def get_hour_stats(): """Get hour data to be rendered on charts.js""" map_categories = str(request.args.get("map_categories")) #put JS returned into string map_categories_list = map_categories.strip("]").strip("[").split(",") #put string into list category_list = [] for category in map_categories_list: #iterate through the list to strip out quotes and add to a list category_stripped = category.strip('"') category_list.append(category_stripped) if map_categories != "None": #if there is no checkbox checked JS will return "None" as a string return Crime_Stat.get_hour_data_category(category_list) #call class method querying database by hour and provided catory and returns graph variable else: return Crime_Stat.get_hour_data() #if no categories provided, get all data regardless of category (this is what happens when page first loads)