JavaScript

You will learn how to

• Write and debug client-side JavaScript that works across multiple browsers
• Add interactivity and dynamic graphics
• Create interactive forms that capture and validate user input
• Develop DHTML Web pages
• Personalise pages using cookies
• Interface to Java, ActiveX, plug-ins and AJAX

Course benefits
In order to provide meaningful information to corporate intranet users and to compete for business on the Web, organisations must build sites that are effective and responsive. JavaScript is an essential tool for developing highly interactive, dynamic Web sites.

This course provides in-depth hands-on experience writing client-side JavaScript. You learn how to integrate JavaScript into your Web pages and create an interactive and dynamic Web site. You also learn how to take advantage of best practices and development techniques.

Who should attend
This course is valuable for those involved in establishing, developing or maintaining a Web site. Experience developing Web pages with HTML at the level of Course 470, "Developing a Web Site", is assumed. An understanding of programming concepts is helpful.

Hands-on training
Throughout this course, an evolving case study reinforces the skills you need to transform a static Web site into a dynamic and interactive site using JavaScript. Exercises include:

• Creating rollover graphic effects
• Pre-loading images to speed up rollover and animation effects
• Creating interactive, self-validating forms
• Implementing an interactive user interface using alert, confirm and prompt dialog boxes
• Incorporating DHTML effects into your Web pages
• Implementing animations using JavaScript
• Building drop-down menus
• Using cookies to personalise pages
• Manipulating Java applets from JavaScript

Course content

Introduction and Overview What is JavaScript? Capabilities Limitations Applications of JavaScript Client-side Server-side Writing JavaScript for several browsers Fundamentals of JavaScript The JavaScript programming model Formatting and coding conventions Embedding JavaScript in HTML JavaScript syntax Declaring variables and arrays Statements, operators and relational expressions Making decisions with if and else Performing loops with while and for Defining and invoking functions Using built-in objects The String object and string manipulations The Date object Dynamically updating a Web page using the document object Writing Client-Side JavaScript Creating eye-catching animation and graphics Developing dynamic links Creating rollover graphics Using off-screen images for animation Dynamically manipulating images Interacting with the browser Utilising browser objects Using pop-up dialog boxes and prompting users for input Opening, closing and writing to new browser windows Manipulating the contents of frames Writing to the browser status line Determining browser type and version Handling browser events Trapping the JavaScript event handlers Triggering interaction with user actions Scheduling future tasks with timer events Using cookies for persistence How cookies operate Creating, reading and manipulating cookies Implementing personalisation with cookies JavaScript security Denial-of-service and spoofing attacks Security holes and browser policies Creating Intelligent Forms Client-side form validation Accessing and modifying form fields with JavaScript Checking form fields on the fly Validating user input without server-side scripts Accessing drop-down select box options Controlling form submission Adding interactivity to forms Assigning JavaScript functions to form elements Implementing a drop-down menu for site navigation Performing actions based on form events Creating Web Pages Using Dynamic HTML Overview of DHTML Using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) Capabilities of DHTML DHTML and the Document Object Model (DOM) Implementing DHTML Dynamically repositioning elements on a page Dynamically modifying documents Manipulating images Collapsible outlines, dynamic document reflow and inner HTML Complementary Technologies Controlling Java from JavaScript Interfacing with ActiveX and plug-in Manipulating PDF files Employing the power of AJAX