[jQuery] preferred method for controlling a plugin from outside

[Mateusz Misiorny]

Hi,

I need to control my accordion from "outside", i.e. I need to be able
to open a specific part on some event.
I have came up with this:

jQuery.fn.accordion = function ()
{
        this.find('dd:not(:first)').hide();
        return this.each(function()
        {
                $(this).children('dt').each(function()
                {
                        this.accordion_open = function()
                        {
                                // prevent slide on already opened accordion 
element
                                if(!$(this).next(':visible')[0])
                                        $(this).siblings('dd').slideUp().
                                                end().next().slideDown();
                        }
                });
                
                $(this).children('dt').bind('click', function()
                {
                        this.accordion_open();
                });
        });
}

Now I can do stuff like $('#somedt')[0].accordion_open() and it works
as expected.

Questions:
is this the best way to do this?
I understand why I need to call my attached function via $()[0], but
it's still annoying... so I am again wondering if there are better
ways to accomplish what I am trying to do.


Thanks for any input,
Matt