Refreshing part of a HTML page with each request

[Glenn]

Is it possible to only redraw a portion of an HTML page as part of a
request? With each request, I am updating number of results but do not
want to lose where you were in a page. I created anchors at different
parts of the page but even this is a bit jumpy. Is there any other way
to implement this?

[Dave Patton]

"Glenn" <gl*********@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:11**********************@f14g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com:

Is it possible to only redraw a portion of an HTML page as part of a
request?
Technically, yes, but that would be browser-specific behaviour
that would have to compare the 'prior page' with the 'current page',
and only redraw the changed portions. In other words, it's
not under your control.
With each request, I am updating number of results but do not
want to lose where you were in a page. I created anchors at different
parts of the page but even this is a bit jumpy. Is there any other way
to implement this?

Use server-side scripting. For example, have the page be
a PHP page, and initially serve the 'start page'. The user
makes a request, and the PHP script does some processing,
and presents the 'results page', which could be substantially
the same as the 'start page', but with a "summary of results".
If the "summary of results" is always at the top of the page,
then subsequent "requests" won't 'jump around', but always
just let the page display be the default.

Another possible option, which may not work in all browsers,
is to use PHP to output results as you do the processing, by
flushing the output buffer.

--
Dave Patton
Canadian Coordinator, Degree Confluence Project
http://www.confluence.org/
My website: http://members.shaw.ca/davepatton/

[Lachlan Hunt]

Glenn wrote:

Is it possible to only redraw a portion of an HTML page as part of a
request?

You could include the updating portion within an an external resource
within an <iframe> or <object>, or use a scripting approach that makes
use of the proprietary XmlHttpRequest() object (which is supported among
several popular browsers) to request the data and access the DOM to
modify the document dynamically. However, with either approach, you
need to consider appropriate fallback mechanisms for user's that don't
support those features.

--
Lachlan Hunt
http://lachy.id.au/
http://GetFirefox.com/ Rediscover the Web
http://SpreadFirefox.com/ Igniting the Web

[Pierre Goiffon]

Glenn wrote:

Is it possible to only redraw a portion of an HTML page as part of a
request? With each request, I am updating number of results but do not
want to lose where you were in a page. I created anchors at different
parts of the page but even this is a bit jumpy. Is there any other way
to implement this?

As said before by Dave and Lachlan, the client-sides solutions are
restricted to particular browsers.

If it's not a problem for you, try a look at these :

Mozilla (XMLHTTPRequest API) :
http://jpspan.sourceforge.net/wiki/d...xmlhttprequest

MSIE (Remote Scripting) :
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...tml/rmscpt.asp

Mozilla, MSIE, Opera, ... (JSRS) :
http://www.ashleyit.com/rs/main.htm

[Glenn]

One example I found was at the following url:
http://funds.reuters.com/lipper/reta...ndscreener.asp

It updates just the result row as you make changes. Is this part of
the ASP technology or is it just javascript that is not making a
request with each request? Would this method not work for other
browsers?

[Colin Walls]

Glenn wrote:

Is it possible to only redraw a portion of an HTML page as part of a
request? With each request, I am updating number of results but do not
want to lose where you were in a page. I created anchors at different
parts of the page but even this is a bit jumpy. Is there any other way
to implement this?

I have a similar type of requirement. I have been asked to put together a
set of pages that elicit information from a client wanting to order a
particular service. The sequence looks something like

Do you want A or B

If you want A are you an A1, A2, or A3

If you are an A2 then do you want to A2a, A2b or A2c

etc. Not dissimilar to an IVR system, where the subsequent menu items are
contingent on what went before.

Given that you only get to see a final form once you get to the end of the
sequence a one button per page form doesn't feel quite right. It seems to
be unaesthetic and have a low usability.

What I was looking for was something where I could populate the page with
the next section of the structured dialogue as the user made their
selection.

Any thoughts as to how one would do this (or whether it is a sensible thing
to do in the first place)?

--
Colin Walls
Removed the pink meat to mail me

[Glenn]

Colin -
If there are not too many choices, I have seen others implement
solutions using dynamic html and javascript. In my case, there are too
many options. I need to go back to a server to run queries.

[Andy Dingley]

On 8 Feb 2005 12:02:47 -0800, "Glenn" <gl*********@yahoo.com> wrote:

Is it possible to only redraw a portion of an HTML page as part of a
request?

This is obviously both highly useful and impossible / difficult

Google maps is doing it
http://maps.google.com/

And here's an analysis of how they've done it. Worth reading.
http://jgwebber.blogspot.com/2005/02...ng-google.html

[Flash Nick]

You do it all in Flash. Every single element in a Flash file is
individually updateable.... ;-)

[Glenn]

Using a iframe was one of the more complicated solutions I had. I am
using Servlets-JSP. One possibility was to have a invisible iframe.
In this iframe would be a form with a hidden input field. I would
actually submit the form in the invisible iframe. I would need
javascript to have the actual UI components on the page update the form
in the invisible iframe. I would also need dynamic html for the number
of results and the selections. My concerns were whether it would work
as expected and work on most browsers. I would like make sure you are
returning to where you were on the page.

That was an interesting read. The flash solution also sounded
interesting.

Andy Dingley wrote:

On 8 Feb 2005 12:02:47 -0800, "Glenn" <gl*********@yahoo.com> wrote:

Is it possible to only redraw a portion of an HTML page as part of a
request?

This is obviously both highly useful and impossible / difficult

Google maps is doing it
http://maps.google.com/

And here's an analysis of how they've done it. Worth reading.
http://jgwebber.blogspot.com/2005/02...ng-google.html