Recursive JavaScript function using array doesn't work

Question

I try to make a recursive function to delete files using jQuery and ajax to show the status of the process. The problem is, the first time the function is executed (index 0) everything is fine and the "output" is "1594.jpg". But when the index is incremented to 1, it's the second caracter of the chain filesToDelete, '5', then '9', and so on.

filesToDelete = new Array();
filesToDelete = '1594.jpg,my.png,test.ogg,Song.mp3,Apple_4S.mov,An App.exe';
filesToDelete = filesToDelete.split(',');
function ajaxDelete(itemList, cpt) {
 var tempItemList = itemList;
 //If cpt is not initialized, initialize it, make sure it's an integer
 if(isNaN(cpt)) cpt = 0*1;
 //If cpt is equal to the array, exit
 if(cpt >= itemList.length) return;
 //Current index
 var curIndex = cpt;
 //The value of the current index
 var current = itemList[curIndex];
 //DEBUG
 console.log('cpt:'+cpt+' index:'+curIndex+' Value:'+itemList[curIndex]);
 $.ajax({
 url: "deleteFile.php?id="+current,
 beforeSend: function(){
 progressText('Suppression de '+current);
 },
 success: function(data){
 progressText('Suppression...');
 //Index + 1
 cpt++;
 //RECURTION
 setTimeout("ajaxDelete('"+itemList+"', "+cpt+")",1);
 }
 });
}

Any help is welcomed, with explanation if possible..

Thanks !

• Jared Farrish: How are you calling the ajaxDelete() with filesToDelete?
• deceze: Wouldn't this be better done on the server directly?
• Jeremy Dicaire: @deceze: No because I want a feedback for the user and event if I use flush(*) in php, AJAX still wait for the complete page to be load before returning the result.
• Jeremy Dicaire: @Jared: I'm not calling it actually :), but I think I should because it will take less memory if the array got like 200 indexes

Answer 1

Don't rely on the ajax success method for this, if it fails for whatever reason your stuck.

You should do an ajax call per file to delete or better yet send the Array of files to the server and let it take care of it.

for (i = 0; i <= filesToDelete.length; i++)
{
 // Ajax Call
 $.ajax({
 });
}

• Jeremy Dicaire: Oh damn, never thought of that, thank you so much, trying it right away!
• Jeremy Dicaire: Working like a charm! Thx man! EDIT: Is it possible to wait for an answer from the ajax request before skipping to the other index?

Answer 2

You're passing in itemList as a string, but believe it to be an array. (In the setTimeout call, I mean.)

But I agree with the comment/answer; ew!

• Jeremy Dicaire: How can I paste it as an array? (just for learning, I'll take Miste Jeremy solution :))

Answer 3

Your setTimeout call is executing a string command:

setTimeout("ajaxDelete('"+itemList+"', "+cpt+")",1);

When you concatenate strings and objects, it takes the value of toString() on that object. In the case of an array, that will give you this:

ajaxDelete('1594.jpg,my.png,test.ogg,Song.mp3,Apple_4S.mov,An App.exe', 1)

And strings will accept brackets and give you that character. This will give you '5'

'1594.jpg,my.png,test.ogg,Song.mp3,Apple_4S.mov,An App.exe'[1]

You could omit that parameter and use filesToDelete directly in your call...

• Jeremy Dicaire: Thanks Jason fot the explanation, now that you have explained it to me, I feel stupid XD... Next time I'll be more careful, thank you
• Jeremy Dicaire: No sorry Jason still getting an error from FireBug: setTimeout("ajaxDelete("+filesToDelete+", "+cpt+")",1)
• Jason Goemaat: I meant don't even take itemList as a parameter, declare your function "ajaxDelete(cpt)" and you can use the existing filesToDelete array. Since you just set the value outside your function it should be on your window object.
• Jeremy Dicaire: Okay tahnk you! But let say I can't, how should I parse the array in the function unsing ajaxDelete(...) ?
• Jason Goemaat: Maybe you could consider that parameter to be the comma-separated value string, and split it into a NEW array varaible inside your function? Then you're passing it as a string every time..