd

If you’re like me, your JavaScript objects can get pretty complex. It can be a real drag to write separate trace statements for lots of different properties. I find it very convenient to be able to dump an object’s representation out to the trace window. Attached to this article you’ll find an updated version of the debugging library. This copy includes the toLiteral function which will convert any value into its JavaScript literal version. This allows you to write code like the following:

function Cat( name, age, numberOfLivesRemaining )
{
    this.name= name;
    this.age= age;
    this.numberOfLivesRemaining= numberOfLivesRemaining || 9;
}

function somethingClever()
{
    var oneCat= new Cat( "augustus", 4 );

    trace( "oneCat=" + toLiteral(oneCat) );
}

when you call somethingClever the following will be added to the log:

oneCat={ name: "augustus", age: 4, numberOfLivesRemaining: 9 }

For the debugging library, functions are omitted from the literal versions of objects, because they seldom change and are seldom what you’re interested in when you’re debugging.

Requirements

Like the previous version of the debugging library, this version requires you to create a pre element with the id “trace”.

downloadUrl=debugging2.zip type=zip download=Expanded JavaScript Debugging Functions