With the introduction of DHTML, cross-browser scripting is one of the biggest challenges facing web developers. Write Once! is your
guide and forum for exploring techniques and technologies for building cross-browser web-pages.
DHTMLLib 2.0 Scripting Library (IE4,NS4)
DHTMLLib 2.0 is the latest update of our popular cross-browser DHTML Library. With DHTMLLib,
you can author DHTML scripts that run on both Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator without any browser detection.
Unlike other compatibility libraries, we do not create custom functions requiring you to learn a new object model.
Instead, DHTMLLib exposes a subset of Internet Explorer 4's object model
in Netscape Navigator 4 making it easy and natural to write cross-browser scripts.
Now you can freely use the all collection, style object, event bubbling, and even the innerHTML property on positioned elements.
Be sure to visit our new DHTMLLib 2.0 area to read our cross-browser scripting introduction and explore our DHTMLLib demonstrations.
We show off drag-drop, menus, tooltips, and more all without doing any browser detection.
DHTMLLib Floating Content (IE4,NS4)
Creating floating content windows is easy with DHTMLLib. We create two versions - one that keeps the content at the same point on-screen and another that scrolls the element to its final location.
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The Rollover Helper Function (IE3,IE4,NS3,NS4)
We make it brain-dead easy to add three types of rollover effects to your web-page. When the user moves the mouse over a link, you can a) Change the status bar text, b) Update a text box field or c) Change an image all from one easy-to-use function.
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Automatically Clear Default Form Values (IE3,IE4,NS3,NS4)
A useful technique for readying form input boxes when they receive the input focus by automatically clearing descriptive text. We also include an enhanced Internet Explorer version that allows you to customize the appearance of the default value using CSS.
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Building Smart Pages with ASP, XML and XSL (All)
Continuing our first article, Building Documents with XML, XSL, and CSS (recommended reading), we now show you how to build server-based system for serving pages written in XML.
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Leaving the past behind (IE4,NS3,NS4)
See our simple technique for using the replace method and event bubbling/ capturing to keep web pages out of the user's history. Updated with support for limited targeting.
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Cross-Browser BLINK Element (IE4,NS3,NS4)
It's time to pack up our bags and go home. We finally have taken the big step and made the Netscape BLINK element cross-browser. Now you can even drive your Internet Explorer users' crazy by creating lots of blinking text. Check out how we did it in this light-hearted article.
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Extend your Browser with our Definitions Bookmarklets (IE4,NS3,NS4)
Bookmarklets are a wonderfully simple and powerful technique for enhancing your browser. Bookmarklets are created by adding small javascript links to your favorites menu or toolbar. Check out how we created three simple bookmarklets that can lookup words from your document.
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Extending JavaScript with Function Pointers (IE4,NS3,NS4)
In this article, we introduce the concept of JavaScript function pointers and how they can be used to override built-in browser functionality.
We begin by explaining how they work and how to use them to build custom objects followed by a demonstration on how to use function pointers to fix incompatibilities between browsers. Included in this article is a cross-browser compatible implementation of the setInterval function as defined by Netscape Navigator 4.0.
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Lookup Lists II (All)
We updated our lookup list technique with support for the 3.0 browsers. We combine a textbox and listbox to create a lookup list that works in the 3.0 browsers and later. As the user types in a textbox, the nearest match in the list box is automatically found.
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Popup Surveys (All)
Learn to create surveys that automatically pop-up as a page loads and go away when filled out. We demonstrate
the client script for generating the survey and the server script for processing the results.
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Rollovers 101 (All)
Rollovers helped launch the creation of dynamic sites that use JavaScript and DHTML. See how rollovers have evolved
and learn how to use them on your web pages.
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[Lots More Cross-Browser Scripting]