Nodejs with express jumps after 1 function is called directly to callback - node.js

Question

i have a sample function in which i want to trigger 3 sql queries in one express post request
function getRelatedSalespersonByCardcode(req, res) {
var reqJson = JSON.parse(req.body.json);
var count = Object.keys(reqJson.cardcode).length;
var tmpResult1, tmpResult2, tmpResult3 = [];
var q = sql.open(connstr, function (err) {
if (err) {
console.log(err);
return;
}
for (var i = 0; i < count; i++) {
q.queryRaw("SELECT Division, Salesperson FROM SomeDB.dbo.MS2_Rel_BusinessPartnerSalesperson WHERE CardCode = " + reqJson.cardcode[i], function (e, results) {
if (e) {
console.log(e);
return;
}
tmpResult1.push(results);
});
q.queryRaw("SELECT SlpCode, SlpName, Memo, Commission, GroupCode, UserSign, Active, U_wpABIS, U_sweDW," +
" U_sweATT, U_sweDIV, U_sweEMPLOYEE, U_sweRETAILER FROM SomeDB.dbo.OSLP WHERE U_sweId = " + tmpResult1[1], function (e, results) {
if (e) {
console.log(e);
return;
}
tmpResult2.push(results);
});
q.queryRaw("SELECT Code, Name, U_sweSALES FROM SomeDB.dbo.[#SWEDIV] WHERE Code = " + tmpResult3[0], function (e, results) {
if (e) {
console.log(e);
return;
}
tmpResult3.push(results);
});
}
});
res.send(200, tmpResult2);
}
Anyway after 1 function is called inside my req, res function the callback is triggert.. so it jumps directly to the res.send(...) line.
i've played a bit around and it seems that this is how express works.
after a bit of googleing around i found out that i have to use the async lib.
i'd like to ask why express is working like this and if anybody maybe have a better solution than the async approach. i simply need a way to realize my scenario.

Answer 1

This is no issue of express and no issue at all. This is like node.js async programming is working. Let's examine what's happening in your code:
var tmpResult2;
// 1. async open sql connection
var q = sql.open(connstr, function (err) {
// 3. query sql connection
});
// 2. render result
res.send(200, tmpResult2);
SQL connection is opened asynchronously.
Express render is called.
SQL queries are executed.
As a consequence this code piece sends data to the client before the data was fetched. So the most simple solution is to invoke res.send inside of the callback like this:
var tmpResult2;
// 1. async open sql connection
var q = sql.open(connstr, function (err) {
// 2. render result
res.send(200, tmpResult2);
});
You can use the wonderful async module to deal with the queries (Take a look at the async waterfall function).