RESOLVED - tbl roll Not Evaluated Until End of Script?

[ericbright2002]

In order to nest tables, I would like to roll on one table and then check if the result is something specific. Depending on that first result, I might roll another table.

var result = expand("tbl roll");
var action = "";
var theme = "";
if (result.includes("Action") && result.includes("Theme")) {
     action = expand("tbl roll Action");
     theme = expand("tbl roll Theme");
}
return result + action + " " + theme;

However, it's never getting inside the if statement because I don't think the first expand("tbl roll") actually assigns a value until the full script is finished.
Whenever a result from a table points to another table, it is wiki-linked like Action. Would that make a difference?
How can I work with the initial result while within the JavaScript shortcut still? Thank you!

[jon-heard]

Try replacing this line:

if (result.includes("Action") && result.includes("Theme")) {

with this line (note the addition of [0]):

if (result[0].includes("Action") && result[0].includes("Theme")) {

The shortcut "tbl roll" returns a string of the result, even if that string is a comma separated string. However, it returns it within an array. It is an array of size 1, but it's still an array. An example return value might be [ "monkey, dolphin, parakeet" ].

I recognize that this might be confusing. The explanation is a bit involved. Let me know if you're curious and I'll explain.

[ericbright2002]

Doh! Forgot it was returning an array. That's what I needed. Thanks again!

[jon-heard]

One alternative, and a nicer one imo, would be to add this right after the first line:
result = result[0].split(", ");
Which will immediately convert the result of expand("tbl roll") into an array of result values.

Yet Another alternative, albeit less fool-proof, would be to use the new output-format of "array" in the roll (instead of "comma", "bullets", etc). I just added this output-format in response to this email, so it requires re-importing the library to use. Instead of outputting a string containing a formatted list of the results, it outputs a raw JavaScript array of the results.