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JavaScript JavaScript Loops, Arrays and Objects Tracking Data Using Objects The Student Record Search Challenge Solution

Jess Taylor
Jess Taylor
5,160 Points
Posted by Jess Taylor
Jess Taylor
5,160 Points

My solution, pretty pleased with myself! :)

function print(message) {
    document.write(message);
};

function searchAgain() {
    var choice = prompt('Do you want to search again?');
    choice = choice.toLowerCase();
    if ( choice === 'yes' || choice === 'y' ) {
        return true;
    } else {
        return false;
    };
}

function searchStudents(name) {
    for ( i = 0; i < student.length; i++ ) {
        if ( name === student[i].name.toLowerCase() ) {
            print( displayStudent(i) )
        }; 
    }
}

function listStudents() {
    for ( i = 0; i < student.length; i++ ) {
        print( displayStudent(i) );
    }
}

function displayStudent(i) {
        var message = "";
        message += '<h2>Student: ' + student[i].name + '</h2>';
        message += '<p>Track: ' + student[i].track + '</p>';
        message += '<p>Achievements: ' + student[i].achievements + '</p>';
        message += '<p>Points: ' + student[i].points + '</p>';
        return message;
}

var student = [
    { name: 'Neil', track: 'Web Design', achievements: 5, points: 536 },
    { name: 'Jess', track: 'Python', achievements: 15, points: 650 },
    { name: 'Charmain', track: 'iOS', achievements: 7, points: 480 },
    { name: 'Jamie', track: 'Javascript', achievements: 8, points: 585 },
    { name: 'Mary-Jane', track: 'Drawing', achievements: 20, points: 784 },
];

do {
    var input = prompt("Search for a name to see if we hold a record, or 'quit' to ummm quit");
    if ( input.toLowerCase() === 'quit' ) {
        break;
    } else {
        searchStudents( input.toLowerCase() );
    }
} while ( searchAgain() );

Pretty damn happy with myself after this challenge, actually feel like I know what i'm doing :)

Thanks Dave!

3 Answers

Matthew Rigdon
Matthew Rigdon
8,223 Points
Matthew Rigdon
Matthew Rigdon
8,223 Points

This looks good to me, very organized too :)

Antonio Jaramillo
Antonio Jaramillo
15,604 Points
Antonio Jaramillo
Antonio Jaramillo
15,604 Points

Nice stuff. I noticed that if you type anything but 'yes' or 'y', like 'Charmain' for example, in response to your searchAgain() function, your searchAgain() function will return false. Also, instead of using document.write, document.getElementById('output').innerHTML = message would probably work better. It not only makes use of the #output in your HTML, but it also resets what is printed to your HTML upon each individual search.

Ryan McCutcheon
Ryan McCutcheon
10,033 Points
Ryan McCutcheon
Ryan McCutcheon
10,033 Points 
//-----------------VARIABLES-----------------

//Nothing seemed to need scope outside the loop especially given that it is the entire program. In fact I wanted variables to reset each loop so limited their scope.


//-----------------FUNCTIONS-----------------


//Used to print items to the output HTML ID in index.html

function print(message) {
  document.getElementById('output').innerHTML = message;
}


//used to break the continuous loop by testing user response against 'quit' or 'null'

function stopLoop(response) {
  if (response === "null" || response.toLowerCase() === "quit") {
    return true;
  } 
}


//used to determine whether or not the student number exists in the data set

function search(response) {
  for ( var i = 0; i < students.length; i++ ) {
    if (students[i].number === parseInt(response)) {
      return true;
    } 
  }
}


//used to build up HTML message based on student data

function getInfo(response) {
  var student = students[parseInt(response)];
  for (var prop in student) {
    message += "<h3><strong>" + prop + ":</strong> " + student[prop] + "</h3>"
  }
  return message
}


//-----------------LOOP TO RUN PROGRAM----------------


do {


//Prompt to collect user input with response reseting each pass due to its scope

  var response = prompt("Search student records by student number or type 'quit' to exit.");


//message variable scope set to within loop so that it clears each pass  

  var message = '';


//logical test to match response with student, quit loop or provide feedback on number range

  if (search(response) === true) {
    print(getInfo(response, students));
  } else if (stopLoop(response) === true) {
    break;
  } else {
    alert("There is no student with that number. Press 'ok' and try a number between 1 and " + students.length + ".")
  }

} while (true);

Hey Jess, Just wanted to let you know that I really found your solution inspiring so I sat down for an evening and worked at building my own search engine. By borrowing some ideas I think it really made my end product stronger. I went the route of a student number to eliminate issues with duplication and built a more lean HTML compiler (I think haha) for the message. If anyone has feedback on my code I would love to hear it!

And as always thanks Dave, your teaching is awesome and the courseware is top notch!

Ryan