How to pass global inputvalues to modules reactively? - r

Question

I have two modules that takes the same from dateRangeInput, and therefore I want to create this input completely on the UI side, and use it globally.
However, the output does not change with the input as the MWE shows below.
UI:
library(shiny)
# Generate User Interface; ####
ui <- fluidPage(
column(
width = 2,
h1("Controls"),
p("This input should appear in both modules reactively."),
dateRangeInput(
inputId = NS(id = NULL,"daterange"),
label = "Pick Date:",
start = Sys.Date() - 8,
end = Sys.Date()
)
),
column(
width = 5,
h1("Module 1"),
p("This output should change as date range changes."),
moduleUI("mod1")
),
column(
width = 5,
h1("Module 2"),
p("This output should change as date range changes."),
moduleUI("mod2")
)
)
Server:
server <- function(input,output,server) {
# Module 1
module_1("mod1",my_input = input$daterange)
# Module 2
module_1("mod2",my_input = input$daterange)
}
The modules are created as shown below,
module_1 <- function(id, my_input = NULL) {
moduleServer(
id, function(input, output, session) {
output$userdate <- renderText(
paste(my_input)
)
}
)
}
module_2 <- function(id, my_input = NULL) {
moduleServer(
id, function(input, output, session) {
output$userdate <- renderText(
paste(my_input)
)
}
)
}
moduleUI <- function(id) {
ns <- NS(id)
textOutput(ns("userdate"))
}
It accepts the initial values, but does change according to the input.

Answer 1

A few points:
NS(id = NULL,"daterange") in the main app is a bit unusual, it's not wrong but in my opinion it decreases the readability, so I would just use inputId = "daterange"
input$daterange is only reactive within the main app, so you need to wrap it into a reactive to pass it to the modules
then you also have to adapt how the argument is evaluated within the modules (add brackets)
Examples with your code:
# Module 2
module_2("mod2",my_input = reactive({input$daterange)})
in the module server:
output$userdate <- renderText(
paste(my_input())
)
I have created a tutorial for modules, maybe it helps you: https://github.com/jonas-hag/structure_your_app