Ajax Hacks - Tips & Tools for Creating Responsive Web Sites. Foreword by Jesse James Garret

Ajax, the popular term for Asynchronous JavaScript and XML, isone of the most important combinations of technologies for web developers toknow these days. With its rich grouping of technologies, Ajax developers can create interactive web applications with XML-based web services, using JavaScript in the browser to process the web server response.Taking complete advantage of Ajax, however, requires something morethan your typical "how-to" book. What it calls for is Ajax Hacksfrom O'Reilly. This valuable guide provides direct, hands-on solutions that take the mystery out of Ajax's many capabilities. Each hack represents a clever way to accomplish a specific task, saving you countless hours of searching for the rightanswer.A smart collection of 100 insider tips and tricks, Ajax Hacks covers all of the technology's finer points. Want to build next-generation web applications today? This book can show you how. Among the multitude of topics addressed, it shows you techniques for: Using Ajax with Google Maps and Yahoo Maps Displaying Weather.com data Scraping stock quotes Fetching postal codes Building web forms with auto-complete functionalityAjax Hacks also features a number of advanced hacksfor accelerated web developers. Discover how to create huge, maintainable bookmarklets, how to use client-side storage for Ajax applications, and how to call abuilt-in Java object from JavaScript using Ajax. The book even addresses best practices for testing Ajax applications and improving maintenance, performance, and reliability for JavaScript code.The latest in O"Reilly's celebrated Hacks series, Ajax Hackssmartly complements other O'Reilly titles such asHead Rush Ajax and JavaScript: TheDefinitive Guide.

List of contents

Foreword CreditsPreface Chapter 1. Ajax Basics 1. Detect Browser Compatibility with the Request Object 2. Use the Request Object to POST Data to the Server 3. Use Your Own Library for XMLHttpRequest 4. Receive Data as XML 5. Get Plain Old String s6. Receive Data as a Number 7. Receive Data in JSON Format 8. Handle Request Object Errors 9. Dig into the HTTP Response 10. Generate a Styled Message with a CSS File 11. Generate a Styled User Message on the FlyChapter 2. Web Forms 12. Submit Text Field or textarea Values to the ServerWithout a Browser Refresh 13. Display Text Field or textarea Values Using ServerData 14. Submit Selection-List Values to the Server Without a Round Trip 15. Dynamically Generate a New Selection List Using Server Data 16. Extend an Existing Selection List 17. Submit Checkbox Values to the Server Without a Round Trip 18. Dynamically Generate a New Checkbox Group with Server Data 19. Populate an Existing Checkbox Group from the Server 20. Change Unordered Lists Using an HTTP Response 21. Submit Hidden Tag Values to a Server Component Chapter 3. Validation 22. Validate a Text Field or textarea for Blank Fields 23. Validate Email Syntax 24. Validate Unique Usernames 25. Validate Credit Card Numbers 26. Validate Credit Card Security Codes 27. Validate a Postal CodeChapter 4. Power Hacks for Web Developers 28. Get Access to the Google Maps API 29. Use the Google Maps API Request Object 30. Use Ajax with a Google Maps and Yahoo! Maps Mash-up 31. Display a Weather.com XML Data Feed 32. Use Ajax with a Yahoo! Maps and GeoURL Mash-up 33. Debug Ajax-Generated Tags in Firefox 34. Fetch a Postal Code 35. Create Large, Maintainable Bookmarklets 36. Use Permanent Client-Side Storage for Ajax Applications 37. Control Browser History with iframes 38. Send Cookie Values to a Server Program 39. Use XMLHttpRequest to Scrape an EnergyPrice from a Web Page 40. Send an Email with XMLHttpRequest 41. Find the Browser's Locale Information 42. Create an RSS Feed Reader Chapter 5. Direct Web Remoting (DWR) for Java Jocks 43. Integrate DWR into Your Java Web Application44. Use DWR to Populate a Selection List from a Java Array45. Use DWR to Create a Selection List from a Java Map 46. Display the Keys/Values from a Java HashMap on a Web Page 47. Use DWR to Populate an Ordered List from a Java Array 48. Access a Custom Java Object with JavaScript 49. Call a Built-in Java Object from JavaScript Using DWRChapter 6. Hack Ajax with the Prototype and Rico Libraries 50. Use Prototype's Ajax Tools with Your Application 51. Update an HTML Element's Content from the Server 52. Create Observers for Web Page Fields 53. Use Rico to Update Several Elements with One Ajax Response 54. Create a Drag-and-Drop BookstoreChapter 7. Work with Ajax and Ruby on Rails 55. Install Ruby on Rails 56. Monitor Remote Calls with Rails 57. Make Your JavaScript Available to Rails Applications 58. Dynamically Generate a Selection List in a Rails Template 59. Find Out Whether Ajax Is Calling in the Request 60. Dynamically Generate a Selection List Using Database Data 61. Periodically Make a Remote Call 62. Dynamically View Request Information for XMLHttpRequestChapter 8. Savor the script.aculo.us JavaScript Library 63. Integrate script.aculo.us Visual Effects with an Ajax Application 64. Create a Login Box That Shrugs Off Invalid Logins 65. Create an Auto-Complete Field with script.aculo.us 66. Create an In-Place Editor Field 67. Create a Web Form That Disappears When SubmittedChapter 9. Options and Efficiencies 68. Fix the Browser Back Button in Ajax Applications 69. Handle Bookmarks and Back Buttons with RSH 70. Set a Time Limit for the HTTP Request

About the author

Bruce W. Perry is an independent software developer and writer. Since 1996, he has developed web applications and data bases for various nonprofits, design and marketing firms, as well as publishers. In his spare time, Perry is an active age-group triathlete and has cycled extensively in the Swiss Alps. He lives in the Newburyport, Massachusetts area.

Summary

A collection of 100 insider tips and tricks, this title covers the finer points of Asynchronous JavaScript and XML, or Ajax as it's known. It teaches you tasks like how to display Weather.com data, scrape stock quotes, fetch postal codes and more.

Product details

• Authors: Bruce Perry, Bruce W. Perry, Perry Bruce
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.01.2006
• EAN: 9780596101695
• ISBN: 978-0-596-10169-5
• No. of pages: 414
• Weight: 605 g
• Illustrations: w. figs.
• Series: Hacks; Hacks
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > IT, data processing > Data communication, networks; Web graphics and design, COMPUTERS / Internet / Web Design, Ajax, XML, DHTML, JavaScript, Asynchronous