[SOLVED] the dreaded scope...?? (timing issues)

[mwmayer4]

If you want to use a variable sent back by an Ajax request, how can you make the function "wait for it"...
in the code below, there are 2 console.log(pdfurl)... one inside the ajax and one outside... the outside seems to run before the one inside the ajax.. so my code that needs to use that variable doesn't work... I really don't want to put the other code inside the Ajax request.. any suggestions?

for example:

    onDoubleClickThumbnail: function(view, rec, item, index, e, eopts) {
		var clid = rec.get('CLNUMBER');
		var bkid = rec.get('BKID');
		var pgid = rec.get('PGID');
		var imgpath = rec.get('PGPATH');
        var pdfurl;
        var me = this;
        
		Ext.Ajax.request({
			url: 'vvcall.pgm',
			params: {
				pgm: 'mcb002r',
				action: 'showpdf',
				clid: clid,
				bkid: bkid,
				pgid: pgid,
				imgpath: imgpath
			},
			scope: me,
			success: function(response) {
				var d = Ext.decode(response.responseText);
				if (d.SUCCESS === '1') {
					pdfurl = '/cache/' + d.PDFDOC; 
                                        console.log(pdfurl);   //<-works....
				} else {
					alert('error');
				}
			}
		});
        console.log(pdfurl);  //<--returns undefined...

[eweiler]

You are setting the value of pdfurl after the return of the ajax call (in the success function).

[robert.swanson]

I really don't want to put the other code inside the Ajax request..

Is there a reason why you can't stick the code inside your Ajax success function?

[mwmayer4]

why... because it's a lot of code and I wanted it to be in another function that i may want to call from other places.. just trying to keep it much easier to read and follow..

[richard.milone]

So just create a function with your logic outside of the ajax call and then within the sucess of the ajax call put the call to your function. That will keep it clean.

[mwmayer4]

Sometimes I make this stuff more complicated than it is. I guess I figured if the variable wasn't available after the Ajax, I wouldn't be able to do that. But it worked like a charm.
Thanks!