Manning Ajax in Action

Ajax in Action Dave Crane and Eric Pascarello with Darren James October, 2005 \| 680 pages ISBN: 1932394613
	$44.95	Softbound print book
	$22.50	PDF ebook

Index N-Z

N

Naive web server coding 164
namespace, XML 480
namespacing object 145
navigation buttons 512, 532

implementation 550

logic 550

navigation, in frames 469
.NET 161
net.ContentLoader, refactored 346
network latency

definition 9

predicting 11

remote procedure call 13–14

responsiveness 213

usability, effect on 11

new, keyword 592
news viewer 537
next(), in RSSReader object 551
nextSlide() 553
node, DOM

accessing 47

creating 50

editing 155

finding 49

text node 50

Nolan, Ben 129
non-positioned element, setting position 383
Northwind database 336
notification

add and remove 235

alert message 217

by highlighting 241

calling from programs 237

loading status 523

low level, using 237

of asynchronous events 216

parameterizng messages 240

pop-up dialog 229

removing 236

search progress 468

status bar implementation 226

status in 242

techniques 471

types of 222

changing mouse cursor 222

dialog box 222

secondary icons 222

status bar 222

notification message

description 223

priority 223

notifying on change in Observer pattern 156
notifyLoaded(), callback 240
null data, handling 383
null results, reporting 477

O

object

ad hoc creation 592

adding methods 593

array syntax for 592

as associative array 148

constructor 141, 592

displaying complex 151

dynamic creation 592

function object 151

functions as 591

in IFrame context 185

initializing varibles 145

loose function binding 609

namespacing 145

ORM-based 99

prototype based 591

references, in event handlers 613

subclassing with Prototype 106

vs function call 135

() controls 135

with statements 592

Object class 592

extending 200

object detection 57

example 78

object literal 347
object reference, of a DOM element 384
Object-Relational Mapping tools 97

in MVC 98

ObjectViewer

Observer pattern in 156

reusable object 149

with notifications 241

Observable object in Observer pattern 83
Observer, design pattern 82

definition 139

extending for multiple event callback 138

onblur event

handler 412

unpredictable firing 217

using 376

onchange event handler, select element 332
onclick event handler 434, 533

for login 455

installing 548

onkeydown event, using 408
onkeyup event, using 376
onload event handler 521
onload()

as callback function 61

as event handler 81

to initialize parameters 375

onload() function 48
onmouseup event 448

handler for autosave 448

onreadystatechange, JS property 61
onsubmit eventhandler 475

blocking post back in Ajax applications 474

onUpdate() 220–221

pluggable 222

onXMLLoad() 483
opacity

in Mozilla 524

opacity property, CSS 515
opacity rules 524
optimization 282, 289

attaching DOM nodes 293

by refactoring 289

dot notation 296

for loop 290

identical calculations 291

Options object, for configuration 399
ORM

based objects 99

system 442

tools, summary 97

See also Object-Relational Mapping

OSI model 10
outlook bar in Rico 109
overflow property 516

CSS 515, 543

overriding functions 456

P

padding property, CSS 486
padding-right property, CSS 514
page post back 329

loss of form content 468

loss of scroll position 468

paralysis by analysis 73
parameters

defaults 497

extend(), in Rico 547

options 497

overriding defaults 547

parentNode DOM property 49
parse method of RSSFeed 539
parseGoogleResponse() 261
parseResponse() 217
parsing

SOAP response 260

window properties 450

parsing response text 406
parsing script 193
password, encryption of 266

public and privatekeys 266

pattern matching

in strings 385

in XSLT 479

pause behavior 532
pause method 553
PEAR DB_DataObject 479

applied 98

performance

attaching DOM nodes 293

definition 280

design for 311

execution speed 281

inspecting for memory leaks 305

memory leaks 302

page loading time 328

rendering 301

subsystems 281

timing 282

Venkman profiler 288

permissions, for database table 430
PHP 161

server side example 95

physical transport 10
placing text, with CSS 45
plug-ins

debugger for Mozilla 288

developing 564

Flash for browsers 28

for Ajax tools 563

for Eclipse 563

Venkman debugger 288

pop-under window 470
pop-up

blocker, avoid with IFrame 180

content 417

creating 414

positioning 415

required properties 415

showing, hiding 421

pop-up widget

avoid pop-up blocker 180

implementation 180

pop-up window

appearing underneath other windows 470

background processing in 469

communication with parent 469–470

destroyed on refresh 470

links with parent window 470

pop-up blockers 470

spawned from onload 470

portal

Ajax version 426

Amazon A9.com 424

architecture 427

background 424

classic 424

command processor 459

commands 458

component 454

customized 425

functionality 425

header 434

maintenance page 425

manager 453

multi-user 439

server-side code 441

Yahoo! 424

portal object

add/delete windows command 462

addWindow command 462

API 459

Command pattern in 458

constructor 455

helper objects 456

load settings command 461

loadPage command 461

loadPage() 455

portalManager.do server 456

save settings command 462

savePropertries command 462

usage contract 459

portal_windows table design 439
portalManager portal server 456
PortalWindow object, Java 441
positioning

absolute 516

HTML elements 39

on top of each other 516

relative 516

Rico functionality 416

with CSS 40, 372

post back

excessive 363

identifying source 392

limiting 380

suppressing default behavior 370

POST, HTTP method 59
preload function 521
presentation tier, in architecture 162
previous method in RSSReader object 550
priority levels in notification messages 223
privileges

in Mozilla security model 254

scope of privilege 257

procedure calls

local 9

remote 10

Process Explorer tool 315
profiling 281

adding to application 285

attaching DOM nodes 293

for loop 291

object dot access 297

rendering system 301

programming environment, selecting 161
programming language, server-side choices 161
progress indicator

in classic web app 468

installing 475

techniques 471

progress messages, implementing 237
progress notification 437
properties

DOM, rendering 153

overriding defaults 400

setting 374

PropertyViewer, reusable object 149
prototype

description 597–598

extending 599

for functions 598

literal object 347, 355

property, extending Object 200

Prototype library 105

$() 395, 548

as library for library developers 106

class constructor 398

description 394

extend() 400

in RSS reader model 538

inheritance in 106

object extension 395

types in 394

prototype.js, library 347
public and private keys, use in JavaScript 266
public interface

Ajax server side 172

granularity of 172

public key

for password encryption 266

initial communication 277

PUT, HTTP method 60

Q

qooxdoo. See user interface, toolkits, qooxdoo
querystring

assembling from requests 350

creation 350

dynamic construction 334

parameters 58

retaining for book mark 490

queryString() 350
queue of commands 199
queuing server requests 520

R

Rails application framework 114
RDF syndication feed format 506
readyState property 62
Really Simple Syndication (RSS) 504
refactoring 392

and reuse 132

definition 71

DRY principle 79

for usability 215

introduce with refactoring 73

one responsibility, one method 496

role of design patterns 72

reflection 147–148

discoveirng object properties 601

listing all properties 603

reading an object 148

reflection-based solutions, frameworks 171

testing for properties 601

update domain model 205

registerRequest, in Rico API 396
regular expression

creating suggestions 418

formatting strings 386

parameterizing 418

parameters for 385

string processing 385

relative position property, CSS 516
Remove By Dislocation, design pattern 309

example 319

Remove By Hiding, design pattern 309

example 319

removeEventListener(), Mozilla 137
render() 230
renderer, pluggable 169
renderFull() 229

multiple messages 230

rendering

messages 236

methods 153

objects 152

performance 301

text 154

renderSmall() 228
repeat() 220
request dispatch pattern 454
request parameters 347

assembling from different sources 404

generalized 349

request to server, controlling rate 403
request validation

encrypted HTTP header 274

filtering encrypted HTTP headers 274

filtering HTTP requests 273

tokens for 274

Resource Descriptor Framework (RDF) 504
resource, protecting single 87
responseText, XMLHttpRequest property 64
responseXML property 262, 522

XMLHttpRequest property 64

responsiveness application feature 213
result set

checking for null 479

empty 336

handling null results 477

limiting results 368

parsing 339, 406

processing in HTML format 472

processing in XML format 472

restricting 363

reusable component, multiple installations 393
reusable object

accessing google content 255

barriers to reuse 74

being configurable 496

clean API 496

Command queue 198

configuring 399, 547

constructor for 75

ContentLoader 187

defined 74

data objects 99

default options 497

defined 74

double combo box 352

extending 359

requirements 352

edit a property 155

Event Router 141

extended array 142

flexibility in 240, 458

function naming 76

implements(), testing for functions 604

isolating the “plumbing” 76

LoadXMLXSLTDoc() 476

message object 223

notification 222–236

notification framework 237

ObjectViewer 148–149

applied 285

output console 579

parameterizing 476

problems creating 96

profiling tool 282

PropertyViewer 149

requirements for 393

stopwatch applied 291

stopwatch library 283

suggest component 393

TextSuggest 394

TimedEvent 284

type-ahead object 373

unchanged HTML requirement 397

using Prototype library 107

XSLTHelper 492

reuse, script vs XML 183
reusing DOM nodes 309
Rhino

consumes JSON script 192

JavaScript interpreter 163

rich client

alternates to Ajax 27

definition 5

distributing intelligence 146

spread sheet as 5

rich form element 366
rich transition effect 524
rich user interface 428
Rico library 109

.tag in responses 396

AjaxEngine

Ajax support 396

for communication 110

Behaviour object 109

Effect object 548

example 109

FadeTo effect 554

identifying responses 396

outlook bar 109

Robustness

application feature

definition 213

testing for 213

RPC 11
RSS feed

adding more 530

array for 519

channel element

optional elements 507

required elements 506

channel element, table of 506

cycling through 556

item element, required parts 508

item element, table of 508

item model 538

loading 518, 556

object model 538

optional items 508, 540

parsing content 522

structure 506

syndication format 506

RSS feed reader, application 509
RSS item object, link attribute 543
RSS reader layout, state of 520
RSS reader object

additional feeds 529

behavior categories 545

controller 545

model for 537

Mozilla browser problem 534

navigation behavior 532

navigation buttons 532

refactoring for MVC 537

view classes 541

RSS XML documents 510
RSSFeed object 539

items in 557

RSSItem object 539

creating 540

RSSItemView object 541, 544

constructor 541

RSSReader object

constructor 546

controlling 549

feed loading 549

Ruby 161
rules, CSS

selector part 36

style declaration part 36

runScript() 463
runtime, interpreted 591

S

SAJAX, framework 112, 170
sandbox, execution enclosure 248
SAP NetWeaver 569
Sarissa library 105

adapter pattern in 79

save settings command 462
savePortalWindows() 452
SaveWindowProperties() 449
scope, of a method 600
screen-scraper 269
Scriptaculous Effects library 243

pulsate effect 243

Scriptaculous widget library 108
script-centric 438

interaction 182

pre- and post-processing 463

processing returned scripts 463

pros and cons 462

security issues in 248

using the script 381

scripting context in Singleton pattern 90
scroll position, maintaining 469
scrollable map, widget 169
scrollbars, suppressing 515
scrolling, as Ajax function 25
search application, classic 467
search performance 467
security

filtering encrypted HTTP headers 274

filtering HTTP requests 273

HTTPS 264

man-in-the-middle attack 263

security issues

access to data 268

access to the server 268

accessing web services 253–254

browser security models 250

confidential data 263

HTTPS recommended 265

in content loader 255

mobile code 248

screen-scraper attack 269

sensitivity to layout change 269

server of origin 248

testing 251

security model, browser, effect on tools 564
select list 329

adding behavior 354

dynamic fill 339

formatting 342

from span element 372

multiple selections 343

reading 344

static fill 331

width, setting 342

selecting list items 389
selection list, first entry 336
selector, CSS

class and element rules 37

class type 37

element type 37

id-based 38

multiple type 37

parent-child selectors 38

pseudo-selectors 38

tags inside other tags 517

tag-type 37

SelectServlet 438, 442
sendRequest() 347, 460
separation of concerns 558

content from presentation 100

using template language 100

event handler object 407

Model from database 97

MVC, in 91

server side code and client data format 489

view and logic 130

separation of responsibilities, definition 71
serialized data 10
serializing data 201
server

delivers data 19

role in Ajax 160

server of origin

communication between scripts 248

data source 252

proxying other servers 252

security policy 248

server requests

queuing 520

triggering action 27

server-side

design 164

domain model 163

frameworks 111

MVC structure 102

PHP example 478

programming environment 161

programming languages 161

query for results 334

testing 368

XSLTprocessing 488

service, in SOA 170
service-oriented architecture, Ajax and 170
servlet filter 430

function alternate 430

ServletRequest parameters 58
session

finding user in 432

persistent documents in 18

saving active windows 452

storing user object 432

user 14

SetClass() for fade transition 527
setInterval(), JavaScript 220
setOptions() in RSSReader object 547
setRequestHeader() 276
setter, getter methods, for dynamic updating 442
setTimeout() 528
Settings() 450
showOrbit() 301
Simple Object Access Protocol. See SOAP
simplicity application feature 215
singleton

defined 88

design pattern in business logic 90

scripting context 90

slideshow

behavior 549

forward, back pause control 511

starting 522, 547

transitions 510

SOAP

browser tools for 260

build request manually 260

creating 260

parsing response 260

response example 261

role in security 253

sovereign application

definition 15

frameworks moving toward 24

SQL

dynamic query construction 335, 338

empty result set 336

extracting results 339

injection attack 96

injection error check 338

table creation 429

SQL SQuirrel database client program 429
start(), in RSSReader object 548
startSlideShow(), in RSSReader object 552–553
status bar, notification implementation 226
stopwatch categories 284
stopwatch library 283
stopwatch.start() 284
storyboards, as Web app model 66
stress-testing, memory management 320
string formatting with regular expressions 386
stying, visual with CSS 41
style array, DOM property 51
style classes

applying 48

naming 48

style properties, CSS 39

background image 40

color 40

dimensions 39

positioning 39

text properties 39

visibility 40

style.left, DOM property 78
style.pixelLeft, DOM property 78
stylesheet, XSLT as 479
subdomain

determining identical 249

effect on scripts 249

using document.domain property 250

submit button, disabling 194
submit() 329
submitGuess() 258
Sun Java Studio Creator 569
synchronous communication

example 12

hyperlink 23

synchronous server requests, usability impact 216
syndicated XML feed 504

how to view 504

syndication feed, formats of 506
syntax definition files, pluggable 565
Syntax highlighting 565
system resources in performance 280

T

table cells, showing empty 477
table width property 486
tag, inline 435
Task Manager 312

adding columns 313

Technical Pursuit 24
template

for XML document 476

XSLT 480

template language

Apache Velocity 100

definition 100

PHP Smarty 100

example 100

testing

by non-developer 214

file links 446

for latency 213

providing client input 368

robustness 213

text attribute in IE 357
text rendering 154
text style properties 39
text-align property CSS 436
textbox, detecting active 379
TextPad, editor 567
TextSuggest component 394
texturing elements, with CSS 45
this

keyword 76

resolving reference 572

Thomas, Dave 603
tier, in architecture 162

compared to MVC 162

TimedEvent object 284
timeout method, JavaScript 390
timer object for transitions 520
timers, using JS 390
timestamp 218

format of 221

timing events, adding and removing 390
timing execution 282

system clock 282

toDocumentPosition(), Rico 416
toHTML method 542
tools, custom made 563
tooltip

device, in notification 225

event handlers 229

implementation 229

pinned 229

top variable 90
toString()

for view object 544

results with different objects 151

traffic volume, Ajax vs conventional web 21
transfer objects, in J2EE 163
transformNode(), XSLT processing 483
transient application definition 15
transition

effect 511, 554

implementing 527

object, in Scriptaculous library 109

timing 519

triple combo box 345
try...catch blocks, in JS 257
type-ahead suggest 362

basic process 362

effect of fast typists 363

handling multiple elements 377

limiting post backs 364

limiting results 364, 368

middle of a word result 368

multiple elements 392

operation 391

parameters for 373

TypeAhead() 380
typing, loose 590

U

UI manipulation 557
underline with regular expression 387
undo(), using command objects in 85
UniversalBrowserRead privilege

in Mozilla browsers 557

invoking 535

updates

by multiple users 218

notifying users 218

timestamp for 218

polling ther server for 218

UpdateServlet, for saving windows 451
UpdateStatus() 522–523
updateView(), in RSSReader object 558
usability 212

alert message for errors 217

consistency 214

desktop app vs. web page 212

feedback 212

responsiveness 213

robustness 213

simplicity 215

usage contract, portal object 459
user accounts 429
user interface

drag-and-drop in Ajax 22

generate from a model 147

GMail 24

response time 11

rich client 5

smooth interaction 21

toolkits 214

Backbase 214

Bindows 214

qooxdoo 214

typical web page 8

user interface programming, frameworks for 167
user interface quality 4
user investment in the application 212
user table, design 429
user updates

managing 197

server side code 202

to server 201

V

var keyword 349
Venkman

plug-in debugger 288, 577

profiler 288

profiler output 288–289

version control tools, integration with 566
view in MVC 124–134

application level 124

business logic in 125

example 121

excluding model logic 124

for mesages 225

hand coded 147

in RSS reader object 541

initializing 541

refactoring 101

view object in MVC as as string 544
Vim, editor 568
visibility semantics in JavaScript 541
Visual Studio, Visual InterDev component 568

W

web application

architecture 162

as set of pages 14

blocked pages 21

classic 4

conventional 8

conventional interaction 27

life cycle 17

limitations 9

problems 8

transient application 15

web archive (.war) file 454
web browsers

potential of 4

technology included with 34

web service

accessing with Ajax 253

as Ajax data source 170

coarse-grained façade 172

fine-grained façade 172

protecting private methods 172

Web Services, definition 170
Web Tools Platform project-Eclipse 569
Webber, J.G. 315
weblog 504–505

availability 505

widget

button, implementing 84

desktop 40

need for custom 169

sets for JavaScript 108

width of div elements 513
width of element set by padding 416
width property

CSS 517

in IE 343

window

DHTML library 445

extracting properties 449

saving properties 448

storing size and location 439

window library

adapting for autosave 448

testing 447

window properties database table 439
Windows Forms for .NET, framework 168
workflow

in Ajax application 27

interrupting 217

interruptions 213

X

x library 104
XML

coupling client and server 190

data format 188

dynamic generation 205

form definition 335

generating content 94

parsing 145

parsing Google return 260

SOAP message 260

support for 189

XML document

as medium for client/server communication 95

dynamic construction 478

dynamic creation 336

parsing 357

structuring 476

XML feeds

Ajax for viewing 504

formats 504

viewing multiple 504

XML messages, bulk of 173
XML parsing 540
XML syndication feed 504
XmlDocument object

description 56

sample usage 56

XMLHttpRequest object

Ajax component 32

creating 348

cross browser invocation 346

description 56

function of 366

library for 105

querystring parameters 58

responseText property 64

responseXML property 64

script loading 186

setting Mozilla permission 535

using JSON data 191

using SOAP messages 253

XSLT

applying to source 481

choosing to use 489

degradation of processing 492

document example 480

ease of change 489

for-each loop 481

input from web design 489

output 480

pattern 479, 481

pattern matching 479

processing input 492

reusable component 491

rules for transformation 479

select attribute 481

stylesheet 479

template 480

template rules 479

value-of operator 481

version, encoding 480

XML document structure 476

XML namespace 480

XSLTHelper object 492
XSLTProcessor object

in Mozilla 484

Y

Yahoo!, portal 425

Z

z-Index property 524
zones, in IE security model 250
zoom slider, widget 169

DESCRIPTION

Web users are getting tired of the traditional web experience. They get frustrated losing their scroll position; they get annoyed waiting for refresh; they struggle to reorient themselves on every new page. And the list goes on. With asynchronous JavaScript and XML, known as "Ajax," you can give them a better experience. Once users have experienced an Ajax interface, they hate to go back. Ajax is new way of thinking that can result in a flowing and intuitive interaction with the user.

Ajax in Action helps you implement that thinking--it explains how to distribute the application between the client and the server (hint: use a "nested MVC" design) while retaining the integrity of the system. You will learn how to ensure your app is flexible and maintainable, and how good, structured design can help avoid problems like browser incompatibilities. Along the way it helps you unlearn many old coding habits. Above all, it opens your mind to the many advantages gained by placing much of the processing in the browser. If you are a web developer who has prior experience with web technologies, this book is for you.

"What is Ajax?"
Get a taste of what Ajax is all about by viewing one of our original screencasts. Choose to watch the entertaining and informative four minute overview or view the more detailed demonstration in our twenty-two minute screencast. It defines Ajax and builds a working example with rich features you can learn to create for your users.

What's Inside

Ajax principles
Why Ajax design patterns matter
How to avoid Ajax pitfalls
Examples of Ajax in action: type-ahead suggest, live searching using XSL, and many more.
Examples using Ajax frameworks: Prototype, Scriptaculous, x and Rico
Ajax usability, security, and performance

ABOUT THE AUTHORS...

Dave Crane has pushed the boundaries of DHTML, and latterly Ajax, on digital TV set-top boxes, in home automation and banking and financial systems. He lives in Gloucestershire, UK. Eric Pascarello is an ASP.NET developer and a moderator of the HTML and JavaScript forum at JavaRanch. He lives in Laurel, MD. Darren James is the architect of the opensource Rico project. He lives in Sunnyvale, CA.

Inside the book

Manning Blog

Author Blogs

Author Calendar

Catalog

About...

Index N-Z

DESCRIPTION

What's Inside

ABOUT THE AUTHORS...