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

Posted by Arianna Saoirse
Arianna Saoirse
10,078 Points

Why does every name return the 'not a student here' message?

All of the code here seems to work except the missing student message. That message prints whether the student is listed in the array or not. 

var message = '';
var student;
var search;
var position = students.indexOf(search);

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

function getStudentReport( student ) {
      var report = '<h2>Student: ' + student.name + '</h2>';
      report += '<p>Track: ' + student.track + '</p>';
      report += '<p>Points: ' + student.points + '</p>';
      report += '<p>Achievements: ' + student.achievements + '</p>';
      return report;
}

while (true) {
  search  = prompt("Search student records: type a name (ex. = 'Dave') (or type 'quit' to end).");

  if ( search === null || search.toLowerCase() === 'quit') {
    break;
  } else if (search === "" || search === " " ){
    alert("Please enter a name");
  } else if ( position < 0 ) {
      alert("I'm sorry, '" + search + "' is not a student here. Please make sure the name is correct and try again.");           
  } 

  for (var i = 0; i < students.length; i += 1) {
    student = students[i]
    if ( student.name.toUpperCase() === search.toUpperCase()  ) {
      message = getStudentReport( student );
      print (message);
    }
  }
}

2 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,268 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,268 Points

There's no definition for "students". But even if it is defined elsewhere, when "position" is assigned on line 4, "search" was just created and is still undefined. So the result of "indexOf" will be -1.

Then later, since position is always less than 0, the message is always shown unless the input is empty or "quit". Even when a name is given, "position" is never updated.

Arianna Saoirse
Arianna Saoirse
10,078 Points

Thanks for your answer. Sorry, I should have included more information.

This is the code in it's entirety: https://w.trhou.se/ek2a0svmdv>

I forgot to mention that I also tried defining "position" in the while loop, with the same result: 

while (true) {
  search  = prompt("Search student records: type a name (ex. = 'Dave') (or type 'quit' to end).");
  position = students.indexOf(search);
  if ( search === null || search.toLowerCase() === 'quit') {
    break;
  } else if (search === "" || search === " " ){
    alert("Please enter a name");
  } else if ( position < 0 ) {
      alert("I'm sorry, '" + search + "' is not a student here. Please make sure the name is correct and try again.");           
  } 
  for (var i = 0; i < students.length; i += 1) {
    student = students[i]
    if ( student.name.toUpperCase() === search.toUpperCase()  ) {
      message = getStudentReport( student );
      print (message);
    }
  }
}

(edit:) I have realized this is because it is an array of objects and the string returned does not match all of the properties in the object. So am I better changing my approach to this challenge, or should I create a for loop based on the search to find the object in the array which would return the correct position value?

Arianna Saoirse
Arianna Saoirse
10,078 Points
Arianna Saoirse
Arianna Saoirse
10,078 Points

Ended up with this code which seems to work and didn't require much change:

var message = '';
var student;
var search;

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

function getStudentReport( student ) {
      var report = '<h2>Student: ' + student.name + '</h2>';
      report += '<p>Track: ' + student.track + '</p>';
      report += '<p>Points: ' + student.points + '</p>';
      report += '<p>Achievements: ' + student.achievements + '</p>';
      return report;
}


while (true) {
  search  = prompt("Search student records: type a name (ex. = 'Dave') (or type 'quit' to end).");
  if ( search === null || search.toLowerCase() === 'quit') {
    break;
  } else if (search === "" || search === " " ){
    alert("Please enter a name");
  }

  var position =  -1;
  for (var i = 0; i < students.length; i += 1) {
    student = students[i]
    if ( student.name.toUpperCase() === search.toUpperCase()  ) {
      message = getStudentReport( student );
      print (message);
      position = i;
      break;
    }
  }

  if ( position < 0 ) {
      alert("I'm sorry, '" + search + "' is not a student here. Please make sure the name is correct and try again.");           
  } 
}

Thanks for your help!