Notes Section

Main Text

Module 1.0

Read JScript FAQ.

Read JScript Tutorial.

Reference also available 
entirely online.

Download and Install the JScript (JavaScript) Language Reference.

Go to msdn.microsoft.com/scripting/default.htm?/scripting/jscript/ default.htm with Internet Explorer (IE) 5+. Bookmark the site, visiting all its JScript links and read the JScript FAQ. Download and install the language reference (JSDOC.exe 473KB) msdn.microsoft.com/scripting/jscript/download/jsdoc.exe. Go to Start > Program > Microsoft Windows Script > JScript V5.1 Documentation. Read the JScript Tutorial.

Module 1.1

                                                     Evolution of Mark-up


                                                                                                    mark-up
                                                                                |
                                                                                |
                                                                generalized mark-up
                                                                                |
                                                                                |
                              |----SGML (Standardized Generalized Mark-up Language)
                              |          |
                              |          |                                                                                                       
           XHTML  --------- | --- HTML (Hypertext Mark-up Language) ----- DHTML (Dynamic)
                 ­           |
                  |           |
                  ---- XML (eXtensible Mark-up Language) ----- XSL (eXtensible Style Language)

Note: In print, the hyperlinks above won’t function. Please visit www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/ for definitions.

Mark-up is formatting—like bold or italics—added to a document to manage its appearance.

Generalized mark-up only describes the structural hierarchy of text within a document.

HTML uses CSS (Cascading Styles Sheets) to separate content from style.
DHTML utilizes three technologies: HTML for content, CSS for style and a scripting language to modify the DOM (Document Object Model)

HTML is an application of SGML
XML is a subset of SGML.
XHTML is a reformulation of HTML 4 in XML.

HTML is computer to person. XML is computer (database) to computer (database).
Mark-up has evolved from primarily displaying to describing AND displaying.

Module 1.2

Try out
http://validator.w3.org/

Bookmark this guide
http://werbach.com/barebones
/barebones.html

Define technical terms at

www.zdwebopedia.com

www.techweb.com/

encloypedia

Limitations of HTML and the Advantages of Scripting.

A limitation of HTML is that it’s static. JavaScript and JScript allow for Dynamic HTML (DHTML) with interactivity, instantaneous web page updates, animations and many more attention-grabbing web features.

With JavaScript and JScript you can create:

• animations and images that suddenly change when the mouse pointer is moved over them
• messages that scroll across a web page
• pop-up alert messages and pop-up windows
• “smart” HTML forms that can validate data entered by a user before it’s submitted
• interactive online tests
• and many more dynamic web features.

Module 1.3

Web Browsers and Scripting Standards.

A great frustration with web scripting has been the lack of standards by web browser like Netscape’s Navigator or Communicator and Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (IE).

HTML has a standards organization called the World Wide Web Consortium or W3.

JavaScript and JScript also have a standards organization called the European Computer Manufacturers Association (ECMA). Its goal is to foster a reliable scripting standard and both Netscape and Microsoft have pledged future version compliance.

The scripting standard is called ECMAScript which is based upon Netscape’s JavaScript version 1.1 and Microsoft’s JScript version 2.0. As JavaScript and JScript reach full compliance with ECMAScript Standards, their inconsistencies in Netscape and IE browsers will diminish and a vendor-neutral, scripting language will hopefully emerge on the Web.

More on this later . . .

Module 1.4

JavaScript/JScript Editors.

JavaScript, JScript and HTML may be edited in any text editor like NotePad (Start > Programs > Accessories > NotePad). Visual Interdev contains a set of convenient tools and utilities and is Microsoft’s preferred script editor. Others include FrontPage, Allaire’s Homesite, Macromedia’s UltraDev and the free (send a postcard) Edit Pad which is downloadable from www.tucows.com. (Do a Quick Search for the words Edit Pad or JavaScript.)

Module 1.5

Exercise 1.

1. Order the course text book as soon as possible (see syllabus). We will begin using it the second week. This book will be mandatory for both online JavaScript classes this Fall and is highly recommended if you aren’t a programmer or haven’t taken college-level programming classes.
2. If you want, introduce yourself in the class discussion board. What do you do? Why are you taking this class? What do you hope to gain from this class? Or anything else you feel like discussing within the context of this course.
3. Visit all the links shown on this lesson, and thoroughly review the JScript (JavaScript) Language Reference.
4. Take notes on this weeks materials and paraphrase it in your own words. Discuss the correct answers to this week’s quiz (shown below) in the discussion board. The quiz will be available this weekend, and you'll have several opportunities to change your answers before the quiz is graded.
5. Open this script in your browser, copy and paste the text into NotePad and save the file as bgColorChanger.htm. What happens and why?

Module 1.6

Quiz 1.

1. Identify the sequence for the evolution of HTML. For example, is this correct: Mark-up > generalized mark-up > SGML > XML ? (Hint: No, but it’s close.)
2. What are two ways to comment JavaScript code? (Hint: Review the JScript Tutorial)
3. What do variables allow you to do? (Hint: Search the JScript Language Reference)
4. What are data types? (Hint: Search the JScript Language Reference)
5. What does it mean to coerce a variable? (Hint: Review the JScript Tutorial)