Goodies to Go ™
January 12, 2004–Newsletter #267
This newsletter is part of the internet.com network.
http://www.internet.com
Featured this week:
* Goodies Thoughts – A Walk Through
History
* Q & A Goodies
* News Goodies
* Goodies Peer Reviews
* Feedback Goodies
* Windows Tech Goodies
* And Remember This…
Goodies Announcement
The new Beyond HTML Goodies book
is now available!
Go beyond the basics
and learn how the pros add and use dynamic HTML features and advanced
JavaScript techniques. Beyond HTML Goodies demonstrates dozens of new and
different features readers can add to their existing Web pages using HTML and
JavaScript. The book starts with simple text and image tips, such as adding a
clock to a Web page or causing text to appear when the mouse moves over an
image. It gradually builds to more complex tricks, including manipulating forms
or working with cookies behind the scenes. Throughout the book, readers enjoy
Joe’s snappy style and “to the point” discussion of each “goody” in the book.
http://books.internet.com/books/0789727803
Goodies Thoughts – A Walk Through History
History has to be one of the most fascinating subjects available
for us to study. I love hearing stories that my friends tell me about things
that have happened to them, and history is just a much grander version of the
same thing. It’s the story of things that happened to my ancestors and their
friends (as well as those who may not have been so friendly!) All of which may
be fun, but, with the exception of the history of the Web and perhaps websites
about history, it doesn’t have much to do with web design!
There is some history which does, however, and several of you have asked about
it. When you open your browser and surf through a few sites, the browser keeps
track of where you have been so that you can go back there by using either the
"back" button or other navigation techniques the browser may provide. To keep
track, the browser builds a history file. This file is just a series of links to
the URLs you have visited. In the Internet Explorer (I’m looking at version 6)
you can view the contents of the history file either by clicking the history
button on the toolbar, by pressing ctrl-h, by selecting View/Explorer
Bar/History from the menu hierarchy or by clicking the little down arrow to the
right of the "Back" button. Once you have the history displayed, you can click
on any link the revisit that page.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could provide some access to your visitor’s history
from within your page? With JavaScript, you can! JavaScript includes a "history"
object. You can use this object to replicate the functions of the browser’s
"Back" and "Forward" buttons. Here’s an example:
<html><head></head><body>
<script language="javascript"></script>
<form name="form1">
<input type="button" name="button1"
value="Go Back 2 Pages"
onclick="window.history.go(-2);"/>
</form>
</body></html>
In this example, I have created a form which contains a single button. I have
set the "onclick" event to use the "go()" method of the "history" object to move
back two pages.
The history object also includes "back()" and "forward()" methods to move back
and forward single pages. Of course, before you could move forward, you would
have to have moved at least one page backwards. The "go()’ method accepts a
number parameter which can be either positive or negative and moves you forward
or backward (respectively) the specified number of pages, as shown in the above
example. You can use the history object’s "length" property to find the length
of the history list in the browser.
It’s easiest to think of uses for the back method, but with some thought you
could develop some interesting navigation techniques in your site by using a
combination of these methods.
There are also a couple of interesting tricks using the history object. If the
index (the number parameter) of the "go()" method is set to zero like this:
document.history.go(0);
then the current page would be reloaded. You could also set the index by using
something typed in by the user. The following would use a text field they enter
a value into:
document.history.go(document.form1.text1.value);
If you want to do something like this you would have to be mindful of the types
of things a user could enter into the text box. Some of them may not be too
useful for your go() instruction! You could use a selection list to limit the
choices — as a programmer you always have to be on your toes!
Thanks for Reading!
– Vince Barnes
Q & A Goodies
Questions are taken from submissions to our Community Mentors. You can ask a Mentor a question by going to
https://www.htmlgoodies.com/mentors.
Q. I am fairly new to website design and need to design a site in
FrontPage 2002 to sell a book. The book will be sent as an e-mail attachment
after customer has paid through our merchant account. The order form when the
website is set up will go through to our bank merchant account on a secure
server and the e-mail should be automatically attached. Could you direct me to a
tutorial somewhere that gives me information on how to do this?
A. I would buy a pre-bulit e-commerce application to handle this for you.
There are many out there, but it depends on what your server will support. I use
Active Server Pages(ASP). It runs on Windows servers. I also use a shopping cart
called VASP (www.vasp.com) and
it handles exactly what you are looking for. Others do also but I am familiar
with that one and can tell you that it is a very nice cart for the money.
Another I would suggest and is a bit cheaper is ClickCart (http://www.clicktech.com).
This one I believe handles eBooks but I am not 100% sure. Send an email to the
Leo, the owner and I am sure he can answer your questions.
Q. I’m making a website with a "fixed" background. I can’t figure out how
to make the picture fit the browser perfectly on everybody’s system. Is there a
code I can place inside my document to alter the fixed background to fit the
browser? My site content will go into a smaller screen/box within the background
so there is no need for scrollers on my outside browser and my background image
doesn’t need to be tiled because it basically is my site.
A. You can use Cascading Style Sheets to fix a background image. The code
would have to be edited for your particular situation and image but here is the
code:
<style type="text/css">
body {
background-image: url("/images/your_image_name.gif");
background-repeat: no-repeat;
background-attachment: fixed
}
</style>
Q. I am trying to figure out how to make a check box on an HTML form
checked by default.
A. If you want a check box to be checked when the page opens you can do it
without JavaScript like this:
<input type="checkbox" id="ckbox" checked>
With JavaScript you can set the checked property to true when the page loads
like this:
<script type="text/javascript">
document.form_name.check_box_name.checked=true
</script>
The above will work if there is only one checkbox. If you have multiple
checkbox’s with the same name then you have to specify itslocation in the array
like this:
<script type="text/javascript">
document.form_name.check_box_name[0].checked=true
</script>
The above would set the first checkbox’s checked property to true.
Q. I am looking for JavaScript help in order to pre-select a option in a
select field inside a form. I am using server-side scripting (PHP) in order to
provide the selected value.
A. You could use PHP to create your option tag and select the option you
want that way. I have a small Help Desk application written in PHP that I have
set up dropdowns to select the date. I have them default to the current date.
Here is an example of the dropdown for the
month:
<select name="beg_req_month">
<?php
for($i=1;$i<=12;$i++)
{
if($i==$prob_month)
{print "<option value=’" . $i . "’ selected>" . $i .
"</option>n";}
else
{print "<option value=’" . $i . "’>" . $i . "</option>n";}
}
?>
</select>
The variable $prob_month is set to the current month in some previous code. For
JavaScript to set the selected option you would use a statement like this (which
sets the first option tag to selected):
document.form_name.select_name.options[0].selected=true
[Beware of the period following the less than symbol in the "for" statement
above — this is one of the periods inserted as a part of the technique
mentioned in the note at the beginning of this section & does not belong in the
code you execute — Ed.]
Q. Is it possible to change the link color with the onMouseOver command?
A. Yes it is. I have done it using JavaScript (there is also a way using
CSS). Here is my JavaScript version:
<html>
<head>
<title>Change Link Color</title>
<style type="text/css">
/* Set colors for IE5.0+ and Netscape 6.0 */
.textRed {color:red}
.textBlue {color:blue}
.textLgreen {color:lightgreen}
/* Set colors for Netscape 4.0+ */
A.normal{color:blue}
A.over{color:red}
A.overb{color:lightgreen}
/* No underline on link for all browsers */
A{text-decoration:none}
</style>
<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">
/* This script was written by Jim Young of www.requestcode.com and has been
tested in Internet Explorer 5.0+, Netscape 4.0+ and Netscape 6.0. I use the
statement (this.className) to change the class for the links in NS6 and IE5.0+ .
The scripts below are strictly for NS4.0+ . Add links below that are in the same
order as your links in the body section. the format for the array is:
page to link to, the link name(what is displayed on your page), div id,
class(color) for the mouseover, and class(color) for the mouseout.
Make sure you separate them by a comma (,).
*/
var links = new Array()
links[0]="http://www.wsabstract.com,Website Abstraction,divLink0,over,normal"
links[1] ="http://www.requestcode.com,Requestcode,divLink1,overb,normal"
// Unless you absolutely have to DO NOT change the functions below.
function change(linknum)
{
if(document.layers) // Check for NS4.0+
{
linkval=links[linknum].split(",") // split out the values
linkpage=linkval[0]
linkname=linkval[1]
linkdiv=linkval[2]
linkclass=linkval[3]
var linkd="<A HREF="+linkpage+" CLASS="+linkclass+" onMouseOut=changeb(""+linknum+"")>"+linkname+"</A>"
var docwrta="document."+linkdiv+".document.write(‘"+linkd+"’)"
eval(docwrta)
eval(‘document.’+linkdiv+’.document.close()’)
}
}
function changeb(linknum)
{
if(document.layers)
{
linkval=links[linknum].split(",")
linkpage=linkval[0]
linkname=linkval[1]
linkdiv=linkval[2]
linkclass=linkval[4]
var linkd="<A HREF="+linkpage+" CLASS="+linkclass+"
onMouseOver=change(""+linknum+"") onMouseOut=changeb(""+linknum+"")
>"+linkname+"</A>"
var docwrta="document."+linkdiv+".document.write(‘"+linkd+"’)"
eval(docwrta)
eval(‘document.’+linkdiv+’.document.close()’)
}
}
</SCRIPT>
</head>
<body>
<SCRIPT>
/* If you add more links here make sure you update the links array with the same
url and other required information. Make sure they are entered in the array in
the same order as they appear on your page. Also remember to change the value
being passed on the mouseover and mouseout to the functions to match the entry
in the array. Make sure you use different names for each div. In the mouseover
for IE and NS6 you can change the class name specified by the statement
this.className to a color you have setup in the styles area in your head section
above. You should leave the class(color) for the mouseout the same as when your
link is displayed when the page is first loaded. I currently have them set to
blue which is the class normal.
*/
</SCRIPT>
<CENTER>
<H1>Link Effect Example</H1>
Run your mouse over the links to see them change color </CENTER> <div
id="divLink0" style="left:15; position:absolute; top:90; visibility:visible">
<a href="http://www.wsabstract.com" onMouseOver="change (‘0’);this.className=’textRed’"
class="normal" onMouseOut="changeb (‘0’);this.className=’textBlue’">Website
Abstraction</a> </div> <div id="divLink1" style="left:15; position:absolute;
top:120;
visibility:visible">
<a href="http://www.requestcode.com" onMouseOver="change (‘1’);this.className=’textLgreen’"
class="normal" onMouseOut="changeb (‘1’);this.className=’textBlue’">Requestcode</a>
</div>
</body>
</html>
News Goodies
IBM Puts Extra Barbs in ‘Stinger’ for LinuxWorld
[January 12, 2004] Big Blue preps new partition features for
its forthcoming database software, which will be demonstrated at
LinuxWorld next week.
Click
here to read the article
Buffer Overflow Plugged in Sun ONE Web Server
[January 12, 2004] Sun releases service pack to fix denial-of-service
vulnerability.
Click here to read the article
Intel Chips in For Linux Defense
[January 12, 2004] UPDATE: The No. 1 chipmaker puts its money behind Big
Blue and an OSDL-backed fund to defend any suits related to the SCO/IBM
dispute over Linux code.
Click here to read the article
MySQL Eyes Enterprise with 5.0 Alpha
[January 12, 2004] New database version will help MySQL compete more
effectively with powerhouse players such as Microsoft IBM and Oracle.
Click here to read the article
Habla Interactive?
[January 12, 2004] Online Hispanic publishers unite to push their collective
agenda with advertisers.
Click here to read the article
VERITAS Automates Disaster Recovery Software
[January 12, 2004] Latest Bare Metal Restore automates
server recovery, bringing systems back online faster.
Click here to read the article
The Marketing of Can Spam
[January 12, 2004] The Can Spam Act becomes the latest marketing tool
for companies selling e-mail related products and services.
Click here to read the article
Lindows Takes a Hit in Battle Against Microsoft
[January 9, 2004] A San Francisco Court halts efforts by the firm to hand
out customer rebates in the name of open source.
Click
here to read the article
FTC Wins Judgment Against Net Auction Scammers
[January 9, 2004] Court bars two Chicago area residents from
participating in Web auctions and orders more than $90,000 in consumer
redress.
Click here to read the article
Apple’s Silent Push Into Enterprise
[January 9, 2004] Leave it to the Macintosh maker to make server and storage
sexy and affordable. So why aren’t these guys tooting their own horn?
Click here to read the article
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last week’s Q&A. For those who wanted to get the actual
answer, it’s repeated as the first question in this issue;
this time with the corresponding answer!
Thanks again for all your feedback!
Top
Windows Tech Goodie of the Week:
Caching Oracle Data for ASP.NET Applications
http://www.15seconds.com/issue/031229.htm
Narayan Veeramani shows how ASP.NET developers can improve
application performance by caching data stored in an Oracle
database and keeping the cached data in sync with the data in
the Oracle database.
Top
And Remember This . . .
On this day in…
1879 Start of the British-Zulu War
On this day in 1879 General Frederic Augustus led the British
invasion of Zululand from the southern African republic of Natal.
The British had controlled Natal and neighboring Zululand since
1843, when they took over from the Boers (aka Africaaners) who were
the descendants of the original Dutch settlers of South Africa. Upon
the death of Zulu King Mpande in 1872, Cetshwayo, his son, became
King of the Zulu. Cetshwayo was determined to resist European rule
of his kingdom and in December of 1878 rejected the British demand
that he disband his troops. Though the British suffered several very
costly defeats in battle, they prevailed by July 1880 and the Zulu
were forced to surrender. The British formally annexed Zululand into
Natal in 1897. In 1910 Natal became a part of the Union of South
Africa.
Today was also the day that: in 1665 French mathematician
Pierre de Fermat died leaving a puzzle that took 358 years to solve;
1816 the French decreed the Bonaparte family expelled
forever; 1976 mystery novelist Agatha Christie died at 85;
1820 Royal Astronomical Society founded in England; 1836
Charles Darwin aboard the HMS Beagle reached Sydney Australia;
1916 Britain proclaimed the Gilbert & Ellice Islands in the
South Pacific a colony; 1948 Mohandas Mahatma Gandhi began
his final fast; 1952 the University of Tennessee admitted its
first black student; 1968 Beatles Film Production Ltd became Apple
Film Production Ltd; 1970 Biafra surrendered to Nigeria,
ending the Biafran war; 1970 first commercial flight of a
Boeing 747; 1989 Idi Amin was expelled from Zaire; 1991
US Congress gave George Bush (sr) authority to wage war on Iraq;
1995 earthquake killed 5000+ in Kobe, Japan; 1995 O.J.
Simpson murder trial began in Los Angeles;
Born today were: in 1588 first Governor of the Massachusetts
Bay Colony John Winthrop; 1737 first signer of the US
Declaration of Independence John Hancock; 1856 painter John
Singer Sargent; 1876 author Jack London; 1893
Reichsmarshall and Nazi propoganda minister Hermann Goering; 1902
Saudi King Ibn Abdul-Aziz Al Saud; 1906 comedian Henny
Youngman; 1933 British talk show host Michael Aspel; 1935
mentalist "The Amazing" Kreskin; 1941 English blues
singer Long John Baldry; 1944 heavyweight boxer Joe Frazier;
1951 actress Kirstie Alley; 1952 conservative talk
show host Rush Hudson Limbaugh; 1954 radio and TV personality
Howard Stern; 1974 singer ("Sporty Spice") Melanie Jayne
Chisholm;
Thanks for reading Goodies to Go!
