how can I overwrite a prototype function?

[hzgt9b]

I know how to overwrite a function. Normally this is what I would do:
function someFunction() { /* orig definition here */ }
//later in the execution stream I would do...
someFunction = function () { /* overwrite function definition */ }
The above works fine for me even when someFunction is originally
defined in a seperate frame other than the code that overwrites it
(obviously on the same domain).

What I don't know how to-do is overwrite a prototype function that
already loaded into memory on another frame (on the same domain). For
example:

//say, this prototype function is defined on a frame named
'frame1'
String.prototype.someOtherFunction() { /* define prototype
function here */ }

Problem is I don't know how to access the prototype function from
another frame. I've tried
//assume we are not (executing) in 'frame1'
top.frame1.String.prototype.someOtherFunction = function () { /*
overwrite function here */ }
top.frame1.someOtherFunction = function () { /* overwrite
function here */ } //this just defines a new function in frame1

Is this possible? Can someone give me some pointers?

 

[Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn]

I know how to overwrite a function. Normally this is what I would do:
function someFunction() { /* orig definition here */ }
//later in the execution stream I would do...
someFunction = function () { /* overwrite function definition */ }
The above works fine for me even when someFunction is originally
defined in a seperate frame other than the code that overwrites it
(obviously on the same domain).

What I don't know how to-do is overwrite a prototype function that
already loaded into memory on another frame (on the same domain). For
example:

//say, this prototype function is defined on a frame named
'frame1'
String.prototype.someOtherFunction() { /* define prototype
function here */ }

This is a syntax error. Prototype methods are defined like this instead:

String.prototype.someOtherFunction = function() {
// ...
};

Or like this, but that would overwrite all other methods and so is useful
for initialization of user-defined prototypes only:

String.prototype = {
someOtherFunction: function() {
// ...
}
};

You should avoid augmenting prototype objects of built-in objects for it
complicates programming a lot; String.prototype could be considered an
exception to this rule of thumb because for-in iteration over strings does
not yield useful results in all implementations and so one would probably
not use for-in then.

Problem is I don't know how to access the prototype function from
another frame.

window.parent.frames["frame1"].Foo.prototype.bar
or
window.top.frames["frame1"].Foo.prototype.bar

Depends on how deep your frameset is nested and where the method is defined.

I've tried
//assume we are not (executing) in 'frame1'
top.frame1.String.prototype.someOtherFunction = function () { /*
overwrite function here */ }

This would accomplish what you want, but it would only affect the global
execution context of top.frame1, of course.

top.frame1.someOtherFunction = function () { /* overwrite
function here */ } //this just defines a new function in frame1

Actually, it only adds a property to top.frame1. It is
implementation-dependent whether this property will be available as a method
of the Global Object of the global execution context top.frame1 represents.

Is this possible? Can someone give me some pointers?

It does not make sense to overwrite a method in another global execution
context, unless this method is used in that execution context or subordered
local contexts.


PointedEars

 

[hzgt9b]

I know how to overwrite a function. Normally this is what I would do:
    function someFunction() { /* orig definition here */ }
    //later in the execution stream I would do...
    someFunction = function () { /* overwrite function definition */ }
The above works fine for me even when someFunction is originally
defined in a seperate frame other than the code that overwrites it
(obviously on the same domain).

What I don't know how to-do is overwrite a prototype function that
already loaded into memory on another frame (on the same domain). For
example:

     //say, this prototype function is defined on a frame named
'frame1'
     String.prototype.someOtherFunction() { /* define prototype
function here */ }

This is a syntax error.  Prototype methods are defined like this instead:

  String.prototype.someOtherFunction = function() {
    // ...
  };

Or like this, but that would overwrite all other methods and so is useful
for initialization of user-defined prototypes only:

  String.prototype = {
    someOtherFunction: function() {
      // ...
    }
  };

You should avoid augmenting prototype objects of built-in objects for it
complicates programming a lot; String.prototype could be considered an
exception to this rule of thumb because for-in iteration over strings does
not yield useful results in all implementations and so one would probably
not use for-in then.

Problem is I don't know how to access the prototype function from
another frame.

  window.parent.frames["frame1"].Foo.prototype.bar
or
  window.top.frames["frame1"].Foo.prototype.bar

Depends on how deep your frameset is nested and where the method is defined.

I've tried
     //assume we are not (executing) in 'frame1'
     top.frame1.String.prototype.someOtherFunction = function (){ /*
overwrite function here */ }

This would accomplish what you want, but it would only affect the global
execution context of top.frame1, of course.

     top.frame1.someOtherFunction = function () { /* overwrite
function here */ } //this just defines a new function in frame1

Actually, it only adds a property to top.frame1.  It is
implementation-dependent whether this property will be available as a method
of the Global Object of the global execution context top.frame1 represents..

Is this possible? Can someone give me some pointers?

It does not make sense to overwrite a method in another global execution
context, unless this method is used in that execution context or subordered
local contexts.

PointedEars
--
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(This won't prevent people from viewing your source, but no one
will want to steal it.)
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Thanks for the reply and info.