I have an html file with a controller and a directive with a template url. I want to load/compile the directive conditionally in the controller:
Here is a general template for you to reference that abstracts and also demonstrates a few Angular concepts:
JS
.directive('parentDirective', function(Resource, $compile){
return {
restrict: 'E',
link: function(scope, elem, attrs){
Resource.loadData().then(function(result){
scope.data = result.data;
var htm = '<child-directive></child-directive>';
var compiled = $compile(htm)(scope);
elem.append(compiled);
});
}
}
})
.directive('childDirective', function(){
return {
restrict: 'E',
template: '<div>Content: {{data.key}}</div>'
}
})
.factory('Resource', function($http){
var Resource = {};
Resource.loadData = function(){
return $http.get('test.json');
}
return Resource;
})
HTML
<body ng-app="myApp">
<parent-directive></parent-directive>
</body>
Notice that there is no controller code. This is because controllers should never manipulate the DOM - one reason is that it will make your code a PITA to test. So, I put everything in directives, where it should probably be in your case as well.
I also moved the $http service into a factory. Anything state/model related should be in a service. Among other reasons, by doing this, you can inject it almost anywhere (including inside of directives) to access your data without worrying about it disappearing when a controller unloads.
EDIT
You should also consider the dissenting view of the dynamic loading approach in general in the accepted answer of Dynamically adding Angular directives