Running AngularJS initialization code when view is loaded

Question

When I load a view, I\'d like to run some initialization code in its associated controller.

To do so, I\'ve used the ng-init directive on the main element of my view

Answer 1

When your view loads, so does its associated controller. Instead of using ng-init, simply call your init() method in your controller:

$scope.init = function () {
    if ($routeParams.Id) {
        //get an existing object
    } else {
        //create a new object
    }
    $scope.isSaving = false;
}
...
$scope.init();

Since your controller runs before ng-init, this also solves your second issue.

Fiddle

---

As John David Five mentioned, you might not want to attach this to $scope in order to make this method private.

var init = function () {
    // do something
}
...
init();

See jsFiddle

---

If you want to wait for certain data to be preset, either move that data request to a resolve or add a watcher to that collection or object and call your init method when your data meets your init criteria. I usually remove the watcher once my data requirements are met so the init function doesnt randomly re-run if the data your watching changes and meets your criteria to run your init method.

var init = function () {
    // do something
}
...
var unwatch = scope.$watch('myCollecitonOrObject', function(newVal, oldVal){
                    if( newVal && newVal.length > 0) {
                        unwatch();
                        init();
                    }
                });