Calling a function when ng-repeat has finished

Question

What I am trying to implement is basically a \"on ng repeat finished rendering\" handler. I am able to detect when it is done but I can\'t figure out how to trigger a functi

Answer 1

The answers that have been given so far will only work the first time that the ng-repeat gets rendered, but if you have a dynamic ng-repeat, meaning that you are going to be adding/deleting/filtering items, and you need to be notified every time that the ng-repeat gets rendered, those solutions won't work for you.

So, if you need to be notified EVERY TIME that the ng-repeat gets re-rendered and not just the first time, I've found a way to do that, it's quite 'hacky', but it will work fine if you know what you are doing. Use this $filter in your ng-repeat before you use any other $filter:

.filter('ngRepeatFinish', function($timeout){
    return function(data){
        var me = this;
        var flagProperty = '__finishedRendering__';
        if(!data[flagProperty]){
            Object.defineProperty(
                data, 
                flagProperty, 
                {enumerable:false, configurable:true, writable: false, value:{}});
            $timeout(function(){
                    delete data[flagProperty];                        
                    me.$emit('ngRepeatFinished');
                },0,false);                
        }
        return data;
    };
})

This will $emit an event called ngRepeatFinished every time that the ng-repeat gets rendered.

How to use it:

The ngRepeatFinish filter needs to be applied directly to an Array or an Object defined in your $scope, you can apply other filters after.

How NOT to use it:

Do not apply other filters first and then apply the ngRepeatFinish filter.

When should I use this?

If you want to apply certain css styles into the DOM after the list has finished rendering, because you need to have into account the new dimensions of the DOM elements that have been re-rendered by the ng-repeat. (BTW: those kind of operations should be done inside a directive)

What NOT TO DO in the function that handles the ngRepeatFinished event:

• Do not perform a $scope.$apply in that function or you will put Angular in an endless loop that Angular won't be able to detect.

• Do not use it for making changes in the $scope properties, because those changes won't be reflected in your view until the next $digest loop, and since you can't perform an $scope.$apply they won't be of any use.

"But filters are not meant to be used like that!!"

No, they are not, this is a hack, if you don't like it don't use it. If you know a better way to accomplish the same thing please let me know it.

Summarizing

This is a hack, and using it in the wrong way is dangerous, use it only for applying styles after the ng-repeat has finished rendering and you shouldn't have any issues.