Jquery > Update Inline Script On Form Submission

I am using the ChemDoodle Web Components to display molecules on a web page. Basically, I can just insert the following script in my page and it will create an HTML5 canvas element

Solution 1:

Maybe make your inline script a function?

<script>functionLoadMolecule(molecule) {
    var transform1 = newTransformCanvas('transform1', 200, 200, true);
    transform1.specs.bonds_useJMOLColors = true;
    //...etc...
    transform1.specs.bonds_clearOverlaps_2D = true;
    transform1.loadMolecule(readPDB(molecule));
}
</script>

Then...

$(".button").click(function() {  
 // validate and process form here//hide previous errors
    $('.error').hide();

    //validate pdb textarea fieldvar pdb = $("textarea#pdb").val();
    if (pdb == "") {
        $("label#pdb_error").show();
        $("textarea#pdb").focus();
        returnfalse;
    }
    LoadMolecule(pdb);    
});

Solution 2:

Edit: I think I massively mis-understood the question. I was thinking you had a textbox of JavaScript code, that you needed to be parsed as JavaScript to form one of your molocules :). On the off-chance I did read the question right, I'll leave this answer here.... :)

You'll have to use dirty eval(), but be aware of the implications

try { 
  eval(pdb);
} catch (e) {
  // error; syntax error in their code.
};

Setting molecule = pdb doesn't really make sense. eval returns the value returned by the last expression (e.g. whatever loadMolecule returns in your example).

The reason it doesn't work at the moment is because pdb is simply string (JavaScript doesn't care if it contains valid JavaScript or not; it's just a string!)

Solution 3:

You mention that you're using a form. If it's a real one, do you need to block the page submission? If so, I think you need a return false somewhere along the successful path to prevent the form from actually submitting.