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Bug 20101 - insufficient set of "Return value data type" values
Summary: insufficient set of "Return value data type" values
Status: NEW
Alias: None
Product: webplatform.org
Classification: Unclassified
Component: infrastructure (show other bugs)
Version: unspecified
Hardware: PC All
: P2 normal
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: Doug Schepers
QA Contact: public-webplatform-bugs list
URL:
Whiteboard:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2012-11-27 16:49 UTC by Mike Sierra
Modified: 2012-11-27 18:32 UTC (History)
2 users (show)

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Attachments

Description Mike Sierra 2012-11-27 16:49:01 UTC 
See http://docs.webplatform.org/wiki/dom/apis/document/getNamedFlows for example. The method returns a NamedFlowCollection object, which is not represented in the canonical list of possible return values (http://docs.webplatform.org/wiki/Property:Javascript_data_type). "DOM Node" is perhaps closest, but misleading, as NamedFlowCollection is more analogous to a dynamic NodeList. The guy who reviewed my content flagged it as incorrect. Suggest implementing as <datalist> to allow content authors to enter different values as needed, then add valid new data types to the datalist.
Comment 1 Alex Komoroske 2012-11-27 16:55:37 UTC 
In this case I think you should just add NamedFlowCollection to the list of canonical data types.

As we go forward, we will get to a position where that list just gets way too darn big, but we aren't there yet.
Comment 2 Mike Sierra 2012-11-27 16:59:13 UTC 
Looks like the real problem is that "getNamedFlows" is a method & thus a function object, but that's pedantic in context considering that almost everyone will call it as a method & expect the method's return value.
Comment 3 Mike Sierra 2012-11-27 17:11:11 UTC 
Possible setup is a <select/> box for the existing fixed "canonical" list of object member data types. If the member is a function, enable a <datalist/> mechanism specifying a much wider set of possible method return values.
Comment 4 Alex Komoroske 2012-11-27 18:21:02 UTC 
I'm not sure I follow comment #2. getNamedFlows is a method that returns a NamedFlowCollection object. NamedFlowCollection isn't an option in that part of the form because it's not on http://docs.webplatform.org/wiki/Property:Javascript_data_type (which is how that part of the form is generated). It should thus be added to that configuration page so it can be specified as the return value for getNamedFlows.

Also, Semantic Forms is unfortunately somewhat limited in what types of form fields we can have. We (basically) get either a <select> or a free-form text field.
Comment 5 Mike Sierra 2012-11-27 18:32:15 UTC 
OK, misunderstood "canonical" in this context.  Also forgot I already submitted this as bug# 20005.  Too bad the forms aren't more configurable.