Dynamic Html [Paperback]

Shelley Powers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1998

A concise, code-rich introduction to the so-called dynamic extensions to HTML for hard-core Web developers. The text should provide readers with the essentials of building interactive Web pages using Dynamic HTML, and assistance with creating incredible effects - without huge downloads - from free placement page elements, to on-the-spot interactivity and locally executed animation. The attached CD includes Microsoft and Netscape browsers, extensive image and video libraries, as well as all example code from the book.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Shelley Powers has written a book that helps Web authors overcome the greatest drawback of Dynamic HTML--designing pages that work well with both Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer. Powers proves, though, that it can be done, and while her techniques require overlooking such tools as Microsoft's DirectAnimation and data binding, they pay off as you don't have to create twice as many pages--one optimized for each browser.

Despite the omission of those technologies, Dynamic HTML explores the basics of Dynamic HTML, examining both Netscape's and Microsoft's approaches in detail. Then Powers demonstrates how to create interactive presentations, interactive pages, and progressive documents that look beautiful and function smoothly in either browser. Better yet, the sections on Microsoft and Netscape are similarly structured so it is simple to make comparisons and reference material. The book includes a CD-ROM with files for the book's various examples, as well as copies of both Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 and Netscape Navigator 4. --Elizabeth Lewis

Product Details

• Paperback: 571 pages
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc (Computers) (January 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764580531
• ISBN-13: 978-0764580536
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.1 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,296,662 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Adequate summary of DHTML issues; several examples broken, January 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Dynamic Html (Paperback)

I found the book useful as an introduction and tutorial to Cascading Style Sheets and to Netscape's Dynamic HTML. I was able to develop some interesting pages as a result. However, there were several examples that didn't work. This was frustrating and in some cases it meant that I was unable to understand key points. There were also whole sections that repeated from one chapter to another. Possibly the book had been too hurriedly put together. The JavaScript and VBScript reviews were not helpful. The overview of Microsoft's object model and Netscape's object model were instructive in an academic sort of way. However, it would take a deeper book than this one--or considerable experience--to really get a working understanding of these object models. I subscribed to the IDG readers club and found it unhelpful.

The writing was clear and energetic enough to keep me reading. However, the scope was too broad and the broken examples very distracting. I would not consider buying another IDG book (the Dummies parent company) as long as I had an alternative.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Reasonably good, but plot seems to wander., November 20, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Dynamic Html (Paperback)

The first time I read through the book, I was impressed with the detail given, and found the numerous samples very helpfull. Then I started trying to develop web pages using DHTML. Thats were it all fell apart.

I found that the examples actually fell short of helpfully illustrating the underlying concepts, and it was very difficult to understand the full nature of the Document Object Models.

The book is really three sections, Intro, IE and NN specifics, and cross browser compatability. I did find the sections on JScript and VBScript usefull as a reminder reference, but a better explanation of choosing the correct language would be a lot more usefull.

What about all the other browsers out there?

The cross browser stuff is all very interesting, but again it doesnt actually help to explain the underlying issues, rather it "Sells" the solution that the author has devised.

In summary, A good introduction to the subject, Lots of code samples, Little explanation of the concepts, difficult to use as a reference.

I have since found other references that helped me a lot more. Check out Inside Dynamic HTML by Scott Isaacs.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, assumes alot...but Ok., June 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Dynamic Html (Paperback)

Well written and well thought out. It assumes a working knowledge of Javascript and VB Script. But it goes deeply into the issues of Cross-browser compatability. Which is a big plus.