The desktop is on the Web.

[kgun]

We all know how AJAX has reduced the gap between desktop applications and web applications. I have always been a fan of the SitePoint books, and often buy a new book once it is launched. The last "The Art & Science of JavaScript" written by seven of the world's premier JavaScript experts is impressing. Examples of what can be done with JavaScript and DOM.

Dragging columns in a table with and without (tabbing) a mouse by implementing an oneliner once you have the function library.

window.onload = function () {var sales = new ColumnDrag("ID);}

where ID is your name property for table. E.G sales as in the books example.

Similarily you can implement a table that can be sorted ascending or descending with and without the mouse. The well known inefficient bubble sort algorithm is used in the sorting, but there is no reason why you should not be able to easily modify the sort functiong by a more efficient algorithme like heap, merge, quick, radix sort etc. if you have to manage large tables in your online documents.

That is the first chapter of the book. You may download an excerpt of the book from the above link and get a full overview of how powerful JavaScript has become. The essence of this paradigme is to understand the DOM and the dom node tree. By manipulating the node tree, deleting, inserting and moving nodes in the tree + styling, you have complete control over your document.

If you have these books (in addition to the above)

1. DHTML*Utopia: Modern*Web*Design Using*JavaScript*&*DOM - SitePoint Books
2. Build*Your*Own AJAX Web*Applications - SitePoint Books
3. Simply JavaScript - SitePoint Books
4. The PHP Anthology: 101 Essential Tips, Tricks & Hacks, 2nd Edition - SitePoint Books
5. The*CSS*Anthology: 101*Essential*Tips, Tricks*&*Hacks, 2nd Edition - SitePoint Books

you should have enough for a while. I remember when I was working in the Central Bank of Norway, a colleague of mine said the following.

"Teaching students how to use manuals (especially the index and the content) is one of the most important thing you learn them."

Conclusion:
Learn to use libraries and reuse code and you do not need to reinvent the wheel.

Some will say that you do not need books. There is more than enough free code online. That is a matter of taste.

[kgun]

An article related to the book: The Art and Science of JavaScript [JavaScript & AJAX Tutorials]


The Sitepoint JavaScript page is an excellent page to stay updated on JavaScript, DOM scripting, DOM building and DHTML.

Note the last two articles

1. jQuery: Easy JavaScript for Designers [JavaScript & AJAX Tutorials]
2. Rewrite the Web with Chickenfoot [JavaScript & AJAX Tutorials]

Related WPW threads:
Send form data with PHP

Note the post with the following object instantiation:

Var regex = new RegExp("string");

PHP, Security and Where am I

Google search for additional threads:

DHTML OR JavaScript kgun -breakroom site:www.webproworld.com

Tools:
Firebug - Web Development Evolved Explained in chapter 4 of "The art and science of JavaScript".

Chickenfoot Explained in article above.

Sidenote: Private prediction, today about 10 % of surfers have JS turned off. In 10 years this percentage will have turned to less than 5 %.

[NetProwler]

Erudite kgun You amaze me. How do you manage to cram every message with so much of information ?

After so many years of working with plain vanilla coding in JS for doing mundane things, you have opened a new way for me. The possibilities are really enormous. Thanks.

[able]

I've recently started working with jquery (having never done js) and I just wish I'd done it earlier.

Jquery really does seem to make my output a lot nicer, its actually quite anoying sometimes. I can have the nicest db system running and all the client sees now is an auto complete box or some nice effect.

However, if it makes them happy, I can only praise jquery.

Thanks for the links!

[kgun]

Related WPW thread:

Web Design: the next level.