Acessing same object properties between several functions

[metafizzical]

Hi,

I have an object that contains the main data for my script. For example:

function Invoice() {
    this.name="bob"
    this.email="abc@example.com"
}

I'm trying to access and edit the object properties through several different functions - However, I don't seem to know the Right Way to do this ;)

I've been browsing online but haven't been able to find an example - or least not one I recognise due to my OO and JS newbie-ness. Here's some sample code:

function process_input(element) {
	// This function checks input and gives and assigns valid input to a 
	// namesake property of the Invoice object
	
	var regex = new Patterns(); // an object full of regexs to match against input
	var order = new Invoice();
	
	var value = document.getElementById(element).value;
	
	var i;
	for (i in regex) {
		if (element === i && value.match(regex[i])) {
			order[element] = value;
			return true;
		}	
	}
	return false; 
}

function Invoice() {
	// Class with properties created by process_input	
}


function main() {

	var myForm = document.getElementById('orderform');
	for (var i = 0; i < myForm.elements.length; ++i) {
		var e = myForm.elements[i];  
		// Ignore element unless it is a 'text input' box or a 'select' combo box
        if (e.type === "text" || e.type === "select-one") {			
			if (process_input(e.id)) {
				e.setAttribute("class", "valid");
			} 
		}
	}
	
}

The above code appears to work just fine at present. However, I'd like to add another function to some calculations and print the properties of the Invoice object.

Should I be looking at making process_order() a method of the Invoice object? Or do I need the Invoice object to be accessible globally?

Hopefully, I'm making sense :-)

[rnd me]

you will have to do one of the following.

-make the object instance a global, or a property of a global.

-return the order object and catch it in another function.

-wrap the entire code in one outside function to close the object instance. you would still have to move the "var order=" outside the "process_in put" function.

[metafizzical]

Thanks a lot :)

I've made a global instance of the object for now. (I.E:

INVOICE = function() {
}

)

How would one usually catch a returned object in another function? Would I use something like

var foo = new Object(some_function)

? I have tried to return an object and place it in another object previously, and also an array without success - however, this may well have been a syntax problem on my part. :)