How to add more functions in the Helper class? - sails.js

Question

According to Sails's document, helper class has a default 'fn' function. I cannot add function2 in it. Can you help me? Thankyou!
fn: async (inputs, exits) => {
var result = inputs.a + inputs.b;
return exits.success(result);
},
function2 : async (a, b) => {
var result = a + b;
return exits.success(result);
},

Answer 1

An helper and controllers(actions) can be writing using "actions2" syntax. I didn't found documentation about it's specification but according to documentation look like this: https://sailsjs.com/documentation/concepts/actions-and-controllers#?actions-2
Alternatives to declare a function
You could add a function outside helper or controllers(actions) like this.
function add(a, b) {
return a + b;
}
module.exports = {
friendlyName: 'Add - math operation for two numbers',
description: 'Add two numbers',
inputs: {
a: {
description: 'first value',
required: true
},
b: {
description: 'second value',
required: true
}
},
exits: {
},
fn: async function (inputs, exits) {
// call to add function
return exits.success({result: add(inputs.a, inputs.b)});
}
};
Other options inside fn attribute
module.exports = {
friendlyName: 'Add - math operation for two numbers',
description: 'Add two numbers',
inputs: {
a: {
description: 'first value',
required: true
},
b: {
description: 'second value',
required: true
}
},
exits: {
},
fn: async function (inputs, exits) {
function add(a, b) {
return a + b;
}
// call to add function
return exits.success({result: add(inputs.a, inputs.b)});
}
};

Answer 2

To add a new helper to the helpers class, you would define it in a new file. In the console you can use sails generate helper <desired extension>/<desired helper name> This will give you a whole file with its own inputs, exits and fn. As an example I might have a set of helpers that work with a specific api called "formtastic". To create a helper that retrieves forms, in the terminal sails generate helper formtastic/retrieve-forms. This will create a new file that I can specify the inputs and exits and write all the needed code. Then when I want to call this helper elsewhere in back end code, I use camel case and dots for each folder extension, so: sails.helpers.formtastic.retrieveForms()