AngularJS : Directive not able to access isolate scope objects

Question

I am trying to put some default values in my directive with Isolate scope. Basically, I need to do some DOM manipulations using the scope object when my directive is bound.

Answer 1

The problem is: at that time angular does not update its bindings yet.

You should not access your variables like this, try to use angular js binding mechanism to bind it to view (by using $watch for example). Binding to parent scope variables means you're passive, just listen for changes and update other variables or your view. That's how we should work with angular.

If you still need to access it. You could try a workaround using $timeout

$scope.setDefaults = function() {
    $timeout(function () {
        alert(JSON.stringify($scope.appSubs)); //Coming as undefined  
    },0);          
};

DEMO

It's better to use $watch

 angular.module('ctrl', []).controller('TempCtrl', function ($scope, $location, $rootScope) {
         $scope.appSubscriptions = "Subscriptions";
         $scope.appObj = "Objs";
         $scope.showAppEditWindow = function () {
             //Binding the directive isolate scope objects with parent scope objects
             $scope.asAppObj = $scope.appObj;
             $scope.asAppSubs = $scope.appSubscriptions;

         };
     });

     angular.module('ctrl').directive('tempDirective', function () {
         return {
             restrict: 'E',
             replace: true,
             scope: {
                 appObj: '=asAppObj',
                 appSubs: '=asAppSubs'
             },
             link: function (scope, element, attrs) {

             },
             controller: function ($scope, $timeout) {
                 $scope.$watch("appSubs",function(newValue,OldValue,scope){
                     if (newValue){ 
                         alert(JSON.stringify(newValue)); 
                     }
                 });
             },
             template: "<div>{{appSubs}}</div>"
         };
     });

DEMO

By using $watch, you don't need to broadcast your event in this case.

Answer 2

Most likely the isolated scope variable is not available when the directive's controller first instantiates but probably its available when you need it for a following event such as: within a function bound to an ng-click

its just a race condition and the object doesn't arrive exactly when directive's controller loads