how can i dynamically update my nested object within another object, within an array?

Question

I have an array and inside each array is a json object with each day of the week, so my array would look something like this:

var array = [
    {
        "wednesday":{
            "notes":"some notes for Wednesday"
        },
    },
    {
        "thursday":{
            "notes":"some notes for Thursday"
        }
    }
];

i can get away with updating my object directly by calling the following:

array[0].wednesday.notes = "updating Wednesday notes";

However, I need to update it dynamically....

I have a function that looks something like this, I need to dynamically call the day of the week on my json object and not be locked into just wednesday, i need to be able to call wednesday, thursday, friday etc on my object, how can i do this?

function updateObject(index, empNum) {
    console.log(index+", "+empNum)
    array[index].employee = $("#employee_" + empNum).val();
    array[index].wednesday.notes = $("#employee_" + empNum + "_wed_notes").val();
    array[index].wednesday.start = $("#employee_" + empNum + "_wed_shift_start").val();
    array[index].wednesday.lunch = $("#employee_" + empNum + "_wed_lunch").val();
    array[index].wednesday.end = $("#employee_" + empNum + "_wed_shift_end").val();
    array[index].wednesday.short_day = $("#employee_" + empNum + "_wed_short_day").is(':checked');
    array[index].wednesday.lack_of_work = $("#employee_" + empNum + "_wed_lack_of_work").is(':checked');
    array[index].wednesday.full_day = $("#employee_" + empNum + "_wed_full_day").is(':checked');

    var row_count = $("input[id*='employee_" + empNum + "_wed_job_']").length;
    for (var i = 0; i < row_count; i++) {
      var data = {};
      data.job = $("input[id*='employee_" + empNum + "_wed_job_']").eq(i).val();
      data.hrs = $("input[id*='employee_" + empNum + "_wed_hrs_']").eq(i).val();
      data.cost_code = $("input[id*='employee_" + empNum + "_wed_cost_code_']").eq(i).val();
      data.st = $("input[id*='employee_" + empNum + "_wed_st_']").eq(i).is(':checked');
      data.ot = $("input[id*='employee_" + empNum + "_wed_ot_']").eq(i).is(':checked');
      data.dt = $("input[id*='employee_" + empNum + "_wed_dt_']").eq(i).is(':checked');
      array[index].wednesday.data[i] = data;
    }
  }

i tried something like doing array[index].[thursday].notes = "x";

but unfortunately that doesnt work, i need to be able to call the day of the week i need when i call the function

so i need it to be something like updateObject(2,1,"thursday");

You seem to already know how to use bracket notation, and adding another argument to the function should be trivial ? — adeneo
– adeneo, Commented Dec 9, 2016 at 20:43
unfortunately i dont know how to use bracket notation, or at least im not clear on what that is =/ — alilland
– alilland, Commented Dec 9, 2016 at 20:43
i'm a bit confused, does each object in your array contain only one day? if so why not use an object instead of an array? — Punit
– Punit, Commented Dec 9, 2016 at 20:45
@Punit no it doesnt just contain one day, it contains a full week, that was my error on how i typed up my question — alilland
– alilland, Commented Dec 9, 2016 at 20:47

Punit · Accepted Answer · 2016-12-09 20:49:50Z

1

You just need to use the bracket notation to access the correct element in your array/objects.

This function would let you enter the week number (array index) as well as the day you want to update.

var array = [
    {
        "wednesday":{
            "notes":"some notes for Wednesday"
        },
    },
    {
        "thursday":{
            "notes":"some notes for Thursday"
        }
    }
];

function updateArray(index, day, newNotes) {
  array[index][day].notes = newNotes;
}

console.log('before', array);

updateArray(1, 'thursday', 'updated notes');

console.log('after', array);

answered Dec 9, 2016 at 20:49

Punit

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5 Comments

Stephan Bijzitter Over a year ago

No need to pass both index and day, passing one will allow you to infer the other.

Punit Over a year ago

@StephanBijzitter that's not true. have another look at the array structure. each element in the array is an object that could have multiple days.

AP. Over a year ago

You can use ES6 Filters to do it for you as well!

Punit Over a year ago

@AndrewIce OP specified in this comment stackoverflow.com/questions/41068528/…, that each object contains a full week, therefore multiple days.

Stephan Bijzitter Over a year ago

Comments can be deleted.

AP. · Accepted Answer · 2016-12-09 21:05:56Z

0

You can access all your data as so:

const updateObject = (index, empNum) => {
  const i = array[index], k = Object.keys(i)[0]
  if (!k) {return console.error("Invalid Data at index",index)}
  i[k].notes = `Whatever you want with ${empNum}`
}

The function isolates the key given at a certain location and accesses it.

Example: updateObject(0, "15 employees")

If you would rather have ^^ do it by day then your function would look like:

const updateObject = (day, empNum) => {
  const i = array.map(r => {
    const k = Object.keys(r)[0];if (!k) {return false}
    return r[k]
  }).filter(r => r)[0]
  if (!i) {return console.error("Invalid Day [%s] provided",day)}
  i.notes = `Whatever you want with ${empNum}`
}

Not you can use it like: updateObject('tuesday', "15 employees")

answered Dec 9, 2016 at 21:05

AP.

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1 Comment

Stephan Bijzitter Over a year ago

I doubt the asker would know how to transpile this code, given this question. Good solution, though. The arrow function however is simply clutter.

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