comp.lang.javascript FAQ - Quick Answers 2008-01-07
FAQ server
1 meta-FAQ meta-questions
2 comp.lang.javascript tips
2.1 Which newsgroups deal with javascript?
2.2 What questions are off-topic for clj?
2.3 What do I have to do before posting to clj?
2.4 Why was my post not answered?
2.5 How do I direct someone to this FAQ?
2.6 What is ECMAScript?
2.7 What is JScript?
2.8 What are object models?
2.9 What is the document object model?
2.10 Internationalization and Multinationalization in javascript.
2.11 I have a question that is not answered in here or
in any of the resources mentioned here but I'm sure it has been
answered in clj. Where are the clj archives located?
2.12 What does the future hold for ECMAScript?
3 javascript resources
3.1 What books cover javascript?
3.2 What online resources are available?
4 Quick Answers
4.1 How do I protect my javascript code?
4.2 How can I disable the back button in a web browser?
4.3 How can I access the client-side filesystem?
4.4 How can I see in javascript if a web browser accepts cookies?
4.5 How can I prevent access to a web page by using javascript?
4.6 How do I convert a Number into a String with exactly 2 decimal places?
4.7 Why does simple decimal arithmetic give strange results?
4.8 How do I communicate between frames in a web browser?
4.9 How do I find the size of the window/browser canvas area?
4.10 How do I check to see if a childwindow is open, before opening another?
4.11 Why does framename.print() not print the correct frame in IE?
4.12 Why does K = parseInt('09') set K to 0?
4.13 How do I get the value of a form control?
4.14 How do I close a window and why does it not work on the first one?
4.15 How do I modify the current page in a browser?
4.16 How do I trim whitespace - LTRIM/RTRIM/TRIM?
4.17 How do I force a reload from the server/prevent caching?
4.18 How do I get a perl/asp/php variable into client-side js?
4.19 Why do I get permission denied when accessing a frame/window?
4.20 How do I make a 10 second delay?
4.21 Why does 1+1 equal 11? or How do I convert a string to a number?
4.22 How do I generate a random integer from 1 to N?
4.23 How do I change print settings with window.print()?
4.24 I have <a href="javascript:somefunction()"> what ... ?
4.25 My element is named myselect[] , how do I access it?
4.26 How do I detect Opera/Netscape/IE?
4.27 How do I disable the right mouse button?
4.28 How do I change the confirm box to say yes/no or default to cancel?
4.29 How do I log-out a user when they leave my site?
4.30 How do I format the Last-Modified date with javascript?
4.31 Why are my rollovers so slow?
4.32 How do I change the text in the url/location bar?
4.33 How do I prompt a "Save As" dialog for an accepted mime type?
4.34 How do I run a server side script?
4.35 I have window.status="Moomin"; why doesn't the statusbar change?
4.36 How do I modify the current browser window?
4.37 How do I POST a form to a new window?
4.38 How do I download a page to a variable?
4.39 How do I access a property of an object using a string?
4.40 When should I use eval?
4.41 Why doesn't the global variable "divId" always refer to the element with id="divId"?
4.42 How do I open a new window with javascript?
4.43 How do I get my browser to report javascript errors?
4.44 What is AJAX?
4.45 Why is my AJAX page not updated properly when using an HTTP GET request in Internet Explorer?
5 Comments and Suggestions
5.1 Why do some posts have <FAQENTRY> in them ?
5.2 How do I make a suggestion?
1 meta-FAQ meta-questions
You are reading the _comp.lang.javascript_ meta-FAQ,
version 9.88. It is available on the web at
<URL: http://www.jibbering.com/faq/index.html > in HTML form.
This is the official _comp.lang.javascript_ (clj) FAQ.
Or, more accurately, the meta-FAQ. It mainly provides URLs to
further information about javascript, and some hints and tips to
make your stay in comp.lang.javascript more enjoyable.
This document was created for three reasons: to help reduce the
high levels of noise on clj, to provide a resource for people
new to javascript, and to point to locations that contain
valuable javascript resources.
Each day, one section of the FAQ is posted for review and questions,
and as a reminder that the FAQ is available.
To cope with a desire for additional explanation and detail
relating to some aspects of the FAQ, an additional resource
is available at:-
<URL: http://www.jibbering.com/faq/faq_notes/faq_notes.html >
It has been provided separately to avoid increasing the size of
the FAQ to a point where it would be unreasonable to post it to
the group.
2 comp.lang.javascript tips
see <URL: http://jibbering.com/faq/#FAQ2 >
Or Wednesdays FAQ posting.
3 javascript resources
see <URL: http://jibbering.com/faq/#FAQ3 >
Or Wednesdays FAQ posting.
4 Quick Answers
4.1 How do I protect my javascript code?
With clientside Javascript you can't as your code is distributed
in source form and is easily readable. With JScript, there is the
Script Encoder (see MSDN), but this is nothing more than obfuscation.
Disabling the right mouse button also does nothing to protect
your script in a Web browser.
Your code is likely protected under copyright laws. See:
<URL: http://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/copyright.html >
<URL: http://webdesign.about.com/msubcopyright.htm >
4.2 How can I disable the back button in a web browser?
You can't. The browser's history cannot be modified. However, you
can use location.replace(url); in some browsers to replace
the current page in the history.
<URL: http://msdn.microsoft.com/workshop/author/dhtml/reference/methods/replace.asp >
<URL: http://docs.sun.com/source/816-6408-10/location.htm#1194240 >
4.3 How can I access the client-side filesystem?
Security means that by default you can't. In a more restricted
environment, there are options. For example, using LiveConnect
to connect to Java with Netscape, and using the FileSystemObject
in IE. Check <URL: http://groups-beta.google.com/group/comp.lang.javascript/topics >
for previous posts on the subject.
<URL: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/script56/html/af4423b2-4ee8-41d6-a704-49926cd4d2e8.asp >
<URL: http://www.javaworld.com/javaworld/jw-10-1998/jw-10-apptowin32.html >
4.4 How can I see in javascript if a web browser accepts cookies?
Writing a cookie, reading it back and checking if it's the same.
<URL: http://www.w3schools.com/js/js_cookies.asp >
Additional Notes:
<URL: http://www.jibbering.com/faq/faq_notes/cookies.html >
<URL: http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2965.txt >
<URL: http://www.galasoft-lb.ch/myjavascript/consulting/2001012701/ >
<URL: http://www.cookiecentral.com/ >
4.5 How can I prevent access to a web page by using javascript?
In practice you can't. While you could create a suitable
encryption system with a password in the page, the level of
support you need to do this means it's always simpler to do it
server-side. Anything that "protects" a page other
than the current one is definitely flawed.
4.6 How do I convert a Number into a String with exactly 2 decimal places?
When formatting money for example, to format 6.57634 to
6.58, 6.5 to 6.50, and 6 to 6.00?
Rounding of x.xx5 is uncertain, as such numbers are not
represented exactly. See section 4.7 for Rounding issues.
N = Math.round(N*100)/100 only converts N to a Number of value
close to a multiple of 0.01; but document.write(N) does not give
trailing zeroes.
ECMAScript Ed. 3.0 (JScript 5.5 [but buggy] and JavaScript 1.5)
introduced N.toFixed, the main problem with this is the bugs in
JScripts implementation.
Most implementations fail with certain numbers, for example 0.07.
The following works successfully for M>0, N>0:
function Stretch(Q, L, c) { var S = Q
if (c.length>0) while (S.length<L) { S = c+S }
return S
}
function StrU(X, M, N) { // X>=0.0
var T, S=new String(Math.round(X*Number("1e"+N)))
if (S.search && S.search(/\D/)!=-1) { return ''+X }
with (new String(Stretch(S, M+N, '0')))
return substring(0, T=(length-N)) + '.' + substring(T)
}
function Sign(X) { return X>0 ? "+" : X<0 ? "-" : " " }
function StrS(X, M, N) { return Sign(X)+StrU(Math.abs(X), M, N) }
Number.prototype.toFixed= function(n){ return StrS(this,1,n)};
<URL: http://www.merlyn.demon.co.uk/js-round.htm >
<URL: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/script56/html/b5f03400-865e-4ab2-818c-f734c0f6d6f0.asp >
4.7 Why does simple decimal arithmetic give strange results?
For example, 5*1.015 does not give exactly 5.075 and 0.06+0.01 does
not give exactly 0.07 in javascript.
Javascript numbers are represented in binary as IEEE-754 (IEC 559)
Doubles, with a resolution of 53 bits, giving an accuracy of
15-16 decimal digits; integers up to about 9e15 are precise, but
few decimal fractions are. Given this, arithmetic is as exact
as possible, but no more. Operations on integers are exact if
the true result and all intermediates are integers within that
range.
In particular, non-integer results should not normally be
compared for equality; and non-integer computed results
commonly need rounding; see 4.6.
<URL: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/script56/html/c7a6bd3a-4b1c-4dbe-8505-106dbf483b41.asp >
Otherwise, use Math.round on the results of expressions which
should be of integer value.
4.8 How do I communicate between frames in a web browser?
To reference another frame, you simply need to step through the
frame hierarchy: parent is the page the frame is defined
in, parent.framename is another frame in the same frameset.
To access a variable called Moomin in a frame called Snork you
would use parent.Snork.Moomin. To call the function Snufkin
in that frame you would use parent.Snork.Snufkin().
4.9 How do I find the size of the window/browser canvas area?
While it is often asked about window size, what is more relevant is
the "canvas area" of the browser.
Where supported in NN: (>NN4.0)
var winWidth = window.innerWidth;
var winHeight = window.innerHeight;
Where supported in IE: (>IE4.0)
var winWidth = document.body.clientWidth;
var winHeight = document.body.clientHeight;
Where supported in modern browsers:
var winWidth = document.documentElement.clientWidth;
var winHeight = document.documentElement.clientHeight;
Where supported in DOM compliant browsers:
var winWidth, winHeight, d=document;
if (typeof window.innerWidth!='undefined') {
winWidth = window.innerWidth;
winHeight = window.innerHeight;
} else {
if (d.documentElement &&
typeof d.documentElement.clientWidth!='undefined' &&
d.documentElement.clientWidth!==0) {
winWidth = d.documentElement.clientWidth;
winHeight = d.documentElement.clientHeight;
} else {
if (d.body &&
typeof d.body.clientWidth!='undefined') {
winWidth = d.body.clientWidth;
winHeight = d.body.clientHeight;
}
}
}
Note: The dimensions can not be determined accurately until after the
document has finished loading.
<URL: http://msdn.microsoft.com/workshop/author/dhtml/reference/properties/clientWidth.asp >
<URL: http://docs.sun.com/source/816-6408-10/window.htm#1202446 >
<URL: http://msdn.microsoft.com/workshop/author/om/measuring.asp >
4.10 How do I check to see if a childwindow is open, before opening another?
var myWin=null;
function openWin(aURL) {
if (!myWin || myWin.closed ) {
myWin=window.open(aURL,'myWin');
} else{
myWin.location=aURL;
myWin.focus();
}
}
<URL: http://msdn.microsoft.com/workshop/author/dhtml/reference/properties/closed.asp >
<URL: http://docs.sun.com/source/816-6408-10/window.htm#1201877 >
4.11 Why does framename.print() not print the correct frame in IE?
IE prints the frame that has focus when you call the print
method frameref.focus();frameref.print();
<URL: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/dnscrpt/html/dhtmlprint.asp >
4.12 Why does K = parseInt('09') set K to 0?
The parseInt function decides what base to
convert a number represented as a string
to by looking at the string. It assumes that
any string beginning with '0x' or '0X' represents
a hexadecimal number, but it has a choice with a
leading zero: the string could represent a number
that can be either octal or decimal. Assuming
octal, the string '09' will be converted to 0
(octal digits are 0-7); assuming decimal, '09'
will be converted to 9 (the leading zero is
ignored). To force use of a particular base,
use the radix parameter:
parseInt("09",base)
<URL: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/script56/html/js56jsmthparseint.asp >
<URL: http://docs.sun.com/source/816-6408-10/toplev.htm#1064173 >
<URL: http://www.jibbering.com/faq/faq_notes/faq_notes.html#FAQN4_12 >
4.13 How do I get the value of a form control?
In HTML documents, named forms may be referred to as named
properties of the document.forms collection, and named form
controls may be referred to as named properties of the form's
elements collection:
var frm = document.forms["formname"];
var contrl = frm.elements["elementname"];
The (string) value property of such controls can be read
directly from the element:-
var value = contrl.value;
var value = (+contrl.value); //string to number: see 4.21
Some exceptions would be:
First Exception: Where the control is a SELECT element, and
support for older browsers, such as NN4, is required:
var value = contrl.options[contrl.selectedIndex].value;
Second Exception: Where several controls share the same name,
such as radio buttons. These are made available as collections
and require additional handling. For more information, see:-
<URL: http://www.jibbering.com/faq/faq_notes/form_access.html >
Third Exception: File Inputs where most current browsers do not
allow the reading of type="file" input elements in a way that is useful.
4.14 How do I close a window and why does it not work on the first one?
Use windowRef.close(), where windowRef is a window object
reference, such as window, top, parent, self, or a reference
obtained from the window.open() method. You can only close
windows opened by scripts, no others.
<URL: http://msdn.microsoft.com/workshop/author/dhtml/reference/methods/close_0.asp >
<URL: http://docs.sun.com/source/816-6408-10/window.htm#1201822 >
<URL: http://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/DOM:window.open#FAQ >
4.15 How do I modify the current page in a browser?
Using the DOM the non-standard but widely implemented innerHTML
extension, the following would be sufficient to modify the content
of any element that can have content:
<div id="anID">Some Content</div> with script of
document.getElementById("anID").innerHTML=
"Some <em>new</em> Content";
Where "anID" is the (unique on the HTML page) ID attribute value
of the element to modify.
The script below adds support for document.all capable browsers.
Support for NN4 is also possible, but certain issues mean that
it is not listed here. Using the example above, the call would
be written:
DynWrite('anID',"Some <em>new</em> Content")
With the below code also in the page:
DocDom = (document.getElementById?true:false);
DocAll = (document.all?true:false);
DocStr=''
if (DocAll) DocStr="return document.all[id]"
if (DocDom) DocStr="return document.getElementById(id)"
GetRef=new Function("id", DocStr)
if (DocStr=='') { DynWrite=new Function("return false") } else {
DynWrite=new Function("id", "S", "GetRef(id).innerHTML=S; return true")
}
An alternative DynWrite function:
<URL: http://www.jibbering.com/faq/faq_notes/alt_dynwrite.html >
<URL: http://msdn.microsoft.com/workshop/author/dhtml/reference/properties/innerHTML.asp >
<URL: http://www.mozilla.org/docs/dom/domref/dom_el_ref8.html#1018427 >
4.16 How do I trim whitespace - LTRIM/RTRIM/TRIM?
Using Regular Expressions (JavaScript 1.2/JScript 3+) :
String.prototype.lTrim =
function()
{
return this.replace(/^\s+/,'');
}
String.prototype.rTrim =
function()
{
return this.replace(/\s+$/,'');
}
String.prototype.trim =
function()
{
return this.replace(/^\s+|\s+$/g,'');
}
or for all versions (trims characters ASCII<32 not true
"whitespace"):
function LTrim(str) {
for (var k=0; k<str.length && str.charAt(k)<=" " ; k++) ;
return str.substring(k,str.length);
}
function RTrim(str) {
for (var j=str.length-1; j>=0 && str.charAt(j)<=" " ; j--) ;
return str.substring(0,j+1);
}
function Trim(str) {
return LTrim(RTrim(str));
}
<URL: http://docs.sun.com/source/816-6408-10/regexp.htm >
<URL: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/script56/html/2380d458-3366-402b-996c-9363906a7353.asp >
<URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regular_expression >
<URL: http://www.informatics.sussex.ac.uk/courses/it/tutorials/nsJavaScriptRef/contents.htm >
<URL: http://www.merlyn.demon.co.uk/js-valid.htm >
4.17 How do I force a reload from the server/prevent caching?
To reload a page, use location.reload(). However, this depends
upon the cache headers that your server sends. To change this,
you need to alter the server configuration. A quick fix on the
client is to change the page URI so that it contains a unique
element, such as the current time. For example:
location.replace(location.href+'?d='+new Date().valueOf())
If the location.href already contains a Query String, use:
location.replace(location.href+'&d='+new Date().valueOf())
<URL: http://www.mnot.net/cache_docs/ >
<URL: http://docs.sun.com/source/816-6408-10/date.htm >
4.18 How do I get a perl/asp/php variable into client-side js?
Use the server-side language to generate the javascript:
var jsvar="<%= aspvar %>";
var jsvar="<?php echo $phpvar ?>";
4.19 Why do I get permission denied when accessing a frame/window?
In the normal browser security model, it is impossible for a
script from one domain to access the properties of pages served
from another domain, or a different protocol. Any attempt to
access a property in such cases will result in a "Permission
Denied" error. Signed scripts or trusted ActiveX objects can
overcome this in limited situations.
<URL: http://msdn.microsoft.com/workshop/author/om/xframe_scripting_security.asp >
4.20 How do I make a 10 second delay?
There is no built-in way to pause execution in javascript such
as a sleep function, but hosts usually provide a method of some
form. Web browsers are designed for event driven programming and
only provide the setTimeout and setInterval functions
to facilitate timed delays. The delay before calling Snork may
exceed the second parameter to setTimeout and setInterval
due to implementation differences among browsers.
To call the function Snork(), approx 10 seconds
after the function Moomin(), you would do this:
Moomin()
setTimeout('Snork()',10000)
Script execution is not stopped, and adding Snufkin() after the
setTimeout line would immediately execute the function Snufkin()
before Snork()
Achieving delays through running a loop of some sort for a
pre-defined period is a bad strategy, as that will tend to
put CPU use up to 100% and inhibit whatever was supposed to
be happening during the delay.
Other (less event driven) hosts have different wait functions,
such as WScript.Sleep() in the Windows Script Host.
<URL: http://msdn.microsoft.com/workshop/author/dhtml/reference/methods/setTimeout.asp >
<URL: http://docs.sun.com/source/816-6408-10/window.htm#1203758 >
<URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Event-driven_programming >
4.21 Why does 1+1 equal 11? or How do I convert a string to a number?
Javascript variables are loosely typed: the conversion between a
string and a number happens automatically. Since plus (+) is also
used as in string concatenation, '1' + 1 is equal to '11': the
String deciding what + does. To overcome this, first convert the
string to a number. For example: +varname or Number(varname) or
parseInt(varname, 10) or parseFloat(varname).
Prompt and form control values are strings, as is the result from
a prompt window. Convert these to numbers before performing addition.
Additional Notes:
<URL: http://www.jibbering.com/faq/faq_notes/type_convert.html >
<URL: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/script56/html/12a450e5-4818-4a09-9878-cd7c6cd2a248.asp >
4.22 How do I generate a random integer from 1 to N?
Method Math.random() returns a value R such that 0 <= R < 1.0 ; therefore
function Random(x) { return Math.floor(x*Math.random()) }
gives an evenly distributed random integer in the range from 0 to
x-1 inclusive; use Random(N)+1 for 1 to N.
<URL: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/41336409.aspx >
<URL: http://docs.sun.com/source/816-6408-10/math.htm >
How to Deal and Shuffle, see in:
<URL: http://www.merlyn.demon.co.uk/js-randm.htm >
4.23 How do I change print settings with window.print()?
In a normal security environment, you can't change anything. The
page stylesheet rules provide some options, but are not supported
in browsers yet. If you can, use an ActiveX or Plugin ScriptX and
Neptune from Meadroid to give you more control for Windows
versions of Internet Explorer and Netscape 4,6 and Opera 5.
<URL: http://www.meadroid.com/scriptx/ >
<URL: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/dnscrpt/html/dhtmlprint.asp >
4.24 I have <a href="javascript:somefunction()"> what ... ?
Whatever the rest of your question, this is generally a very bad
use of the javascript pseudo protocol. It was designed so that a
function could return a new document. For example:
javascript:"<p>Hello</p>".
Using it simply to call a function when a link is clicked causes
an error in user agents that do not support javascript, or have
javascript disabled. Instead, use
<a href="something.html" onclick="somefunction();return false">
where something.html is a meaningful alternative. Alternatively,
place the onclick event on another element so that users without
JavaScript aren't even aware that it does anything.
<URL: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20021223.html >
4.25 My element is named myselect[] , how do I access it?
Form controls with any "illegal" characters can be accessed with
formref.elements["myselect[]"] - The bracket characters,
amongst others, are illegal in ID attributes and JavaScript
identifiers, so you should try to avoid them as browsers may
handle them incorrectly.
<URL: http://msdn.microsoft.com/workshop/author/dhtml/reference/collections/elements.asp >
<URL: http://docs.sun.com/source/816-6408-10/form.htm >
<URL: http://www.jibbering.com/faq/faq_notes/faq_notes.html#FAQN4_25 >
4.26 How do I detect Opera/Netscape/IE?
The navigator object contains strings which
specify the browser and version; however, this is in general not
very genuine. Mozilla (and therefore Netscape 6+) allows this to
be freely set, and Opera and IE allow it to be modified. There
are also at least 25 other javascript capable browsers with
their own strings here.
Generally though, you don't need to identify which browser is
being used. There are alternative techniques, but which one you
choose depends on why you want to redirect browsers. If it's to
offer different CSS stylesheets, then <URL: http://w3development.de/css/hide_css_from_browsers/ >
shows many techniques. For Scripting, _object_ detection
is a better method to use.
<URL: http://www.quirksmode.org/js/support.html >
It is also known as feature detection.
Object/feature detection means checking that the object you wish
to use is supported by the browser before using it. This means
that you don't need to know what browsers support what methods,
and your code will automatically be usable on any browser that
can execute it.
if (document.getElementById &&
document.getElementById('el') &&
document.getElementById('el').style ) {
// We know that this browser supports getElementByID and has
// a style object, so we can set a style property.
document.getElementById('el').style.color="red";
}
Browser bugs can often be detected and overcome in similar ways.
<URL: http://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/Using_Web_Standards_in_your_Web_Pages#Developing_Cross_Browser.2FCross_Platform_Pages >
<URL: http://www.jibbering.com/faq/faq_notes/not_browser_detect.html >
<URL: http://developer.apple.com/internet/webcontent/objectdetection.html >
4.27 How do I disable the right mouse button?
The oncontextmenu intrinsic event is the only safe and reliable
method. Of the other approaches often presented, most depend on
an alert box interrupting the process and rarely work. Note that
oncontextmenu is a non-standard event and is not supported on
all browsers.
<body oncontextmenu="return false">
4.28 How do I change the confirm box to say yes/no or default to cancel?
The buttons on a confirm box cannot be changed, nor can you
specify a default button. However, you should be able to change
the question so that "OK" is suitable as the default.
e.g. change "We will now buy ourselves a Porsche with your credit
card, Do you want to continue with this transaction _OK_ Cancel"
to "We will now buy ourselves a Porsche with your credit card,
Would you like to abandon this transaction? _OK_ Cancel"
4.29 How do I log-out a user when they leave my site?
This cannot be done reliably. Here's why:
The user may disable JavaScript so the log-out script will
never execute.
The user may not be on-line when they close your web page.
Javascript errors elsewhere in the page may prevent the script
executing.
The browser may not support the onunload event, or may not fire
it under certain circumstances, so the log-out function will
not execute.
The URL below has more information.
<URL: http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=BlmZ7.55691%244x4.7344316%40news2-win.server.ntlworld.com >
4.30 How do I format the Last-Modified date with javascript?
Apparently, new Date() reads it correctly, though problems
can occur if the browser returns only two digits for the year.
In particular, time zone, field order and separators may vary.
It is also reliant on the server's clock having been correctly
set at the time of upload. See the URL
below.
<URL: http://www.merlyn.demon.co.uk/js-date2.htm#lM >
4.31 Why are my rollovers so slow?
Images are cached by the browser depending on the headers sent by
the server. If the server does not send sufficient information
for the browser to decide the image is cacheable, the browser
will check if the image has been updated every time you change the
src of an image (in some user settings). To overcome this you
must send suitable headers.
<URL: http://www.mnot.net/cache_docs/ >
4.32 How do I change the text in the url/location bar?
This text can only be altered by changing the URL of the page.
The normal solution is to use frames, though this can introduce
problems of its own.
4.33 How do I prompt a "Save As" dialog for an accepted mime type?
It is not possible with client-side JavaScript.
Some browsers accept the Content-Disposition header, but this
must be added by the server. Taking the form:-
Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=filename.ext
<URL: http://aspfaq.com/show.asp?id=2161 >
<URL: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q260/5/19.ASP >
4.34 How do I run a server side script?
You trigger a server-side script by setting any object's URL. For
example a frame, window, or an Image. An image will also
"swallow" the data sent back by the server, so that they will
not be visible anywhere.
var dummyImage = new Image();dummyImage.src = "scriptURL.asp?param=" + varName;
Mozilla (NN6.2+, Firefox, Ice Weasle etc), Opera 7.6+, Safari1.2+, the
Windows version of IE versions 5+, and some other browsers
provide the XML HTTP Request object. This allows JavaScript to
send HTTP requests directly to the server, and interact with
the responses returned.
<URL: http://jibbering.com/2002/4/httprequest.html >
4.35 I have window.status="Moomin"; why doesn't the statusbar change?
When changing the status in an event (e.g. onmouseover) you
should return true from the event. Also a number of browsers
require a short delay before setting the status to overcome their
default behaviour with the statusbar.
onevent="setTimeout('window.status=\'Moomin\'',15);"
Most browsers are configured, by default, to disallow scripts from setting
the status bar text.
4.36 How do I modify the current browser window?
In a default security environment you are very limited in how much
you can modify the current browser window. You can use
window.resizeTo or window.moveTo to resize or move a
window respectively, but that is it. Normally you can only
suggest chrome changes in a window.open
<URL: http://msdn.microsoft.com/workshop/author/dhtml/reference/methods/open_0.asp >
<URL: http://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/DOM:window.open >
4.37 How do I POST a form to a new window?
You use the target attribute on the form, opening a window with
that name and your feature string in the onsubmit handler of the
FORM.
<form ... action="..." target="wndname" onsubmit="window.open('',this.target,'features');return true;">
<URL: http://www.htmlhelp.com/reference/html40/forms/form.html >
4.38 How do I download a page to a variable?
Within a web-page use the XML HTTP Request object, see:
<URL: http://jibbering.com/2002/4/httprequest.html >
<URL: http://www.ajaxtoolbox.com/ >
4.39 How do I access a property of an object using a string?
There are two ways to access properties: the dot notation and
the square bracket notation. What you are looking for is the square
bracket notation in which the dot, and the identifier to its right,
are replaced with a set of square brackets containing a string. The
value of the string matches the identifier. For example:-
//dot notation
var bodyElement = document.body;
//square bracket notation, using an expression
var bodyElement = document["bo"+"dy"];
<URL: http://www.jibbering.com/faq/faq_notes/square_brackets.html >
4.40 When should I use eval?
The eval() function should _only_ be used when it is necessary to
evaluate a string supplied or composed at run-time; the string
can be anything from a simple (but unpredictable) expression such
as 12*2.54 to a substantial piece of javascript code.
4.41 Why doesn't the global variable "divId" always refer to the element with id="divId"?
Microsoft introduced a shortcut that can be used to reference
elements which include an ID attribute where the ID becomes a
global variable. Some browsers reproduce this behaviours but
some, most notably Gecko-based browsers (Netscape and Mozilla),
do not. The best approach is the document.getElementById
method, which is part of the W3C DOM standard and implemented
in modern browsers (including IE from version 5.0). So an
element with id="foo" can be referenced
with:-
var el = document.getElementById("foo");
<URL: http://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/Using_Web_Standards_in_your_Web_Pages#Accessing_Elements_with_the_W3C_DOM >
<URL: http://www.jibbering.com/faq/faq_notes/faq_notes.html#FAQN4_41 >
4.42 How do I open a new window with javascript?
New windows can be opened on browsers that support the
window.open function and are not subject to the action of any
pop-up blocking mechanism with code such as:-
if(window.open){
wRef = window.open("http://example.com/page.html","windowName");
}
<URL: http://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/DOM:window.open >
<URL: http://www.infimum.dk/HTML/JSwindows.html >
4.43 How do I get my browser to report javascript errors?
Various browsers include mechanisms for reporting javascript
errors in more or less detail but often they need to be enabled
or actively viewed. The quick way of activating error messages
in the Windows version of IE is to wait until a little yellow
triangle appears at the left end of the status bar, double click
on it and, when the error dialog box appears, check the "Always
show errors" checkbox it contains. It is also possible to
enable/disable error reporting from the "Internet Options"
dialog available through the menus. Mac IE error reporting is
enabled through the preferences dialog.
Netscape, Mozilla and other Gecko-based browsers have a javascript
console that displays errors. It can be viewed by typing javascript:
into the address bar, and it is sometimes also available as a menu item.
There is also a Firebug extension for Mozilla based browsers:
<URL: http://www.getfirebug.com/ >
Opera's JavaScript console can be opened from the Tools menu
(Tools > Advanced > JavaScript console). Alternatively, you can
have it open automatically by selecting the "Open JavaScript
console on error" checkbox in the Javascript preferences Section.
Unreviewed is a developer Console for Opera:
<URL: http://dev.opera.com/articles/view/opera-developer-tools/?page=2 >
For Safari see:
<URL: http://developer.apple.com/internet/safari/faq.html#anchor14 >
4.44 What is AJAX?
AJAX is shorthand for Asynchronous Javascript And XML. The technology is
based on the XMLHttpRequest Object. It is also known as "Web 2.0".
At its simplest, it is the sending/retrieving of new data from the server
without changing URL's or reloading the current page.
Mozilla Documentation:
<URL: http://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/XMLHttpRequest >
MSDN Documention:
<URL: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/workshop/author/dhtml/reference/objects/obj_xmlhttprequest.asp >
<URL: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/xmlsdk/html/63409298-0516-437d-b5af-68368157eae3.asp >
AJAX Libraries and Tutorial Sites:
<URL: http://jibbering.com/2002/4/httprequest.html >
<URL: http://www.ajaxtoolbox.com/ >
An alternative to the XMLHttpRequest Object is Remote Scripting:
<URL: http://www.ashleyit.com/rs/main.htm >
4.45 Why is my AJAX page not updated properly when using an HTTP GET request in Internet Explorer?
Microsoft Internet Explorer caches the results of HTTP GET requests. To ensure that the
document is retrieved from the server, you will need to use the POST Method.
<URL: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms536648.aspx >
5 Comments and Suggestions
5.1 Why do some posts have <FAQENTRY> in them ?
If a poster feels that the question they are answering should be
covered in the FAQ, placing <FAQENTRY> in your post lets the FAQ
robot collect the messages for easy review and inclusion. A Draft Proposal
for the FAQ is requested and appreciated.
The <FAQENTRY> should not be used in posts except in
conjunction with a suggestion/proposal for the FAQ. It should
also not be literally quoted in replies, instead it should be
partly obscured as, e.g. <FAQ**TRY> or similar.
5.2 How do I make a suggestion?
To make a suggestion to the FAQ, use either the FAQENTRY method
above, or email Randy Webb (clj...@comcast.net) (current FAQ editor)
or Jim Ley (jim...@gmail.com). All comments, suggestions, and
especially corrections are welcome. Any email sent to clj...@comcast.net
that does not contain FAQENTRY in the subject line is summarily deleted
by my spam filter.