Get the default value for an element's attribute

[frameexpert]

I use this to get an attribute value that is assigned to a particular element:

var version = getAttributeValue (element, "TemplateVersion");
alert (version);
function getAttributeValue (element, name) {
    var attrList = element.Attributes, i = 0;
    for (i = 0; i < attrList.length; i += 1) {
        if (attrList.name === name) {
            if (attrList.values[0]) {
                return (attrList.values[0]);
            }
            else {
                // If the attribute exists, but doesn't have a value, return an empty string.
                return "";
            }
        }
    }  // If the attribute doesn't exist, return undefined.
}

In this particular case, TemplateVersion is read-only and is assigned in the EDD as a default value. When I use the function above, it returns a blank string because the value has been set as a default and not explicitly set. How can I return the default value of the attribute? Thank you very much.

[frameexpert · Accepted solution]

OK, I get it. I have to go through the element's ElementDef (element definition) property:

var version = getDefaultAttributeValue (element, "TemplateVersion");
alert (version);
function getDefaultAttributeValue (element, name) {
    var elementDef, attributeDefs, i;
    elementDef = element.ElementDef;
    attributeDefs = elementDef.AttributeDefs;
    for (i = 0; i < attributeDefs.length; i += 1) {
        if (attributeDefs.name === name) {
            return (attributeDefs.defValues[0]);
        }
    }
}

[4everJang]

Hi Rick,

I was digging up some old dusty scripts as I remembered I have done this. Yes, that was the trick. The element definition has all the default settings.

Glad you figured it out. There is a LOT of dust on those old scripts. 🙂

Ciao

Jang