This section of the guide will provide an overview of Dynamic HTML and how it has been used in this project.
Dynamic HTML is not so much a technology in itself, like Java for example, but several technologies that work in harmony to provide developers with a powerful set of tools. The main technologies that make up Dynamic HTML as used in this project are HTML 4, JavaScript and Cascading Style Sheets. It is worth pointing out at this stage that there is great confusion with respect to Dynamic HTML. The two main browser camps (Netscape™ and Microsoft™) have adopted differing Document Object Models (DOMs) and the standards body has yet to finalise their thoughts. This has meant some requirement for compromise and in some cases a loss of functionality in one browser or the other. This project has favoured the Microsoft™ implementation as at the time it most closely adhered to the standards body recommendations. An overview of the differing DOMs is presented in the DOM section of this guide.
Let us take a quick look at how we have used Dynamic HTML and then, if you are keen, you can look at some of the many excellent on-line tutorials and books on the subject.