Waiting data while dynamically loading templates in Meteor.js

Question

In my meteor.js application, I am dynamically loading the templates;

  {{#DynamicTemplate template=getTemplate data=getData}}
    Default content when there is no template.
  {{/DynamicTemplate}}

When I am loading sub-templates, is it possible to wait to render the sub-template until sub-templates's data ready which comes from getData? I mean is there something like waitOn function of the iron-router that I can do? Thank you

Answer 1

An approach you could take is to subscribe in the template's created function, then when rendering the template, first check each subscription's ready() and if they aren't all true, then render a loading display.

<template name="templateWithSubscription">
  {{#if ready}}
    <!-- actual content -->
  {{else}}
    loading...
  {{/if}}
</template>

Template.templateWithSubscription.created = function () {
  this.subscriptions = [
    Meteor.subscribe(/* ... */),
    Meteor.subscribe(/* ... */),
    /* ... */
  ];
};

Template.templateWithSubscription.destroyed = function () {
  _.each(this.subscriptions, function (sub) {
    sub.stop();
  });
};

Template.templateWithSubscription.helpers({
  ready: function () {
    return _.all(Template.instance().subscriptions, function (sub) {
      return sub.ready();
    });
  }
});

A similar approach can be used for other data sources (e.g. methods).