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Ajax XMod for Dummies

Ajax XMod for Dummies. Building DNN Ajax Modules Without Programming. Dave McMullen SoCal DNN Users Group 2/7/07 – dma@dmcma.com. Types of Sites. Brochure site Dynamic data site Suitable Applications. Approaches. Non-Programming Lite: XMod FormViews Heavy: XMod Templates Programming

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Ajax XMod for Dummies

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  1. Ajax XMod for Dummies Building DNN Ajax Modules Without Programming Dave McMullen SoCal DNN Users Group 2/7/07 – dma@dmcma.com

  2. Types of Sites • Brochure site • Dynamic data site Suitable Applications

  3. Approaches • Non-Programming • Lite: XMod FormViews • Heavy: XMod Templates • Programming • Lite: Web Developer (DNN Templates) • Heavy duty: Visual Studio (DNN ASCX)

  4. XMod • Forms • List templates • Detail templates

  5. Forms • Auto-Layout • quick form creation • no HTML needed • Custom HTML Layout • complete control over layout • greater ability to inject Javascript functionality • ASCX-Based Form • XMod handles the data • can use 3rd party custom ASP.NET controls

  6. Form Tools • Form Settings and Permissions • Form Editor • Controls (“Fields”) • "ref" property - No other control on the form can have the same "ref" • child tags – property tags • Format tool

  7. Templates • Optional: FormView does not use them. • Create mini-web pages • Two basic flavors • List View • "headlines" • describe how a single record should be displayed. XMod then repeats that layout for all the other records it displays in the list. • mix HTML tags and special XMod tags to tell XMod how your data should be displayed. Has tags that apply to lists. • Can create multiple templates, each with its own look and/or functionality, but all working from the same set of data. • Detail View • "full story" • temporarily hide the list view and replace it with the detail view • intended to display only one record but could use a DetailView template in place of a ListView template (minus its list tags).

  8. Creating Templates • Add to HTML tags special XMod Template Tags • Begin with "xmod" • Most tags are "empty" tags (no closing tag). • proper XHTML syntax: a closing "/>" • Used most: "<xmod:field>" • Required attribute: "name" • Steps • Editor • <div> tag "wrapper" (container) for template

  9. Ajax • Uses XMLHttpRequest Javascript object • Except IE, which uses an ActiveXObject • therefore need a try/catch • xmlHttp=new XMLHttpRequest(); • Vs. HTML GET or POST (which do postbacks) • HTTP request does not do a postback • Made popular by Google Suggest

  10. Ajax Properties • onreadystatechange • stores the function that processes server response - xmlHttp.onreadystatechange=function() • readyState – status of server response • not initialized • set up • sent • in process • complete • responseText • server data without reloading page if(xmlHttp.readyState==4) { document.myForm.time.value= xmlHttp.responseText; }

  11. Ajax Methods • open() • specifies server-side script (.asp) URL • add querystring that contains the content to process • send() • sends request • need an event to activate Javascript • usually an onClick or onChange • could be onKeyUp xmlHttp.open("GET","time.asp",true); xmlHttp.send(null);

  12. Ajax Procedure • Create an HTML page • Create the Javascript file (.js) • Create the server .asp page

  13. Ajax Procedure • Create an HTML page • <script> tag for .js src • event handler to activate Ajax in .js • onclick (button) • onchange (dropdown • onkeyup (text box) … • Id placeholder for Ajax output • Create the Javascript file (.js) • Create the server .asp page <html><body> <script type="text/javascript">function ajaxFunction() …</script> <form name="myForm"> Name: <input type="text" onkeydown="ajaxFunction();" name="username" /> Time: <input type="text" name="time" /> </form> </body> </html>

  14. Ajax Procedure var xmlHttp;try {// Firefox, Opera 8.0+, SafarixmlHttp=new XMLHttpRequest();} catch (e) …xmlHttp.onreadystatechange=function() …{}xmlHttp.open("GET","time.asp", true); xmlHttp.send(null); • Create an HTML page • Create the Javascript file (.js) • create function that calls Ajax • Create XMLHTTP object • Test that the browser did it • create function to handle responseText • tests the object's status • inserts responseText into the page (innerHTML) • assign a function to onreadystatechange that • set up URL for open() • send() • Create the server .asp page

  15. Ajax Procedure • Create an HTML page • Create the Javascript file (.js) • Create the server .asp page • access data • hardcoded array • database connection • connection object (e.g. ADODB) • sql select • connection provider (e.g. Jet) • connection string/load path (e.g. mdb) • recordset object (e.g. ADODB) • XML file • create XMLDOM object • set object load path • get input request (parameters) – e.g. Xpath for XML nodes • process request, e.g. loop through records or nodes • output response, e.g. write response to a <table> response.write(time)

  16. Ajax with XMod • handles internal Javascript “plumbing” • sends receives data from your web server • handy shortcuts • Can insert data into an element on the page • Can send data to a custom function • <ajax> form tag • <xmod:ajax> template tag

  17. Demos • XMod: User Profile • Ajax: • Landmarks • InsertResult • CustomFunction

  18. Next Steps • Do it! Go to www.dnndev.com • Review DNN modules at www.webhost4life.com : Flatburger free license for a year Ajax/Javascript: www.w3schools.com Dave McMullen: dma@dmcma.com

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