By:Bobby Stevens

“Don’t touch the DOM!” they cry, their voices filled with the fear of broken customizations and angry clients. “NetSuite updates might wreck everything!”

Okay, okay, they have a point. Overly aggressive DOM manipulation can lead to trouble. But a skilled NetSuite developer knows how to wield this power responsibly, unlocking customizations that “proper” methods just can’t achieve.

The Ground Truth

Let’s get real: NetSuite is a web application. It lives in your browser. And guess what? Browsers have this thing called the DOM (Document Object Model), and with it comes JavaScript. You can manipulate the DOM, whether the purists like it or not.

The question isn’t if, it’s how to do it without painting yourself into a corner.

DOM Manipulation Done Right

1. Vanilla JavaScript is Your Friend: Libraries are cool, but NetSuite updates can break them. Stick with core JavaScript functionality – that’s future-proof.
2. Don’t Get Too Specific: Element IDs and structures can change. Write flexible selectors that focus on what the element is rather than its exact address.Example Time! Let’s say you want to modify a field label.
   • Strict Query (Not Ideal):

     • document.getElementById('custpage_field_label').style.color = 'red';

   • Flexible Query (Much Better):
     • const myFieldLabel = document.querySelector('label[for="custpage_field"]'); myFieldLabel.style.color = 'red';
3. Keep it Universal: Browsers have quirks. Use JavaScript that plays nicely with everyone to avoid unexpected issues.
4. Know Your JavaScript: This isn’t just about NetSuite. Client-side code runs on the user’s machine, using their resources. Respect that with efficient, thoughtful scripting.

The Takeaway

DOM manipulation has its risks, but it also has its rewards. A responsible NetSuite developer knows when it’s the right tool for the job, and how to use it wisely. Don’t let fear-mongering hold you back from delivering truly awesome solutions!

Need Help? Let’s Connect!

I’m a certified NetSuite developer dedicated to making NetSuite work seamlessly for businesses. If you have any NetSuite development requirements, I’d be delighted to assist! Please feel free to reach out.