Essential XUL Programming

by Vaughn Bullard; Kevin T. Smith (BIG, Inc., Mechanicsville, Virginia); Michael C. Daconta

• ISBN13: 9780471415800
• ISBN10: 0471415804
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-08-01
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

A revolutionary new technology for the rapidly expanding world of e-commerce, XUL (XML User Interface Language) is an XML-based user interface language that gives Web developers control over all aspects of the Web interface. Featuring two tutorials on programming with XUL, this book shows developers how to use basic XUL elements to build a sample interface for an e-commerce site, then goes on to explore more sophisticated applications by creating an information portal inside an application. Readers will find expert tips and advice on how to get started writing XUL code as well as how to extend it into Java and other non-Netscape interfaces.

Author Biography

VAUGHN BULLARD is a senior principal software engineer with BTG Inc., where he is the Java/XML/UML evangelist and instructor for the Defense and Intelligence Systems Division. He currently teaches and develops curricula for software development technologies including XML, Java, and UML for Learning Tree International.

Table of Contents

Introduction	vii
Acknowledgments	xi
About the Authors	xiii
What Is XUL?	1	(18)
The Origins of XUL	3	(1)
Leveraged Technologies in XUL	4	(5)
Types of XUL User Interface Widgets	9	(2)
XUL Features	11	(4)
Implementing XUL	15	(3)
Summary	18	(1)
Notes	18	(1)
An XML Primer	19	(30)
XML Syntax	21	(6)
Creating a Document Type Definition	27	(6)
Constructing a XUL DTD	33	(3)
Creating a Schema	36	(8)
The Document Object Model	44	(4)
Summary	48	(1)
Using Cascading Style Sheets	49	(32)
A Simple CSS Example	50	(3)
CSS Fundamentals	53	(23)
Using CSS with XUL	76	(1)
Summary	77	(1)
Notes	78	(3)
Building a Simple XUL Interface	81	(26)
Building a XUL Application	82	(16)
Complete Code for xulexample.xul	98	(7)
Complete Code for eventhandlers.js	105	(1)
Summary	106	(1)
Creating Netscape Themes	107	(26)
Gathering Your Tools	108	(1)
Downloading a Template	108	(4)
Developing Your Netscape Theme	112	(18)
Summary	130	(3)
RDF and XUL Templates	133	(34)
The RDF Model and Syntax	134	(9)
Building and Using XUL Templates	143	(20)
Summary	163	(1)
Notes	164	(3)
XUL Overlays and XBL	167	(42)
Using XUL Overlays	168	(6)
Using XML Binding Language (XBL)	174	(33)
Summary	207	(1)
Notes	207	(2)
The jXUL Open Source Project	209	(22)
Why jXUL?	209	(1)
The jXUL Architecture	210	(2)
jXUL Components	212	(15)
jXUL Packages	227	(1)
Getting Involved in the jXUL Project	228	(1)
Challenges for the jXUL Project	228	(1)
Summary	229	(2)
Case Study: Creating a Customizable Browser Portal	231	(26)
Defining the Problem	232	(1)
Approaching the Solution	232	(1)
Under the Hood: An In-Depth Look at Netscape's ``My Sidebar''	232	(16)
Customizing My Sidebar for the Case Study	248	(4)
Summary	252	(5)
Case Study: Building an E-Commerce User Interface with XUL	257	(40)
Defining the Problem	257	(1)
Analyzing the Requirements	258	(1)
Designing the User Interface	259	(4)
Building the User Interface	263	(6)
Creating and Populating the User Interface	269	(15)
Navigating the Finished Product	284	(1)
Main XUL Interface File	285	(5)
JavaScript Event Handling File	290	(3)
Overlay Files	293	(3)
Summary	296	(1)
Appendix A XUL Programmer's Reference	297	(46)
Appendix B Netscape Theme Reference	343	(66)
References	409	(2)
Index	411