Knockout.js modify value before ko.observable() write

Question

I've got a working viewmodel with numerous variables.

I use autoNumeric (http://www.decorplanit.com/plugin/) for text formatting in textbox. I'd like to use the input field's observed data in a computed observable, but if the observable textfield with the formatting gets modified, the formatting also gets saved in the variable.

How can I only observe the value of the input field without the formatting?

I think the best way to this could be a getter/setter to the observable, and remove the formatting when the value is set. I couldn't find a solution in knockout's documentation to write get/set methods for ko.observable(), and ko.computed() can not store a value.

I don't want to use hidden fields, or extra variables.
Is this possible without it?

Answer 1

Solution, as seen on http://knockoutjs.com/documentation/extenders.html

ko.extenders.numeric = function(target, precision) {
//create a writeable computed observable to intercept writes to our observable
var result = ko.computed({
    read: target,  //always return the original observables value
    write: function(newValue) {
        var current = target(),
            roundingMultiplier = Math.pow(10, precision),
            newValueAsNum = isNaN(newValue) ? 0 : parseFloat(+newValue),
            valueToWrite = Math.round(newValueAsNum * roundingMultiplier) / roundingMultiplier;

        //only write if it changed
        if (valueToWrite !== current) {
            target(valueToWrite);
        } else {
            //if the rounded value is the same, but a different value was written, force a notification for the current field
            if (newValue !== current) {
                target.notifySubscribers(valueToWrite);
            }
        }
    }
});

//initialize with current value to make sure it is rounded appropriately
result(target());

//return the new computed observable
return result;
};

And later on

function AppViewModel(one, two) {
  this.myNumberOne = ko.observable(one).extend({ numeric: 0 });
  this.myNumberTwo = ko.observable(two).extend({ numeric: 2 });
}

Answer 2

You can use ko.computed() for this. You can specify a write option, see Writeable computed observables

Example (taken from knockout documentation):

function MyViewModel() {
   this.price = ko.observable(25.99);

   this.formattedPrice = ko.computed({
       read: function () {
           return '$' + this.price().toFixed(2);
       },
       write: function (value) {
           // Strip out unwanted characters, parse as float, then write the raw data back to the underlying "price" observable
           value = parseFloat(value.replace(/[^\.\d]/g, ""));
           this.price(isNaN(value) ? 0 : value); // Write to underlying storage
       },
       owner: this
   });
}

ko.applyBindings(new MyViewModel());