CSS Instant Results (Programmer to Programmer)

This book promises, and it delivers. I was a bit skeptical about the title, because there are so many quick-fix products available, few of which actually work. However, CSS Instant Results is true to its name, offering solutions a variety of common web design situations. Not only does this book address many different problems, it also shows you several distinctive approaches to tackle each one. I especially liked that all the source code came included on a CD. This was a welcome change from the typical "download code at this URL" approach. The author, Richard York also wrote Beginning CSS for Wrox Publishing, so when this guy talks about CSS, you know that he is speaking with authority. Meaning, to be approved to write another book on the same topic, by the same publisher, reflects that one knows a great deal about that particular subject. His explanations are thorough, well written and methodically straight forward. Here is a run-down of each of the topics covered: Tab-based navigation, Multi-column layouts, Dynamic drop-down menus (2 approaches), Web-based slideshow, Custom borders and rounded corners, Webmail interface, Input forms, File viewer, and Web-based calendar. Allow me to expound upon what I liked about each of those chapters. In the tab-based navigation chapter, he describes how to do a two-stated background roll-over using images and CSS. He also shows how to create "liquid" tabs, that expand to fit the size of a word therein. For instance, this would allow you to use a longer phrase like Employment instead of Jobs, and still be able to reuse the same code and graphics. In the multi-column layout chapter, he describes several ways to tackle the liquid 3-column layout. This has been affectionately dubbed the Holy Grail by web designers, because many have lost their lives in search of the perfect layout (okay, maybe not died, but shed tears). This was a great chapter, because it condensed many of the techniques seen at Layout Gala, explaining why a particular method works in a given context, and when to use each. He then moves on to cover pure CSS drop-down menu methods, with a tip of the hat to Eric Meyer for the original ideas. This doesn't work in IE6, so he shows the necessary CSS hacks and JavaScript wizardry in order to trick IE into compliance. Throughout this book, the famous IE7 JavaScript is used and referenced, originally concieved by Dean Edwards. Essentially, it forces IE6 to adhere to web standards roughly the same as Firefox, Safari and other good browsers. It's a shame such a fix doesn't exist for Opera's quirkiness. I digress. The web-based slideshow chapter is really cool, and you may have seen this in use at various web technology conferences. Basically, instead of using a proprietary program like PowerPoint or Keynote, it uses a full-screen browser view to simulate a slide based presentation. Similar implimentation has been done by Eric Meyer, with a later Ajax-ified version by Robert Nyman. The custom borders and rounded corners topic was also quite applicable. We all know the trick of having the bottom portion of a rounded box in a container, and then giving some other inside element the top part. York shows you how to have rounded corners in a cross-browser, liquid / flexible layout scenario. This is a very handy and universally re-usable technique. The last three chapters of this book deal with skinning specific interfaces, modeled loosely after the look and feel of Mac OSX. He shows how to emulate or re-create the functionality of email client elements, commonly seen in Microsoft Outlook or Thunderbird. He also makes a monthly / yearly calendar. What I found the coolest of all the examples though, was the sneak-peek of his Hierophant project. In his own words: "[It is] an open source PHP-driven framework and content management system. In case you're curious, the term "Hierophant" refers to ancient Greek priests, who are said to have had the ability to make the mysterious or esoteric easy to understand. I chose this name because I wanted to write a complex PHP framework that made complex and sometimes difficult tasks easy for the average user." While the system is not yet available for use, he does give away all the code necessary to write the front-end of it. I tell you, just from having glimpsed at the interface, I can't wait to see how the whole thing will turn out. It looks to take the functionality of a typical operating system, and apply this to browsing one's own available directories and files online, via a web browser. I guess that about wraps up this review. If you are looking for some hands-on, practical code examples for how to fully harness the versatility of CSS in your own upcoming projects, then put this on your list of books to consider. In a nutshell, this is a book I wish had existed when I was first learning CSS. JavaScript is a scripting language that enables you to enhance static web applications by providing dynamic, personalized, and interactive content. This improves the experience of visitors to your site and makes it more likely that they will visit again. You must have seen the flashy drop-down menus, moving text, and changing content that are now widespread on web sitesthey are enabled through JavaScript. Supported by all the major browsers, JavaScript is the language of choice on the Web. It can even be used outside web applicationsto automate administrative tasks, for example. This book aims to teach you all you need to know to start experimenting with what it is, how it works, and what you can do with it. Starting from the basic syntax, you'll move on to learn how to create powerful web applications. Don't worry if you've never programmed beforethis book will teach you all you need to know, step by step. You'll find that JavaScript can be a great introduction to the world of programming: with the knowledge and understanding that you'll gain from this book, you'll be able to move on to learn newer and more advanced technologies in the world of computing. In order to get the most out of this book, you'll need to have an understanding of HTML and how to create a static web page. You don't need to have any programming experience. This book will also suit you if you have some programming experience already, and would like to turn your hand to web programming. You will know a fair amount about computing concepts, but maybe not as much about web technologies. Alternatively, you may have a design background and know relatively little about the Web and computing concepts. For you, JavaScript will be a cheap and relatively easy introduction to the world of programming and web application development. Whoever you are, we hope that this book lives up to your expectations. You'll begin by looking at exactly what JavaScript is, and taking your first steps with the underlying language and syntax. You'll learn all the fundamental programming concepts, including data and data types, and structuring your code to make decisions in your programs or to loop over the same piece of code many times. Once you're comfortable with the basics, you'll move on to one of the key ideas in JavaScriptthe object. You'll learn how to take advantage of the objects that are native to the JavaScript language, such as dates and strings, and find out how these objects enable you to manage complex data and simplify your programs. Next, you'll see how you can use JavaScript to manipulate objects made available to you in the browser, such as forms, windows, and other controls. Using this knowledge, you can start to create truly professional-looking applications that enable you to interact with the user. Long pieces of code are very hard to get right every timeeven for the experienced programmerand JavaScript code is no exception. You look at common syntax and logical errors, how you can spot them, and how to use the Microsoft Script Debugger to aid you with this task. Also, you need to examine how to handle the errors that slip through the net, and ensure that these do not detract from the experience of the end user of your application. From here, you'll move on to more advanced topics, such as using cookies and jazzing up your web pages with dynamic HTML and XML. Finally, you'll be looking at a relatively new and exciting technology, remote scripting. This allows your JavaScript in a HTML page to communicate directly with a server, and useful for, say, looking up information on a database sitting on your server. If you have the Google toolbar you'll have seen something like this in action already. When you type a search word in the Google toolbar, it comes up with suggestions, which it gets via the Google search database. All the new concepts introduced in this book will be illustrated with practical examples, which enable you to experiment with JavaScript and build on the theory that you have just learned. The appendix provides solutions to the exercises included at the end of most chapters throughout the book. During the first half of the book, you'll also be building up a more complex sample applicationan online trivia quizwhich will show you how JavaScript is used in action in a real-world situation.

as The Web Has Evolved, Tools And Methods For Creating Web Pages Have Also Changed And Matured. This Book Teaches You To Create Web Sites Using A Combination Of New And Mature Technologies And Shows You The Best Practices That Have Emerged For Using These Technologies.

in These Pages You Will Learn To Build Web Sites With Traditional Html And Its Successor Xhtml. You Will See How Css Can Be Used To Make Your Web Pages More Attractive By Controlling The Presentation And Formatting Of Pages, And How To Use Javascript™ To Enhance The Power Of Your Pages. Along The Way You Will Learn How To Make Your Pages Work In Several Generations Of Web Browsers, Including New Web-enabled Devices Such As Mobile Phones. You'll Also Learn Techniques That Make Your Site More Usable And Accessible.

what You Will Learn From This Book

• how To Create Web Sites Using Established Standards
• the Differences Between Html And Its Successor Xhtml
• how To Include Images And Links In Your Pages
• methods Of Collecting Information From Visitors To Your Site Using Forms
• ways To Control The Appearance Of Your Pages (such As Fonts, Colors, And Backgrounds) Using Css
• how To Use Tables, Frames, And Css To Control Page Layout
• design Issues Such As Creating Simple Navigation And Usable Forms
• how To Deliver Web Pages To A Wide Range Of Devices
• the Basics Of Using Javascript In Your Pages

who This Book Is For

this Book Is For Anyone Who Wants To Understand The Language Of The Web And Learn To Create Web Pages. You Should Know How To Access And View Web Pages With A Browser, But Previous Programming Experience Is Not Necessary.

wrox Beginning Guides Are Crafted To Make Learning Programming Languages And Technologies Easier Than You Think, Providing A Structured Tutorial Format That Will Guide You Through All The Techniques Involved.

CSS Instant Results helps you quickly master and implement the diverse web applications CSS enables for web designers. The book is centered around ten ready-to-use projects with all the code for all the projects included on the books CD-ROM - that you can use immediately. CSS Instant Results dives into working code so you can learn it rapidly. The book and code projects are written for web developers and designers who are looking to learn how to use CSS for better, faster design and markup. Some previous JavaScript use is helpful. Each of the 10 project features step-by-step set-up instructions with a description of each project that enables you to understand and then modify it so you can reuse it in different situations. The code has been tested with several browsers including Mozilla Firefox 1.0, Opera 8, Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 for Windows, and Safari 1.3 for Mac OS X. The 10 projects covered in the book with complete source-code on the CD are: Tab-based navigation Multi-column layouts Dynamic dropdown menus A different approach to the dropdown menu Web-based slideshow Custom borders and rounded corners Applying CSS to a webmail application Styling input forms User interface for a web-based file viewer Styling a web-based calendar Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included.

CSS Instant Results helps you quickly master and implement the diverse web applications CSS enables for web designers. The book is centered around ten ready-to-use projects with all the code for all the projects included on the books CD-ROM - that you can use immediately. CSS Instant Results dives into working code so you can learn it rapidly. The book and code projects are written for web developers and designers who are looking to learn how to use CSS for better, faster design and markup. Some previous JavaScript use is helpful.

Each of the 10 project features step-by-step set-up instructions with a description of each project that enables you to understand and then modify it so you can reuse it in different situations.

The code has been tested with several browsers including Mozilla Firefox 1.0, Opera 8, Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 for Windows, and Safari 1.3 for Mac OS X. The 10 projects covered in the book with complete source-code on the CD are:

• Tab-based navigation
• Multi-column layouts
• Dynamic dropdown menus
• A different approach to the dropdown menu
• Web-based slideshow
• Custom borders and rounded corners
• Applying CSS to a webmail application
• Styling input forms
• User interface for a web-based file viewer
• Styling a web-based calendar

JavaScript is the preferred programming language for Web page applications, letting you enhance your sites with interactive, dynamic, and personalized pages. This fully updated guide shows you how to take advantage of JavaScript's client-side scripting techniques for the newest versions of Netscape and Internet Explorer, even if you've never programmed before. You will begin with basic syntax and learn about data types and how to structure code for decision-making. Then you'll learn to use dates, strings, and other basic objects of JavaScript. Next, you will see how to use JavaScript to manipulate objects provided by the browser, such as forms and windows. From there you will move into advanced topics like using cookies and dynamic HTML. After you have a solid foundation, you will explore dynamic generation of Web content using server-side scripting and back-end databases. And you'll practice what you learn by building a sample application as you go. This book is for anyone who wants to learn JavaScript programming. You should have some understanding of HTML and how to create static Web pages, but no prior programming experience is necessary. What is this book about?Beginning Web Programming with HTML, XHTML, and CSS teaches you how to write Web pages using HTML, XHTML, and CSS. It follows standards-based principles, but also teaches readers ways around problems they are likely to face using (X)HTML.While XHTML is the "current" standard, the book still covers HTML because many people do not yet understand that XHTML is the official successor to HTML, and many readers will still stick with HTML for backward compatibility and simpler/informal Web pages that don't require XHTML compliance.The book teaches basic principles of usability and accessibility along the way, to get users into the mode of developing Web pages that will be available to as many viewers as possible from the start. The book also covers the most commonly used programming/scripting language -- JavaScript -- and provides readers with a roadmap of other Web technologies to learn after mastering this book to add more functionality to their sites. What is this book about? Beginning Web Programming with HTML, XHTML, and CSS teaches you how to write Web pages using HTML, XHTML, and CSS. It follows standards-based principles, but also teaches readers ways around problems they are likely to face using (X)HTML. While XHTML is the'current'standard, the book still covers HTML because many people do not yet understand that XHTML is the official successor to HTML, and many readers will still stick with HTML for backward compatibility and simpler/informal Web pages that don't require XHTML compliance. The book teaches basic principles of usability and accessibility along the way, to get users into the mode of developing Web pages that will be available to as many viewers as possible from the start. The book also covers the most commonly used programming/scripting language — JavaScript — and provides readers with a roadmap of other Web technologies to learn after mastering this book to add more functionality to their sites. What is this book about? Beginning Web Programming with HTML, XHTML, and CSS teaches you how to write Web pages using HTML, XHTML, and CSS. It follows standards-based principles, but also teaches readers ways around problems they are likely to face using (X)HTML. While XHTML is the "current" standard, the book still covers HTML because many people do not yet understand that XHTML is the official successor to HTML, and many readers will still stick with HTML for backward compatibility and simpler/informal Web pages that don't require XHTML compliance. The book teaches basic principles of usability and accessibility along the way, to get users into the mode of developing Web pages that will be available to as many viewers as possible from the start. The book also covers the most commonly used programming/scripting language JavaScript and provides readers with a roadmap of other Web technologies to learn after mastering this book to add more functionality to their sites. This book is the perfect introduction to Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), the Web markup standard that allows Web designers and developers to easily make a style change to one CSS template and then change formatting across hundreds---or thousands---of pages * Covers the current CSS versions (CSS 1 and CSS 2) with notes and comments where appropriate on the CSS 3 standard in development * Includes quick reference on CSS at the end of the book as well as integrated reference coverage throughout * Teaches by using an example-oriented approach and includes exercises at the end of each chapter, with sample solutions provided in the appendix This book is the perfect introduction to Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), the Web markup standard that allows Web designers and developers to easily make a style change to one CSS template and then change formatting across hundreds-or thousands-of pagesCovers the current CSS standard versions (CSS 1 and CSS 2) with notes and comments where appropriate on the CSS 3 standard in developmentIncludes quick reference on CSS at the end of the book as well as integrated reference coverage throughoutTeaches by using an example-oriented approach and includes exercises at the end of each chapter, with sample solutions provided in the appendix Introduction to JavaScript and the Web Data types and variables Decisions, loops, and functions an object-based language Programming the browser HTML forms : interacting with the user Windows and frames String manipulation Date, time and timers Common mistakes, debugging, and error handling Storing information : cookies Dynamic HTML in early browsers Dynamic HTML in modern browsers JavaScript and XML Using ActiveX and Plug-Ins with JavaScript Server-side scripting with ASP Databases. Assuming a familiarity with HTML, this guide explains how to manage complex data with objects in the JavaScript language, manipulate strings, locate syntax and logical errors, use cookies, jazz up web pages with Dynamic HTML, and insert server-side scripting into a web page using active server pages (ASP). A sample online trivia quiz application running throughout the book ties the concepts together. Annotation : 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Assuming no prior programming knowledge, this book helps readers learn JavaScript and use this knowledge for practical purposes on their Web sites to create interesting, useful and dynamic sites. Its primary focus is on practical application of JavaScript to Web site creation. "CD-ROM includes source code for all 10 projects."--P. [4] of cover