Uncaught ReferenceError: Showdown is not defined, ReactJS.NET

Question

Problem: I'm working this tutorial to learn about React.js. I've added the showdown.js file to the project correctly and proved it is loaded as a script file in the client browser. When page loads and I look at the console it shows the error listed in the title.

Environment: MVC 4/5, Reactjs.NET

JSX File Looks Like This:

var Comment = React.createClass({
  render: function() {
    var converter = new Showdown.converter(); <-- Error is here
    return (
      <div className="comment">
        <h2 className="commentAuthor">
            {this.props.author}
        </h2>
          {converter.makeHtml(this.props.children.toString())}
      </div>
    );
  }
});
var CommentList = React.createClass({
    render: function () {
        return (
          <div className="commentList">
            <Comment author="Daniel Lo Nigro">Hello ReactJS.NET World!</Comment>
            <Comment author="Pete Hunt">This is one comment</Comment>
            <Comment author="Jordan Walke">This is *another* comment</Comment>

          </div>
      );
    }
});

var CommentForm = React.createClass({
    render: function () {
        return (
          <div className="commentForm">
              Hello, world! I am a CommentForm.
          </div>
      );
    }
});


var CommentBox = React.createClass({
    render: function () {
        return (
      <div className="commentBox">
        <h1>Comments</h1>
        <CommentList />
        <CommentForm />
      </div>
    );
    }
});
ReactDOM.render(
  <CommentBox />,
  document.getElementById('content')
);

Proof showdown.js file is sent to client Chrome Browser:

Proof the syntax is correct in JSX file

The line of code where exception is thrown is:

var converter = new Showdown.converter();

Question How do I get a new instance of Showdown.convertor?

Did you happen to include the `showdown.js` script after your `Tutorial.jsx` in your index file? — Jan Klimo, Dec 23 '15 at 17:35
@JanKlimo Yes that was the issue... I had the file loading after it was needed. Thanks! — JWP, Dec 25 '15 at 21:36

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 25 '15 at 22:01

Jan's suggestion above was right. This is what fixed the issue:

<body>
  <div id="content"></div>
  <script src="https://fb.me/react-0.14.0.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://fb.me/react-dom-0.14.0.min.js"></script>
  <script src="@Url.Content(" ~/Scripts/showdown.min.js ")"></script>
  <script src="@Url.Content(" ~/Scripts/Tutorial.jsx ")"></script>
</body>

Note that showdown.js must come before the jsx file.

Uncaught ReferenceError: Showdown is not defined, ReactJS.NET

1 Answers1