Use dataviewjs to return an array of nested child fields within YAML?

[flatlines]

Apologies if this is obvious and I missed it. I have a a YAML table that is very likely to expand in future:

components:
  topsoil: [ratio, price/L]
  manure: [ratio, price/L]
  coir: [ratio, price/L]

For example, at some point I might add perlite:

components:
  topsoil: [ratio, price/L]
  manure: [ratio, price/L]
  coir: [ratio, price/L]
  perlite: [ratio, price/L]

Is there a function in dataviewjs that will let me count the number of entries under components dynamically? I have tried the following:

let componentArr = dv.array(dv.current().components);
dv.paragraph(componentArr.length) 

But this returns a length of 1. (I am guessing that this is because dataview flattens the children into 1 object?)

It would be great if I could write a function that would return an array of the children (topsoil, manure, coir) which could then be used to process the contents of each of those entries, e.g.

obj1 = dv.current().componentArr[0]
dv.paragraph("topsoil: " + obj1)

returning:

"topsoil: ratio, price/L"

In theory, such a function would enable me to write the script once and then add to the YAML components indefinitely.

Workaround 1
At the moment I am specifying the entries under components by name, i.e.

obj1 = dv.current().components.topsoil

And then duplicating that logic (and all related actions) for each entry. This means that I will need to update the script every time I update the YAML 🤔

Workaround 2
The alternative would be to create a note for each component and then load them into a huge list, but this would involve creating 1 note per component and then specifying the YAML in those notes (e.g. price).

example topsoil note

priceL: 0.1
ratio: 1

resulting YAML for the calculator file

components: ["[[manure]]", "[[topsoil]]", "[[perlite]]"]

And then querying the YAML of each note referenced by components: for its properties:

componentArr = dv.current().components
dv.paragraph(dv.page(componentArr[0].toString()).price)

I have a system like that working for plants and plant varieties, but it feels like a lot of notes for a calculator. In addition, both the price and the ratio for each component at the time of use would be variable (I might need a ratio of 1 in one situation, and 2 in another) which means I'd have to go and change the YAML in the underlying component notes for every calculation.

Workaround 3
Perhaps another possible workaround is to have a linked recipe note and somehow store the ratios in there, then reference them with a try statement inside the dataviewjs. I'll explore this option now.

---

TL;DR
Is there a function in dataviewjs that will let you parse the following:

components:
  topsoil: [ratio, price/L]
  manure: [ratio, price/L]
  coir: [ratio, price/L]

Into the following array? {topsoil, manure, coir}

Which would then expand to {topsoil, manure, coir, perlite} dynamically if a perlite entry was added to the YAML components list?

[flatlines]

I have now solved this issue with Workaround 3. I would still love to know if the original idea is possible (see TL;DR in the post above) as Workaround 3 is very verbose, took most of the day to assemble and led to an explosion of notes 😀

[blacksmithgu]

Sure, just using regular javascript.

let count = Object.keys(dv.current().components).length;
dv.paragraph(count);

[flatlines]

Thank you @blacksmithgu, that's the solution I was looking for. I'll make a note of it for next time.