Problem with IE 7 and Javascript

[Rockonmetal]

IE 7 is not displaying any javascript... though firefox is... it is very annoying because I have to finish something and i don't like using firefox, please, how do i re-enable javascript with IE 7?

Please i need this solved very soon or i'm totally screwed.

[jscheuer1]

Resetting to the defaults in the security tab would most likely take care of that. To be more specific, though other things might take precedence:

Tools > Internet Options > Security > Custom Level

scroll to near the bottom and make sure that:

Scripting > Active Scripting

is enabled.

[Rockonmetal]

k thnx

[Twey]

You'd have much better luck debugging with Firefox, though... IE's error console is notoriously useless. I use Konqueror primarily, but I still debug complex scripts with Firefox purely because its error messages are more informative than those of any other browser I've used.

[jscheuer1]

I have to go with Twey on the issue of debugging scripts. At the same time, if your goal is mainly to get scripts recognised in IE, I'm certain that I haven't steered you in the wrong direction.

I would like to add that IE's error reporting is not as useless as Twey makes out, but it is by far inferior to FF's.

[Twey]

I would like to add that IE's error reporting is not as useless as Twey makes out

The only two JScript error messages I have ever seen it give (or at least remember it giving; admittedly I haven't used it seriously in a fairly long time) are "object expected" (which it uses for practically everything) and "unknown runtime error" (which it uses for everything else). On top of this, it rarely actually points to the right line, and it's quite common to find that the position to which it is pointing is several hundred lines away from the actual source of the error, in a different file. In my experience, the dialogue box offers no more real information than the little yellow warning triangle in the status bar.

[jscheuer1]

The only two JScript error messages I have ever seen it (sic IE) give . . .

This probably will be of use to others, but right now (in this post of mine) it is just you and I talking, comparing notes, as it were. I would never say that IE's error reporting is better than that of the Fire Fox browser's. However, it does often give line numbers, and if the script is on the page, those numbers are as accurate (+-1) as FF's. If the script is external, they are also as accurate - for that external script's line numbers.

Admittedly, this is something that is hard to get used to, comes with experience. But when the error is specific to IE, and it is IE that you are trying to debug, it is an invaluable aid.

[Twey]

If the script is external, they are also as accurate - for that external script's line numbers.

No, I sat down and worked this one out -- the line is that in the generated code. Generated code, as seen by IE, means (usually) code with all remote <script> elements replaced with the literal content of their file.

But when the error is specific to IE and it is IE that you are trying to debug, it is an invaluable aid.

Microsoft Visual Studio includes a debugger for IE that is far more useful.

[jscheuer1]

No, I sat down and worked this one out -- the line is that in the generated code.

That hasn't been my experience. It is the line number in whatever file the error occurs. But by even pursuing this avenue, you are admitting that:

The only two JScript error messages I have ever seen it give (or at least remember it giving;

was a bit overstated. Trust me, I have no reason to lie about this. IE's error reporting is useful if you get used to it. And it isn't nearly so clear or so helpful as is FF's.

[Twey]

Er, was that a misquote? I don't see what relevance that quote bears.

It is at least very close to useless, since I'm a) not going to sit down and work that out when I can more easily and accurately find the problem with strategic log calls in the code, and b) entirely certain that that's all of the case. There have been exceptions where I simply can't work out what's accounting for the extra/missing lines.