xmlhttp request in javascript file causing errors

Question

I have a javascript file which has some code somewhat like this:

var Slide = 
{ 
 init: function()
 {
 var thumbs = new Array();
 thumbs = Core.getElementsByClass("thumb-img");
 var i;
 for (i=0; i<thumbs.length; i++)
 {
 Core.addEventListener(thumbs[i], "click", (function( j){return function(){Slide.showImage(j);/*alert(j);*/};})(i));
 }
 },

Now, I am trying to pass xmlhttp objects in this javascript file. I am adding the following just above the init: function()...

var xmlhttp;
function getVote(int)
{
xmlhttp=GetXmlHttpObject();
if (xmlhttp==null)
 {
 alert ("Browser does not support HTTP Request");
 return;
 }
var value = int;
alert(value);
var url="user_submit.php";
url=url+"?vote="+int;
url=url+"&sid="+Math.random();
xmlhttp.onreadystatechange=stateChanged;
xmlhttp.open("GET",url,true);
xmlhttp.send(null);
}
function stateChanged()
{
 if (xmlhttp.readyState==4)
 {
 document.getElementById("captionbox").innerHTML=xmlhttp.responseText;
 }
}
function GetXmlHttpObject()
{
var objXMLHttp=null;
if (window.XMLHttpRequest)
 {
 objXMLHttp=new XMLHttpRequest();
 }
else if (window.ActiveXObject)
 {
 objXMLHttp=new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
 }
return objXMLHttp;
}

...but firebug gives me error: missing : after property id var xmlhttp;\n

What am I doing wrong?

• Annie: FYI, there is a security flaw in your code--any site on the internet can submit a vote on behalf of a user of your page like this: <script> new Image().src = 'yoursite.com/user_submit.php?vote=4&sid = ' + Math.random(); </script> Make sure to read this before you launch your site: codinghorror.com/blog/archives/001175.html

Answer 1

That's invalid syntax - you can't have code just floating around in an object. The easiest way to do that would be to just move that code outside the Object.

A better way would be to have a function initXhr(), which is called by init(). That would contain the same code as you tried to put before init. Then, add at the end:

this.xmlHttp = xmlHttp;

Then, in other functions, use this.xmlHttp.

• amit: hwo do i access the variables outside the Slide function, inside it?
• Lucas Jones: You should just be able to just use their name as usual, if you declared them with var.
• amit: but i am unable to. i want to use a var i made in getVote() in the Slide->init() function. how do i do that?
• Lucas Jones: Here, you must declare the var outside getVote(), then leave off the var when using it in getVote(). See pastebin.com/m87d7422

Answer 2

It looks like you're putting normal Javascript inside an object block.

Move the XMLHTTP code block above the line var Slide =.

If this doesn't help, please show us the entire file.