Advanced JavaScript Programming

Course specifications

Course number: 077 922

Software version number: JavaScript 1.3 or higher

Course length: 1 day

Hardware/software required to run this course

This course can be used with a variety of computer operating systems. Course data files are distributed

in Windows and Macintosh file formats; they are distributed on CD-ROM, and are copied to the

student’s hard-disk drive. Access to a CD-ROM drive (on the student’s computer, or through a local area

network) is required. As an alternative, you can install the course data files on a Web server. A Web

server is required if you want students to perform the task for “Communicating with server

applications.” Three megabytes (3 MB) of hard-disk space must be available for files used in the course.

A JavaScript-enabled browser application, such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer,

is required for this course. The course covers features found in the 4.0 and higher versions of those

browsers. If possible, it is helpful to have multiple browsers installed, so that students can analyze

differences in behavior among platforms and browsers. A typical setup for this course would include the

latest versions of Navigator and Internet Explorer.

A text editor is required for writing JavaScript code. Although almost any text editor can be used, to

facilitate debugging, it is strongly recommended that you use one with a line numbering capability. Text

editors geared toward programming generally have a line-numbering capability. Examples of Windows

text editors include HomeSite, Multi-Edit, and CodeWright. Examples of Macintosh text editors include

BBEdit and HotDog Professional.

Internet access is not required.

Printers are not required.

Course description

Overview: Students who are already familiar with the fundamentals of JavaScript programming will

learn how to develop scripts that are modular, easily maintainable, and compatible with multiple

browsers. Students will learn debugging techniques and how to use advanced programming features such

as custom objects, arrays, and cookies. Students will also learn how JavaScript communicates with

other software such as applets and server-side scripts.

Performance-based objectives

Lesson objectives help students become comfortable with the course, and also provide a means to

evaluate learning. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Develop Web pages that display different content or execute different code based on the version

of JavaScript that is present on the Web client.

Course content

Lesson 1: Programming techniques

Toward ease of maintenance

Debugging JavaScript code

Lesson 2: Cross-browser compatibility

Supporting multiple browsers

Dealing with browsers that do not support JavaScript

Detecting browser and JavaScript versions

Object detection

Custom error handlers

Lesson 3: Custom Objects

Introduction to objects

Constructor functions

Methods

Lesson 4: Arrays

Introduction to arrays

Creating and populating arrays

Deleting array elements

Multi-dimensional arrays

Lesson 5: Cookies

Introduction to the Cookie object

Storing cookies

Reading and processing cookie values

Deleting cookies

Lesson 6: Communicating with applets and server applications

Communicating with Java applets

Communicating with ShockWave applets

Communicating with ActiveX

Communicating with server applications