jQuery Change variable value

Question

I have a javascript function. It looks like this

function open_file (filename) {
  'use strict';
  var file;
  $.ajax(filename, {
    dataType: 'text',
    success:  function (data) {
      file = data;
      alert(file);
    }
  });
  return file;
}

The alert displays the text that is being stored in the file, just like I want it to. However, when it is time to return the value to the function caller, it returns an undeclared value.

How can I set the value of a variable using jQuery, but with the variable's value to be used outside of jQuery?

EDIT: I've read the duplicate question, but I'm still confused about how the call back is working as I try to trace it through the call stack. I will keep working on trying to sort this mess out.

Far better duplicate and canonical answer http://stackoverflow.com/questions/14220321/how-do-i-return-the-response-from-an-asynchronous-call — charlietfl, May 15 '16 at 03:40
Dear humans of the future. I'm the one who asked this question, and @charlietfl has provided the link that helped me. You should click on it. — Travis Rigg, May 15 '16 at 03:44

bob · Answer 1 · 2016-05-15T03:29:24.493

0

Try this :

function open_file (filename) {
  'use strict';
 return  $.ajax(filename, {
    dataType: 'text'
  });

}

edited May 15 '16 at 03:29

answered May 15 '16 at 03:14

bob

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Still undefined return value when called in another function. – Travis Rigg May 15 '16 at 03:22
you may try the solutions of this ques : http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5316697/jquery-return-data-after-ajax-call-success – bob May 15 '16 at 03:26
Returns the promise...missing the part showing how to get data from the promise – charlietfl May 15 '16 at 03:41

jQuery Change variable value

1 Answers1