patterns

Patterns being patterns, theres not a lot of unseen information here. Patterns are just a concise way to represent the knowledge embodied in the many AJAX applications that are out there. The point is to discover best practices by investigating how developers have successfully traded off conflicting design principles. AJAX is all about usability, so the patterns focus particularly on delivering usability in the face of constraints, most notably: user capabilities and expectations, bandwidth limits, the stateless nature of HTTP, the complexity of JavaScript.
AJAX is a new term, but XMLHttpRequest and related technologies have been around for a while. I know that, but the introduction of a single umbrella term nevertheless constitutes a tipping point which is forcing web development to move heavily in a certain direction. AJAX is only a name, but names can be tremendously important.

these are some points……..
Minimise traffic between browser and server so that the user feels the application is responsive.
Be clear on the interaction mode being used – regular HTML versus AJAX versus desktop application so that the user can predict what will happen next .. no surprises.
While avoiding confusion, borrow from conventions of HTML and desktop applications so that the user can rapidly learn how to use your application.

Introducing the ASP.NET Ajax Framework

Ajax is a popular technology that is used in many different ways on the World Wide Web. It has become a technology of choice for building fast and responsive user interface. This artical takes a brief look at the features of some of the more widely used ASP.NET Ajax frameworks.
The What and Why of Ajax
Before we delve deep into the Ajax frameworks, let’s have a quick recap of what Ajax and why it is so popular. The word Ajax is and acronym for Asynchronous JavaScript and XML. It is a combination of different technologies, used for building rich and responsive user interfaces. The benefits of using Ajax include:
faster page renderings and support for partial page updates
rich and, responsive user interface
reduced consumption of server resources
Common ASP.NET Ajax frameworks
The most common Ajax frameworks that can be used with ASP.NET are:
Atlas
AJAXPro.NET
MagicAJAX.NET
Anthem.NET
ASP.NET Ajax

MiniAjax - Free Downloadable Ajax Scripts

Have you ever wanted to do something with ajax but didnt want to code it yourself or pay to have it coded for you? Check out MiniAjax.com Here is a list of a few things they have for download:

- Prototype Windows
- Ajax Star Rating Bar
- Site Heatmapping Script
- GrayBox Popup Script
- Bubble Tool Tips
- Ajax Tabs Script
- Ajax Poller Script
- Ajax Pie and Donut Chart Script
- Ajax Form Validation Script

And much, much more. Check it out now.

Wufoo

Wufoo is a web-based tool to help you build and host amazing online forms. In only a few short minutes, you can create a mailing list, a marketing survey or even a complete customer management system. In other words, Wufoo is an Internet application that helps anybody build amazing online forms. When you design a form with Wufoo, it automatically builds the database, backend and scripts needed to make collecting and understanding your data easy, fast and fun. Because we host everything, all you need is a browser, an Internet connection and a few minutes to build a form and start using it right away. As it is beta stage right now, its tough to see how it would compete with JotForm.

Email Using JavaMail

JavaMail, a technology from Java allows programmers to develop code that can send emails whether in plain text or HTML. Here’s a short easy code to send email to a recipient.

public static boolean send(String replyTo, String from_email, String to_email, String subject, String body, String type) {
boolean sent = false;
try {
Properties prop = new Properties();
prop.setProperty(”mail.smtp.localhost”, “localhost”);
prop.setProperty(”mail.smtp.port”, “25″);
Session session = Session.getDefaultInstance(prop);

Message msg = new MimeMessage(session);
msg.setSubject(subject);

InternetAddress from = new InternetAddress(from_email);
InternetAddress to = new InternetAddress(to_email);
msg.addRecipient(Message.RecipientType.TO, to);
msg.setFrom(from);

Multipart multipart = new MimeMultipart(”related”);

BodyPart htmlPart = new MimeBodyPart();
if (type.equals(”html”)) htmlPart.setContent(body, “text/html”);
else htmlPart.setContent(body, “text/plain”);

multipart.addBodyPart(htmlPart);
msg.setContent(multipart);

Transport transport = session.getTransport(”smtp”);
transport.connect(USERNAME, PASSWORD); // username, password to connect to smtp server
transport.sendMessage(msg, msg.getAllRecipients());
transport.close();

} catch (Exception e) {
System.err.println(”[MailTool] send() : ” + e.getMessage());
e.printStackTrace();
}

return sent;
}

Notice the line that says transport.connect(USERNAME, PASSWORD);

That line is optional in case you have set your SMTP server for authentication before emails are sent out by the mail server. The method also provides the option to let you send the email as plain text or HTML. Just set the value to html if you want it to be sent as HTML.

yWriter 4

Fiction writers can always benefit from useful tools that are free. Keeping track of story lines and characters can sometimes become a hectic task, but it is not an impossible one. yWriter 4 can definitely handle its own among other free applications and some paid ones as well. If you are serious about writing and don’t want a flashy user interface, then this application is what you need. It will conveniently help you to keep track of plot lines, characters, and drafts. All of your information will be organized in a simple form.

To get started, just simply download and install the application. You’ll be able to move forward in your writing via project levels. Import your existing novels in accordance with the yWriter’s format. If your work is in PDF or .doc format, then yWriter is not capable of importing it. Despite this little set back, it is still an excellent program overall. Your chapters will be displayed in spreadsheet form for viewing. After importing all of your chapters and scenes into yWriter, you’ll then be able to add notes, descriptions, or other details.

Looking at the yWriter format will remind you of the classic Windows style. It is not flashy, but it still gets the job done. In order to successfully complete your novel, most writers do not need a fancy interface filled with bells and whistles. The best part of using this program is that it is simple to use. Once you start working with it, you’ll notice how fast you completed your novel.