Repeat a block dependent on an integer using Meteor/Blaze

Question

I have an integer in my mongo collection to define a count, called 'tweet_count'. I need to repeat an icon based on this value, like so:

Helper:

Template.companyList.helpers({
    companies: function () {
        return Tweets.find();
    }
});

Blaze:

{{#each companies}}
    {{ LOOP BASED ON tweet_count}}
       <i class="fa fa-circle"></i>
    {{ /LOOP }}
{{/each}}

A sample of the Mongo collection looks like:

{
"_id" : "xxx",
"name" : "xxx",
"handle" : "xxx",
"tweet_count" : 2,
"tweets" : [
    {
        "tweet_id" : "x",
        "text" : "x",
        "created_at" : "Tue Jul 04 15:56:33 +0000 2017",
        "retweet_count" : 0,
        "from" : "x",
        "from_full_name" : "x",
        "from_profile_image" : "x"
    },
    {
        "tweet_id" : "x",
        "text" : "x9",
        "created_at" : "Tue Jul 04 15:56:47 +0000 2017",
        "retweet_count" : 0,
        "from" : "x",
        "from_full_name" : "x",
        "from_profile_image" : "x"
    }
]
}

How can I achieve this using Meteor/Blaze? I have tried each but it only accepts an array which I do not have for this value, as it's simply a number.

Answer 1

Just create a helper that returns an array with the size of tweet_count:

Template.companyList.helpers({
    companies: function () {
        return Tweets.find();
    },
    getTweetCount(tweet_count) {
        const ret = [];
        for (let i = 0; i < tweet_count; i++) {
            ret.push(i);
        }
        return ret;
    }
});

It receives the tweet count and returns the empty array with size of tweet count. You call it from Blaze Syntax in the following way:

<template name="companyList">
    {{#each companies}}
        <span>{{this.name}}</span>
        {{#each getTweetCount this.tweet_count}}
            <i class="fa fa-circle"></i>
        {{/each}}
    {{/each}}
</template>

The this refers to the current document, so this.tweet_count is the number that gets passed to your helper function getTweetCount.