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JavaScript JavaScript and the DOM (Retiring) Traversing the DOM Getting the First and Last Child

My solution wont work. Why?

Here is the snap:

https://w.trhou.se/k52uzcpsfx

If i check the console, it throws this error:

Uncaught TypeError: Cannot set property 'disabled' of null at disableButtons (app.js:43) at app.js:58

My code passes the first if(list[i] == firstListItem) statement and sets the : up.disabled = true; list[i].style.backgroundColor = 'lightskyblue';

.. but on the else if() statement throws the mentioned error. Why?

Thank you!

4 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,271 Points

Whenever you actually move an item up or down (or remove one), you probably want to call "disableButtons" again to reset the button properties and list item background colors.

Also, inside "disableButtons", you may need to set the "disabled" property of the button back to "false" when it is not the top or bottom anymore.

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,271 Points

On line 54, there's a loop which calls "buttonLiMaker" and "disableButtons". Yet "disableButtons" seems intended to work with buttons on every list item; but during the first loop pass, they don't exist yet except on the first one.

So I'd bet the call to "disableButtons" on line 58 should be moved to outside the loop (after the brace on line 61).

Steven Parker, oh - thanks for that. But it only gets me half-way there. If I start clicking the buttons (up, down) it won't change the value for the new current first/last item. What should I do?

Oh, ok. Thank you. Yes, I've solved it - thanks for your help!