Archive for May, 2006
Ajax for Dummies by Steve Holzner, PhD offers an engaging introduction to developing Web sites that behave like desktop applications. Written in accessible language that assumes very little technical expertise, Ajax for Dummies will be valuable for anyone interested in JavaScript, PHP, and how these languages can be used to enhance a Web user’s experience.
Ajax for Dummies is organized in four main parts: Getting Started, Programming in Ajax, Ajax Frameworks, and In-Depth Ajax Power. After a brief overview of ways that Ajax can improve existing Web site features and add new functionality, Holzner introduces basic JavaScript programming concepts to lay the groundwork for a project-based Ajax introduction. In two chapters, Ajax for Dummies will give you enough knowledge to begin basic Ajax programming and to understand how the XMLHTTPRequest object interacts with both the Web visitor’s browser (client-side) and how the browser interacts with the Web site host computer (server-side). Though I have read quite broadly on the subject of Ajax, this introduction to Ajax was the most thorough I’ve yet encountered.
Holzner’s painstaking line-by-line introduction of code and careful commentary on each bit of code will ensure that anyone can understand Ajax. However, the thoroughness of Ajax for Dummies will be an impediment to some readers who already are proficient in JavaScript programming and who simply want an introduction to Ajax. These readers will do well to skip Part One and launch into the Programming in Ajax section. Even here, they will be likely to move rapidly and absorb only the relevant bits of code and conceptual material that emerges. Though not everyone will move at the same pace, the last two parts of Ajax for Dummies offer information that will be of use to most readers.
Parts three and four introduce some of the programming frameworks available for Ajax and various server-side languages from PHP to Java and ASP. In part four, there is a brief introduction to XML processing with JavaScript, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), and various uses of PHP. Here readers will choose to read whatever compliments their current skill-set.
The last section of the book is the obligatory for Dummies Part of Tens. Here, Holzner discusses the limitations and design issues surrounding the use of Ajax in Web sites. One comment was especially relevant to anyone considering Ajax for their design project:
Sometimes, developers use Ajax just because it’s a new thing. Be careful about that tendency, too. Ajax solves many problems, but if you don’t have to use it, there’s no reason to. And also, don’t forget that your Ajax applications might not work in all browsers - such as those where JavaScript has been turned off. You should provide some kind of backup in that case.
In a Web design climate where Ajax is becoming the new Flash and is simply used because it’s “sexy,” this advice is needed and, hopefully, will be heeded!
Ajax for Dummies closes with a list of resources that will help you use Ajax for maximum effect in your Web applications. Listed here is Jesse James Garret’s original essay on Ajax, links to resources for Ajax best practices, reference materials, blogs, tutorials, and a discussion group.
- Author: Steve Holzner, PhD
- Softcover: 359 pages
- Publisher: Wiley (March 2006)
- Language: English
- ISBN: 0471785970
- List Price: $29.99
May 30th, 2006
I stumbled across an interesting post about business cards by Eric Mack today. It was significant enough that I thought I’d share it.
I have always struggled with printing business cards on only one side … all that blank real estate bothered me. However, I dislike the hard sell feel that covering the back of a business card with sales copy produces. Savvy business people often make notes on the back of business cards to help establish the significance of the person that passed it to them.
Eric’s idea provides a great way to add structure for note-takers that will increase the effectiveness of a business card.
May 26th, 2006
As of Wordpress 2.1, it appears that this plugin is relegated to the dustbin. I have no plans to continue developing or supporting the script. The most recent version of Wordpress includes full-featured tools to upload and link to attached documents.
In order to simplify the process of associating Wordpress post attachments with posts, I wrote a quick plugin that will automate the linking process. The plugin lists ALL post attachments.
If you don’t want them all listed, right now you are out of luck. I provide a CSS class called “dd_attachments” and each attachment link is encased in a span element. By making the span element display:block, you can create a list-like appearance.
This plugin relies on new functionality built into Wordpress 2.0 and the functions it uses are largely undocumented. For some basic information on how to use attachments in Wordpress 2.0 visit the Wordpress Codex here.
Version 1.01: I’ve modified the plugin to use an unordered list rather than span elements. The more semantically correct code will behave better in RSS readers where your CSS styles are not available. Also, the attachments follow the main post content now. This works better for most users.
Version 1.02 Added an embedded stylesheet to add class with no effort! Also thanks to TJWood’s suggestions, the code is cleaner and faster. Visit TJ’s site here.
Download the latest version of autolink attachment plugin for Wordpress 2.0
Autolink Attachment with Description
This version is a fork of Version 1.02 that adds the attachment description from each attachment, if there is one. If no description is given, it functions exactly like version 1.02. There’s a new CSS hook on the description paragraph named “dd_description”. Hopefully, this will help someone out there in cyberspace.
Download the latest version of autolink attachment plugin with description for Wordpress 2.0
May 17th, 2006
Search Engine Optimization for Dummies by Peter Kent is not, contrary to its title, just for dummies! Even though I have been studying the best SEO experts and search engine behavior for the last two years, I learned something from every chapter of this useful and visionary book.
Until now, my professional Web design projects have primarily focused on creating search engine friendly Web sites that are easy for search engines to index. This book has spurred me towards considering the counterpart to search engine friendly sites - intentionally crafted keyword rich (optimized) content. Though I had examined this in a limited way while creating client’s Web sites, I now see it as an even more vital component of Web design that requires client input or else a great deal of creative and strategic latitude and a content creation budget.
Ever wondered how your Web site could become more useful? SEO for Dummies includes ideas that may spark your imagination and open doors you don’t anticipate.
Kent does a brilliant job of presenting ideas for competing with content. The book is rich in brainstorming ideas. I found many new sources for content that I hadn’t previously considered.
Kent’s lucid discussion of the search tail helps me explain more clearly why my clients should not focus only on high volume keywords for which top rankings are difficult to achieve.
SEO for Dummies covers the often tedious and time consuming process of submitting your Web site to search engines and directories. This section is an absolute must for Web site owners who tend to fail to harness a treasure-trove of contextual links available with a little research and a lot of time, but no money.
Ever wondered how to get other Web sites to link to yours? You are your Web site’s best promoter whether you feel confident about the process or not. There are enough ideas included here for you to get a good start towards accumulating links from other Web sites.
Much of the book deals with techniques for Web site creation that search engines like and things to avoid. Most of this area deals with using frames, javascript for content, redirects, cloaking, clutter on Web pages etc. This is very useful but is also covered in other books.
I have already made one recommendation about a book that I feel every one of my clients should read (Search Engine Visibility by Shari Thurow). This is the second recommendation for every client of Design Delineations. In fact, I’ll expand it to a recommendation for every Web site owner who wants to use his or her Web site effectively. Unless they just want to pay an Internet marketing professional big bucks to handle all their search engine optimization for them.
I have barely scratched the surface of the themes discussed in this must-have resource. If you own a Web site and have ever wondered how to make it more effective, please consider buying this book, Search Engine Optimization For Dummies.
- Author: Peter Kent
- Softcover: 382 pages
- Publisher: Wiley (May 2006)
- Language: English
- ISBN: 0471979988
- List Price: $24.99
May 10th, 2006
