Store array list in variable

Question

I am trying to store the array list in a variable but have no clue how to solve it.

The xpath will return a list of items, and it is displayed in console just fine. My issue is that I have no idea how I could store it in a variable to use the list later.

If I try to use "arrayList" it will only return the last item from the array, but in console it displays all items.

Any ideas?

var iterator = document.evaluate('xpathgoeshere', document, null, XPathResult.UNORDERED_NODE_ITERATOR_TYPE, null);
try {
 var thisNode = iterator.iterateNext();
 while (thisNode) {
 var arrayList = (thisNode.textContent);
 var thisNode = iterator.iterateNext();
 for (var i = 0; i < arrayList.length; i++) {
 console.log(arrayList);
 }
 }
} catch (e) {
 dump('Error: Document tree modified during iteration ' + e);
}

• Steven Spungin: What is arrayEpisodes, and why are you not using the index arrayList[i] in your loop?
• Joe Berg: @StevenSpungin Sorry, forgot to update the name, it is arrayList as well. If I use arrayList[i] it returns the same result for me. Do you know why my variable only returns the last result?
• Steven Spungin: textContent is a string, so not sure why you are iterating it. Also, try to put var thisNode = iterator.iterateNext(); at the end of the while. If you want to store the items, create an array and stash them. I will add a snippet to solution.

Answer 1

at first you should update thisNode after your loop, becaus arrayList is facing thisNode.

The next issue could be, that you're setting iterator.iterateNext(); to a new var thisNode inside your while-loop, instead of updating your var thisNode inside your try-block. (because of the var infront of it)

Try this: :)

var iterator = document.evaluate('xpathgoeshere', document, null, XPathResult.UNORDERED_NODE_ITERATOR_TYPE, null);
try {
 var thisNode = iterator.iterateNext();
 while (thisNode) {
 var arrayList = thisNode.textContent;
 for (var i = 0; i < arrayList.length; i++) {
 console.log(arrayList[i]);
 } 
 thisNode = iterator.iterateNext();
 }
} catch (e) {
 dump('Error: Document tree modified during iteration ' + e);
}

As Steven mentioned, thisNode.textContent is a string. I dont know how your sting looks like, but maybe you have to split() it first, or if its a JSONstring you have to use JSON.parse(), to get your Array.

---

But, if your thisNode.textContexts should be the items of your Array, try this:

var iterator = document.evaluate('xpathgoeshere', document, null, XPathResult.UNORDERED_NODE_ITERATOR_TYPE, null);
try {
 var thisNode = iterator.iterateNext();
 var arrayList = [];
 while (thisNode) {
 arrayList.push(thisNode.textContent); 
 thisNode = iterator.iterateNext();
 }
 console.log(arrayList);
 for (var i = 0; i < arrayList.length; i++) {
 console.log(arrayList[i]);
 } 
} catch (e) {
 dump('Error: Document tree modified during iteration ' + e);
}

• Joe Berg: Yes the second one is correct, the items are from thisNode.textContext. And thank you so much J. Sadi, works like a charm! :)

Answer 2

Add your nodes to an array.

var iterator = document.evaluate('//div', document, null, XPathResult.UNORDERED_NODE_ITERATOR_TYPE, null);
const items = []
try {
 var thisNode = iterator.iterateNext();
 while (thisNode) {
 items.push(thisNode)
 var thisNode = iterator.iterateNext();
 }
} catch (e) {
 dump('Error: Document tree modified during iteration ' + e);
}
console.log(items);

<div>
 <div>Item 1</div>
 <div>Item 2</div>
</div>