Ajax for beginners

Hi Kathie,

There are some shortcuts suggested when dealing with Ajax, this one for example.

However, in order to properly understand and use Ajax, you need to start with a little Javascript. Learning Javascript basics is essential and it is not very difficult. I recommand O'reilly's Javascript book which will give you some  functions, arrays, variable etc. background alongside practical knowledge.

After you get around javascript you should go here - it is one of the most popular and user friendly Ajax toolkits around, and play around with it.

Pay attenton that Ajax is not just about nifty design effects, but mostly about retrieving data and presenting it. this means you should also start thinking about backend programming like ASP, Ruby, or my favorite- PHP.

if you know 1) the difference between html or text and strictly formatted XML 2) the difference between an object and a string 3) the difference between FLEX and AJAX. Then you may attempt to snatch the pebble from my hand, A pack of Buzzwords is no threat to a pure soul.

Kathie,

You might want to checkout Ajax Desktop Toturial

I'd check out the Prototype javascript framework. You can can buy the AJAX books and learn from the examples of how and why things work but then, do yourself a favor, let this library do all the heavy lifting. It's the Rossetta stone of javascript .. or swiss army knife ... pick your metaphor.

Here's a great guide to what you can do with it:

 Using Prototype.js v.1.4.0

I really appreciate using the Prototype library too.

What I found when I started writing JavaScript for AJAX applications is that I needed a slightly different mindset to the objects and functions I was coding.

Without AJAX, it is fairly straightforward to follow the sequence of events: one thing leads to another and that leads to another... However, with AJAX, because you request information from another server and you must wait for the response, you have to set up callback functions to deal with that response when it comes (or do something else if it doesn't come).

So I feel that AJAX requires a much more modular approach - separating everything into discrete objects and functions. Fortunately, I found that this requirement improved my overall coding style - for both AJAX and non-AJAX programming. So go ahead and enjoy!

hi kathie :)

can u tell me where can i download the dvd "Total Training for adobe flex 2" please??

thx.

manu said :

"hi kathie :)
can u tell me where can i download the dvd "Total Training for adobe flex 2" please??
thx."
 
 yes! Is there anyway to get it free?
thanks for responses.