angularjs - Assignment to scope isn't working in directive -

i have directive below makes change in scope element sections.data later assign update data on ui. however, approach works in function change_subnav not in switch case (added comments code). why happening? code change same. appreciate here. please let me know if need add more information.

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.directive('selectsubnav', function ($parse) {     return {         restrict: 'a',         link: function (scope, element, attr) {              var change_subnav = function (subnav) {                 if (scope.active_tab == 'user_exercises') {                     var sections = {};                     sections[subnav] = scope[scope.active_tab][subnav];                     // works                     scope.$apply(function () {                         $parse('sections.data').assign(scope.$parent, sections);                     });                 } else {                  }             };              $(element).on('click', function () {                 $(element).parent().children().removeclass('active');                 $(element).addclass('active');                  switch (attr.selectsubnav) {                     case 'all':                         // doesn't work                         scope.$apply(function () {                             $parse('sections.data').assign(scope.$parent, scope[scope.active_tab]);                             console.log(scope.sections.data);                         });                          break;                     default:                         change_subnav(attr.selectsubnav);                         break;                 }             });         }     } }) 

update

.directive('selectsubnav', function ($parse) {     return {         restrict: 'a',         link: function (scope, element, attr) {             var currentscope = scope;             var change_subnav = function (subnav) {                 if (scope.active_tab == 'user_exercises') {                     var sections = {};                     sections[subnav] = scope[scope.active_tab][subnav];                 } else {                  }                  return sections;             };              $(element).on('click', function () {                 $(element).parent().children().removeclass('active');                 $(element).addclass('active');                  var sections;                  switch (attr.selectsubnav) {                     case 'all':                         // doesn't work                         sections = currentscope[currentscope.active_tab];                         break;                     default:                         sections = change_subnav(attr.selectsubnav);                         break;                 }                  currentscope.$apply(function () {                     $parse('sections.data').assign(currentscope.$parent, sections);                 });             });         }     } }) 

you have access scope in link function, instead of updating scope.sections.data this:

$parse('sections.data').assign(scope.$parent, sections); 

you can this:

$parse('sections.data').assign(scope, sections); 

or, better yet update directly, this:

scope.sections.data = sections;