Script Inspection

[Amr87]

Hello Everyone :)

I found a script for a sliding effect that uses OO Javascript rather than Jquwry , and I wanted to study it . actually , I`m almost understanding it All , but I have a few question that I hope someone answer regarding this script , I`m beginner in javascript by the way.

// ===================================================================
// Author: Christopher Manciero <[e-mail]>
// WWW: http://www.chrismanciero.com/
//
// NOTICE: You may use this code for any purpose, commercial or
// private, without any further permission from the author. You may
// remove this notice from your final code if you wish, however it is
// appreciated by the author if at least my web site address is kept.
//
// You may *NOT* re-distribute this code in any way except through its
// use. That means, you can include it in your product, or your web
// site, or any other form where the code is actually being used. You
// may not put the plain javascript up on your site for download or
// include it in your javascript libraries for download. 
// If you wish to share this code with others, please just point them
// to the URL instead.
// Please DO NOT link directly to my .js files from your site. Copy
// the files to your server and use them there. Thank you.
// ===================================================================

// These variable are for the vertical sliding methods
var timerlen = 5;
var slideAniLen = 500;
var timerID = new Array();    
var obj = new Array();
var endLength = new Array();
var moving = new Array();
var dir = new Array();
var startTime = new Array();

// This object slide the elements vertically (top to bottom)
function VerticalSlide(ObjectToSlide)
{
    this.ToggleSlide(ObjectToSlide);
}

/*
    This function sees if object is shown, slide up or if object is hidden, slide down
    Parameters
        objname - name of object to slide
*/
VerticalSlide.prototype.ToggleSlide = function (objname)
{	
	if(document.getElementById(objname).style.display == "none")
	{
		// div is hidden, so let's slide down
		this.SlideDown(objname);
	}
	else
	{
		// div is not hidden, so slide up
		this.SlideUp(objname);
	}
};

/*
    This function slides the object down
    Parameters
        objname - name of object to slide
*/
VerticalSlide.prototype.SlideDown = function (objname)
{
	if(moving[objname])
		return;

	if(document.getElementById(objname).style.display != "none")
		return; // cannot slide down something that is already visible

	moving[objname] = true;
	dir[objname] = "down";
	this.StartSlide(objname);
};

/*
    This function slides the object up
    Parameters
        objname - name of object to slide
*/
VerticalSlide.prototype.SlideUp = function (objname)
{
	if(moving[objname])
		return;

	if(document.getElementById(objname).style.display == "none")
		return; // cannot slide up something that is already hidden

	moving[objname] = true;
	dir[objname] = "up";
	this.StartSlide(objname);
};

/*
    This function start slidings the object
    Parameters
        objname - name of object to slide
*/
VerticalSlide.prototype.StartSlide = function (objname)
{
	obj[objname] = document.getElementById(objname);

	endLength[objname] = parseInt(obj[objname].style.height);
	startTime[objname] = (new Date()).getTime();

	if(dir[objname] == "down")
		obj[objname].style.height = "1px";
		
	obj[objname].style.display = "block";

	timerID[objname] = setInterval('VerticalSlide.prototype.SlideTick(\'' + objname + '\');',timerlen);
};

/*
    This function checks if the time since the slide started has passed
    the define value for slideAniLen if it hasn't keep sliding
    Parameters
        objname - name of object to slide
*/
VerticalSlide.prototype.SlideTick = function (objname)
{
	var elapsed = (new Date()).getTime() - startTime[objname];

	if (elapsed > slideAniLen)
		this.EndSlide(objname)
	else 
	{
		var d =Math.round(elapsed / slideAniLen * endLength[objname]);
		if(dir[objname] == "up")
			d = endLength[objname] - d;
		
		obj[objname].style.height = d + "px";
	}
	return;
};

/* 
    This function ends the sliding
    Parameters
        objname - name of object to slide
*/
VerticalSlide.prototype.EndSlide = function (objname)
{
	clearInterval(timerID[objname]);
 
	if(dir[objname] == "up")
		obj[objname].style.display = "none";
 
	obj[objname].style.height = endLength[objname] + "px";
 
	delete(moving[objname]);
	delete(timerID[objname]);
	delete(startTime[objname]);
	delete(endLength[objname]);
	delete(obj[objname]);
	delete(dir[objname]);

	return;
};

First : why the developer uses these arrays at first rather than normal variables , whats the point?

Second : Can u explain the use of the boolean moving[objname] in both slideUp and slideDown methods and whats the use od dir[objname] boolean as well?

Third : what is the meaning of 'return;' by itself?

Thanks in advance :)

[tinymark]

He has timers for different objects.
He is testing if the VerticalSlide is busy moving something. (moving[objname])
According to http://www.w3schools.com/js/js_obj_boolean.asp false =

If the Boolean object has no initial value, or if the passed value is one of the following:
0
-0
null
""
false
undefined
NaN

the object it is set to false. For any other value it is set to true (even with the string "false")!

Return means:
You want the script to stop executing if something happens.
You want the function to return a value to the calling function

[Amr87]

thank you