JavaScript

JavaScript - DOM Scripting, Ajax, and other Cutting Edge Technologies

Book: Simply JavaScript

Includes:  JavaScript, the Document Object Model, Events, Animation, Form Enhancements, Errors and Debugging, Ajax, and Future Technologies

Estimated Completion: 60 hours

Text: Simply JavaScript, ©2007, 1st Edition, Kevin Yank and Cameron Adams, SitePoint
ISBN: 0980285801

Cost: $26.37 - Search to see if you can find this book used

Support: Support is provided for this book by David Hucklesby on Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Students may take this unit simultaneously with another software application.

It is recommended that you purchase additional text/reference books on each subject to further enhance your knowledge and meet your individual learning style. An Amazon store has been setup with recommended books to continue your studies.

General Notes - Before You Start the Book

Important Class Resources

Your instructor provides extensive additional resources for Web design. You should familiarize yourself with and bookmark the following sites:

  1. Lecture notes are available at: http://www.robinsblog.com - This site is updated several times per week. Students should check this site daily for important class announcements and updates.
  2. Class forum - A place to discuss Web development. Please register to use the forum.
  3. Web design tutorials are available at: http://www.tinkertech.net. - Spend some time getting familiar with this site, it is a collection of topics discussed in class over the last several years.
  4. Free Web site hosting for current students is provided at http://www.robinshosting.com support forums can be found at http://robinshosting.com/forum/index.php.

All software that you will need during class can be accessed from the Web Design folder in the Start menu.

There are some JavaScript Cheat Sheets that you may want to print and use at http://www.ilovejackdaniels.com/cheat-sheets/javascript-cheat-sheet/.

Homework

Homework is not required for this class. However, reading your lessons at home prior to completing them in class makes your classroom time more productive. If you would like to work at home bring in a CD or Flash Drive and we can make a copy of the necessary files for you.

Backing up Your Student Files

You should periodically back up your student files to CD. Stations along the windows have CD Burners. Instructions for writing files to a data CD can be found here.

Files, Samples, and Errata

File management skills are absolutely necessary to create and maintain Web sites. Please download and print this file management information for use in class. If you need a brush up on file management, review the tutorials that I've listed here http://www.tinkertech.net/octWeb03.htm#file.

The book has a companion Web site @ http://www.friendsofed.com/book.html?isbn=1590595335.  You should bookmark this site for future reference.  The site includes the sample files needed to complete the book (if you would like to work at home), completed tutorials, corrections, and a blog. More information about this book can be found at http://www.domscripting.com/book/.

In the classroom we use a network. You will be assigned a folder on our network. To connect to your personal folder use drive O:\. Your instructor will copy a folder to your network drive called javascript1-code. This folder will include all of the files referenced in the book. You do not need to download any additional files.

Software

You may either use HomeSite or Dreamweaver in code view to complete the exercises in the book. 

Getting Help

Support: Support is provided for this book by David Hucklesby on Tuesday, and Wednesday. Students may take this unit simultaneously with another software application.

You may find the following articles on using Firebug, a Firefox extension, to debug JavaScript helpful.  Firebug is installed on all workstations.

Introduction to Firebug

Build Better Pages With Firebug

Firebug Tutorial: Getting Started

HTML/CSS/Javascript in Firefox

Debugging JavaScript in Firefox with Firebug

Debugging JavaScript with Firebug

Firebug Tutorial - Script Tab : Javascript Debugging

Cheat sheets are wonderful when you're learning to code. You will find links to numerous cheat sheets on the class forum. Cheat Sheets for Front-end Web Developers is also very helpful.

Book Errors

There are documented errors in the book.  You can find a list of corrections at http://www.sitepoint.com/books/javascript1/errata.php.  Please be sure to print any current errors and check for updates often.

Before You Begin

Before you begin JavaScript you should be comfortable with HTML/XHTML & CSS. 

Ask your instructor for access to the JavaScript Essential Training 2007 tutorial.  Feel free to download the Exercise files (zip format) associated with the tutorial. Use Dreamweaver or Homesite to write your scripts and use Firefox to test them.

Companion Web Sites

JavaScript Libraries

Chapter Notes

Complete all exercises in the book unless otherwise noted in the chapter sections below.

Chapter 1: The Three Layers of the Web

Be sure to check the SitePoint errata for any known errors.

Chapter 2: Programming with JavaScript

Be sure to check the SitePoint errata for any known errors.

If you find that an example in the book does not work, try testing it in Firefox and use the Error Console to find the error.  The Error Console can be accessed by clicking Tools > Error Console. You will also find the free Firebug Firefox Extension very helpful for debugging JavaScript.

Page 59 - The Core library is in the file core.js in javascript1-code/dom. This file will be used throughout the book, so it's important that you know where it is. Remember that detailed information about the Core library is in Appendix A, page 363.

Chapter 3: Document Access

Be sure to check the SitePoint errata for any known errors.

The files for this chapter are located in javascript1-code/dom.

Page 85 - While you do not want to modify the style attribute on a regular basis, here is DOM CSS Properties List for use with the style attribute.

Page 86 - The file for this exercise is located in javascript1-code/dom. Notice the excerpt at the bottom of the page has a header that reads style_object.js (excerpt). Look for this header at the top of the shaded code excerpts.

Page 93 - The completed files for this exercise are located in javascript1-code/dom. You can create your own files (with the exception of core.js) and save them in the dom folder with your initials, i.e.,  stripy_tablesyi.html and stripy_tablesyi.js. The CSS for this lesson is in a file called stripy_tables.css.  You can open the original files in your editor and use File > Save As to give them a new name. You can use the author's table or recode your own table by highlighting and deleting the original table content.  I would recommend that you delete the existing stripy_tablesyi.js  code and recreate your own for practice.

You can alter the stripe color and other presentation properties in the stripy_tables.css file. Alter the tr.alt background value to change the stripe colors.

Chapter 4: Events

Be sure to check the SitePoint errata for any known errors.

Chapter 5: Animation

Be sure to check the SitePoint errata for any known errors.

Chapter 6: Form Enhancements

Be sure to check the SitePoint errata for any known errors.

Chapter 7: Errors and Debugging

Be sure to check the SitePoint errata for any known errors.

Chapter 8: Ajax

Be sure to check the SitePoint errata for any known errors.

Chapter 9: Looking Forward

Be sure to check the SitePoint errata for any known errors.