Advanced Programming with JavaScript 1.2
By Emily A. Vander Veer
Although client-side JavaScript is used mostly for form-input validation (see "Client-Side JavaScript," Web Techniques, February 1997), it can contribute far more to Web-based development efforts. For instance, you can use JavaScript to incorporate Java applets, ActiveX components, and Netscape plug-ins into your Web pages.(Also see "
Browser Detection in JavaScript 1.1".) And in the upcoming JavaScript 1.2, implemented in Netscape Navigator 4.0, you can even use JavaScript to enhance your pages with sophisticated visual elements that previously could be implemented only with server-side programs like Java applets or CGI scripts.
In this article, I'll demonstrate basic techniques for integrating JavaScript directly with Java, Netscape plug-ins, and ActiveX components; creating animations and 3D special effects with JavaScript; and managing Web-page layout with JavaScript style-sheets and layers.
Many of the features presented in this article are JavaScript 1.2 specific, so you'll need a copy of Netscape Navigator 4.0 (Communicator) to try them.
Integrating JavaScript with Other Technologies
Many applications are best suited for implementation in languages other than JavaScript. In these cases you can integrate JavaScript directly with your technology of choice, as follows:
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