Windows 7 Gadget Flyout Question

Question

I'm having troubles with my flyout. What happens with my gadget is you double click a component and it will have a corresponding flyout window. If you double click that or any other visual component with a flyout, though, the flyout document is returned as null. I have no idea why this is, and if you make the flyout go away and reopen it or a new one it's ok. It's only when a flyout is already opened this happens. I'm looking for some ideas on why this is.

Double click code:

Blah.prototype.ondblclick = function()
{

    var me = this.parent;

    if (System.Gadget.Flyout.show)
    {
        // flyout is already shown, make sure it shows our stuff
        System.Gadget.Flyout.file = FLYOUT_FILE;
        onFlyoutShow();
    }
    else
    {
        System.Gadget.Flyout.file = FLYOUT_FILE;
        System.Gadget.Flyout.onShow = onFlyoutShow;
        System.Gadget.Flyout.show = true;
    }
    System.Gadget.Flyout.onHide = onFlyoutHide;

    function onFlyoutShow()
    {
        me.flyoutOpen = true;
        me.updateFlyout();
    }

    function onFlyoutHide()
    {
        me.flyoutOpen = false;
    }
};

Executed code:

Blah.prototype.updateFlyout = function ()
{
    var flyoutDoc = System.Gadget.Flyout.document;
    //flyoutDoc is null at this point
    var info = flyoutDoc.getElementById("info");
    info.innerHTML = "info: " + this.information;
    //Error thrown: 'null' is null or not an object
}

Answer 1

I don't know a lot about writing gadgets for windows 7, but to me it looks a lot like a timing issue. When the flyout is already there, you change the file property which tells it to load a new file. Without waiting you then call onFlyoutShow which tries to get the document and the document isn't loaded yet.

• My first thought is: Doesn't the onShow event fire when you set the file? Probably doesn't or you wouldn't have the if, but worth verifying.
• If that doesn't work, calling onFlyoutShow in a timeout. Start with a long timer, like 1000. And then shorten it, hopefully you can get down to 0: setTimeout(onFlyoutShow, 0);