Gang:

I’m having an ‘object required’ yellow caution error with a function that was added to a legacy ASP page on an intranet.

There’s a DHTML menu that is hidden by a select form element. I tried the vendor’s solutions, but none worked.

That being said, I created a workaround that functions (e.g. no issues). Depending on mouse position, the select is moved up or down via a dummy table & row.

I tested all the functions, but it’s the ‘RemoveRows’ function that creates the error. I isolated the error to one line (e.g. bolded).

My objective is to get the page working without any visible errors.
Any suggestions…


function FindXyCoords () //find mouse x y coords
 {
  var s = 'X=' + window.event.clientX + ' Y=' + window.event.clientY;
  y = window.event.clientY;
// document.getElementById('divCoord').innerText = s; write coord
// <div id="divCoord"></div> o/p coord
  if
   (y < 150)
    {
     AddRows('WhatTbl');
    }
  else
  {
   RemoveRows('WhatTbl');
  }
}

i = 0 //init counter
function AddRows (WhatTbl) // move select 3 rows down since overlaps nav mnu
 {
  if
   (document.frm.counter.value < 3)
    {
     for
      (i = 1; i < 4; i++) //already have empty row, so need 3 >
       {
        tblBody = document.getElementById(WhatTbl).tBodies[0];
        newNode = tblBody.rows[0].cloneNode(true);
        tblBody.appendChild(newNode);
        document.frm.counter.value = i; //avoid add row loop
       }
    }
 }

function RemoveRows (WhatTbl) // move select 3 rows up since overlaps nav mnu
 {
  tbl = document.getElementById(WhatTbl);
  totalRows = tbl.rows.length;
  if
   (totalRows > 1) //can't delete 1st row
    {
     tbl.deleteRow(totalRows - 1); //totalRows 1 > than counter
     document.frm.counter.value = 0; //reset so can add rows
    }
 }

<table border = 0 cellspacing = 0 cellpadding = 0 width = 0 id = "WhatTbl">
    <tr>
        <td>&nbsp;</td>
    </tr>
</table>

If you have Visual Studio installed or the Script Editor that comes with Office then you can uncheck the "Disable script debugging (Internet Explorer)" option in Tools > Internet options > Advanced. You can then load the page and then step through and see exactly where the error occurs.
I find that a lot of these errors are caused by objects or functions being referenced before they are available. Often the code is tested by people who are running a local web server where slow downloads and rendering don't occur, unlike the real world.

--

Joe (Microsoft MVP - XML)

Joe:

Good suggestion!

In 'RemoveRows' function, tbl was 'null' while totalRows was 'object required'.

When holding mouse over tbl.rows.length, the length = 1. This is correct since dummy table/row never deleted.

Am I referencing objects incorrectly?

Strange, if tbl is null then tbl.rows will be null too. One explanation I can see is that something is amiss because you declare tbl as a global variable. Try using var tbl = . You could also use the correct functions for adding rows, insertRow and insertCell rather than cloneNode and appendChild.

--

Joe (Microsoft MVP - XML)

Joe:

var had no effect, nor did insertRow, insertCell

While testing, I think that the mouse position is causing the error.
If below the y coord, the error occurs, else another error.
Both of the items in question exist, so it's just a reference error as opposed to a functional one.

I'll think I'll leave it as is since the nav mnu issue is fixed.

Rewrote AddRows f(x), makes > sense

i = 0; //init counter
function AddRows (WhatTbl) // move select 3 rows down since overlaps nav mnu
 {
  if
   (document.frm.counter.value < 3)
    {
     for
      (i = 1; i < 4; i++) //already have empty row, so need 3 >
       {
        x = document.getElementById('WhatTbl').insertRow(0);
        y = x.insertCell(0);
        y.innerHTML = "&nbsp;";
        document.frm.counter.value = i; //avoid add row loop
       }
    }
 }

Joe:

Thank you!
:)

You're welcome, did it finally work?
I get the feeling that there's something we're both missing but testing another's aspx/JavaScript app via a forum is not easy :)

--

Joe (Microsoft MVP - XML)

Joe:

I went back to test it this morning. It didn't have any issues the first two times I visited the page. The third time, the error came back.

Everything works peachy. It's the RemoveRows function which causes the 'tbl.rows.length' & global counter 'object required' errors.

I'll play with it some more. It's only going on the intranet, & the legacy navigation menu issue is resolved.

Joe:

The only thing that might be missing is the row #.
Who knows?

Onto next issue ...
LOL

Joe:

Added same code to two other pages ...

Original page has issue everytime since pdfs presented in another frame.

Other two pages intermittent ...
Must be something to do with legacy pages ...

Hope it's warmer where you are ...