i'm having trouble Creating User-Defined Functions

I am trying to create a user defined function (rules manual p64). I created a new node and function. I used the example in the book but when i select the the function from the "Building Blocks" into a rule and try to validate....I get the message: Reference Error:Dateyyyymmdd is not defined. How can it not be defined....after all, it is in the "Building Blocks". As my mother would always say to me Where did I go Wrong?

Geodine.js

Geodine = new Object;

Geodine.Dateyyyymmdd = function()

{

var thedate = new Date();

return FormatDate(thedate, "yyyymmdd");

}

Geodine.Dateyyyymmdd.description = "Return Date in the yyyymmdd format";

Geodine.Dateyyyymmdd.syntax ="Dateyyyymmdd()";

The last line should be:

Geodine.Dateyyyymmdd.syntax = "Geodine.Dateyyyymmdd()";

You're declaring the function as a member of the global Geodine object, not as a global function itself.

Dan, Thanks for the response. I tried your changes, but I get the same error message. I have even tried to comment out the description and syntax lines as it said in the book. but same error. It won't validate.

Geodine = new Object;

Geodine.Dateyyyymmdd = function()

{

var thedate = new Date();

return FormatDate(thedate, "yyyymmdd");

}

Geodine.Dateyyyymmdd.description = "Return Date in the yyyymmdd format";

Geodine.Dateyyyymmdd.syntax ="Geodine.Dateyyyymmdd()";

Hmm. I copied the syntax above into a .js file in my plug-ins folder, and it showed up in the Building Blocks for me. I typed "return " and then clicked "Insert" and the result was this rule, which validated just fine (result was "20100128"):

return Geodine.Dateyyyymmdd()

You may need to close and re-open the Rules dialog for the changes to the .js plug-in file to take effect. Can you post the syntax of your actual rule, not just the plug-in syntax?

Thanks Dan,

return Geodine.Dateyyyymmdd()

fixed it. But why when I insert it from the building blocksdo I only get

return Dateyyyymmdd()

Thanks

George

Thanks Dan,

return Geodine.Dateyyyymmdd()

fixed it. But why when I insert it from the building blocksdo I only get

return Dateyyyymmdd()

Did you change the last line of the .js file as I suggested?

The last line should be:

Geodine.Dateyyyymmdd.syntax = "Geodine.Dateyyyymmdd()";

You're declaring the function as a member of the global Geodine object, not as a global function itself.

And like I said, you may need to close and re-open the Rules dialog for the changes to the .js plug-in file to take effect.

Dan,

I did due all yo suggested, and it now works.

.js file

Geodine = new Object;

Geodine.Dateyyyymmdd = function()

{

var thedate = new Date();

return FormatDate(thedate, "yyyymmdd");

}

Geodine.Dateyyyymmdd.description = "Return Date in the yyyymmdd format";

Geodine.Dateyyyymmdd.syntax ="Geodine.Dateyyyymmdd()";

What fixed it was changeing the rule to :

return Geodine.Dateyyyymmdd()

I was just trying now to understand why when you double click it in the building blocks it returns:

return Dateyyyymmdd()

instead of

return Geodine.Dateyyyymmdd()

Thanks again for all your help.

George

PS...... Is Doug Cogan still around, or Lauren Nakoney?