validateExpressions() returns internal validator instead of survey element + TS docs example is invalid

[danlevison]

Describe the bug
The new SurveyModel.validateExpressions() API can return the ExpressionValidator object in IExpressionValidationResult.obj, but the documentation and TypeScript typings state that this value should be a survey element (question, panel, page, or survey).

Additionally, the documentation example does not compile in TypeScript because it accesses a non-existent name property on Base.

I took the example from - https://surveyjs.io/stay-updated/release-notes/v2.5.7

const results = survey.validateExpressions();
results.forEach(result => {
  const element = result.obj;

  console.warn(
    `Expression error in "${element.name}", property "${result.propertyName}":`,
    result.errors
  );
});

export interface IExpressionValidationResult {
  obj: Base;
  propertyName: string;
  errors: IExpressionError[];
}

See demo - https://codesandbox.io/p/devbox/keen-moser-ynk43n?file=%2Fsrc%2Fjson.js&workspaceId=ws_UBrjJL1E93iKDqX3Nj8Spq

At runtime, result.obj is not a survey element. It is an internal validator instance:

Expected behavior
Return the owning survey element when validators[] is used

result.obj should be the Question | Panel | Page | Survey that contains the expression

• Browser: chrome
• Browser version: 143.0.7499.192 (Official Build) (64-bit)
• JS framework/library: React
• SurveyJS version: v2.5.7
• Device: PC

The current behaviour makes it difficult to display meaningful validation messages (e.g., element name) without relying on undocumented internal fields.

[danlevison]

In this case I did think to try and access owner or errorOwner on ExpressionValidator but that also does not include the name property

[andrewtelnov]

@danlevison We discussed this issue today and will keep the validation interface as-is. We will do the following:

• Add a getOwner() method to the Base class. It will return the owner of the object (for example, a Validator’s owner will be a Question; a Page’s owner will be a Survey). All objects should return an owner, except the Survey instance, which will return undefined.
• Move the properties isQuestion, isSurvey, isPage, and isPanel from SurveyElement into Base. This will make it easier to determine the object type you’re working with.

Thank you,
Andrew

[danlevison]

@andrewtelnov Thank you!