Setting variable by string name in javascript?

You need to call

variable[this] = value 

somehow. So you need to break the loop of the splited string before reching the last name, and then assign the value.

Ultimatively you need to call:

variable = window['Fluent']['Include']; // build this in a loop
variable['JqueryPulse'] = someValue; // then call this

Ultimately you're just building an object chain and setting the final item in the chain to a value. Also, I would add a check to ensure that items which are already objects do not get overwritten so that their existing properties don't get lost:

//bootstrap the object for demonstration purposes--not necessary to make code work
window.Fluent = {
 Include: {
 foo: 'bar', //don't want to lose this'
 JqueryPulse: false //want to set this to true
 }
};
//define function
function setGlobalItemByName( name, value )
{
 var names,
 finalName,
 //no need to figure out if this should be assigned in the loop--assign it now
 currentOp = window;
 if( typeof name === 'string' && name !== '' )
 {
 names = name.split( '.' );
 //no need to track where we are in the looping--just pull the last off and use it after
 finalName = names.pop();
 $.each( names, function()
 {
 //If the current item is not an object, make it so. If it is, just leave it alone and use it
 if( typeof currentOp[this] !== 'object' || currentOp[this] === null )
 {
 currentOp[this] = {};
 }
 //move the reference for the next iteration
 currentOp = currentOp[this];
 } );
 //object chain build complete, assign final value
 currentOp[finalName] = value;
 }
}
//use function
setGlobalItemByName( 'Fluent.Include.JqueryPulse', true );
//Check that Fluent.Include.foo did not get lost
console.log( Fluent.Include.foo );
//Check that Fluent.Include.JqueryPulse got set
console.log( Fluent.Include.JqueryPulse );

However, I would do it without using jQuery, even if you have jQuery available on the page. There is no need for the overhead of executing a function for each index.

//bootstrap the object for demonstration purposes--not necessary to make code work
window.Fluent = {
 Include: {
 foo: 'bar', //don't want to lose this'
 JqueryPulse: false //want to set this to true
 }
};
//define function
function setGlobalItemByName( name, value )
{
 var names,
 finalName,
 indexCount,
 currentIndex,
 currentName,
 //no need to figure out if this should be assigned in the loop--assign it now
 currentOp = window;
 if( typeof name === 'string' && name !== '' )
 {
 names = name.split( '.' );
 //no need to track where we are in the looping--just pull the last off and use it after
 finalName = names.pop();
 indexCount = names.length;
 for( currentIndex = 0; currentIndex < indexCount; currentIndex += 1 )
 {
 currentName = names[currentIndex];
 //If the current item is not an object, make it so. If it is, just leave it alone and use it
 if( typeof currentOp[currentName] !== 'object' || currentOp[currentName] === null )
 {
 currentOp[currentName] = {};
 }
 //move the reference for the next iteration
 currentOp = currentOp[currentName];
 }
 //object chain build complete, assign final value
 currentOp[finalName] = value;
 }
}
//use function
setGlobalItemByName( 'Fluent.Include.JqueryPulse', true );
//Check that Fluent.Include.foo did not get lost
console.log( Fluent.Include.foo );
//Check that Fluent.Include.JqueryPulse got set
console.log( Fluent.Include.JqueryPulse );

• javascript