July 21, 2000 - The getExpression() Method

Yehuda Shiran July 21, 2000
The getExpression() Method
Tips: July 2000

Yehuda Shiran, Ph.D.
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You can get the expression of a dynamic property with the getExpression() method. It echoed back the exact expression you specify with the setExpression() method. The getExpression() method returned a string. We did not use this method in our Solar System example, but had we used it for the Sun:

alert(oSun.style.getExpression("left"));

We would have gotten the following alert box:

Compare it with the original setExpression() statement:

oSun.style.setExpression("left", "document.body.clientWidth / 2 -
  oSun.style.pixelWidth / 2");

And likewise for the moon, had we issued this line:

alert(oMoon.style.getExpression("left"));

we would have gotten:

Compare it with the original setting:

oMoon.style.setExpression("left", "xLocation(oEarth, 0.1, 28, currentTime) - 
  oMoon.style.pixelWidth / 2");

For more on Dynamic Properties, go to Column 65, Dynamic Properties.