JavaScript in 10 Simple Steps or Less

645 Pages·2003·14.113 MB·English

by  Arman Danesh

01 542419 FM.qxd 11/19/03 10:28 AM Page i
JavaScriptTM
in 10 Simple Steps or Less
01 542419 FM.qxd 11/19/03 10:28 AM Page ii
01 542419 FM.qxd 11/19/03 10:28 AM Page iii
JavaScriptTM
in 10 Simple Steps or Less
Arman Danesh
01 542419 FM.qxd 11/19/03 10:28 AM Page iv
JavaScriptTMin 10 Simple Steps or Less
Published by
Wiley Publishing, Inc.
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard
Indianapolis, IN 46256
www.wiley.com
Copyright © 2004 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
Published simultaneously in Canada
Library of Congress Control Number: 2003114066
ISBN: 0-7645-4241-9
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
1Q/QZ/RS/QT/IN
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sec-
tions 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the
Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Cen-
ter, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, [phone], fax [phone]. Requests to the Publisher
for permission should be addressed to the Legal Department, Wiley Publishing, Inc., 10475 Crosspoint Blvd.,
Indianapolis, IN 46256, [phone], fax [phone], E-mail: [email protected].
Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in
preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of
the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a par-
ticular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. The
advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a profes-
sional where appropriate. Neither the publisher nor author shall be liable for any loss of profit or any other com-
mercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.
For general information on our other products and services or to obtain technical support, please contact our
Customer Care Department within the U.S. at [phone], outside the U.S. at [phone] or fax (317)
572-4002.
Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be
available in electronic books.
Trademarks:Wiley, the Wiley Publishing logo, and related trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks
of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries, and may not be used
without written permission. JavaScript is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. All other trademarks are the
property of their respective owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc. is not associated with any product or vendor men-
tioned in this book.
01 542419 FM.qxd 11/19/03 10:28 AM Page v
To my beloved Tahirih for her support and encouragement.
01 542419 FM.qxd 11/19/03 10:28 AM Page vi
Credits
Acquisitions Editor Project Coordinator
Jim Minatel Courtney MacIntyre
Development Editor Graphics and Production Specialists
Sharon Nash Elizabeth Brooks, Joyce Haughey, Jennifer Heleine,
LeAndra Hosier, Heather Pope, Mary Gillot Virgin
Production Editor
Felicia Robinson Quality Control Technician
John Tyler Connoley, John Greenough,
Technical Editor Charles Spencer
Will Kelly
Proofreading and Indexing
Copy Editor Sossity R. Smith, Johnna VanHoose
Joanne Slike
Editorial Manager
Kathryn Malm
Vice President & Executive Group Publisher
Richard Swadley
Vice President and Executive Publisher
Robert Ipsen
Vice President and Publisher
Joseph B. Wikert
01 542419 FM.qxd 11/19/03 10:28 AM Page vii
About the Author
Arman Daneshis the Internet Coordinator for the Bahá’í International Community’s Office of Public
Information. In that capacity, he manages the development of numerous Web sites, including The Bahá’í
World (www.bahai.org), the official Web site of the Bahá’í Faith, and the Bahá’í World News Services
(www.bahaiworldnews.org), an online news service, both of which use JavaScript. Additionally, he is the
Technical Director for Juxta Publishing Limited (www.juxta.com). He has been working with JavaScript
since the mid-1990s and is the author of some of the earliest books on the subject, including Teach Yourself
JavaScript in a Weekand JavaScript Developer’s Guide. Arman has authored more than 20 books on tech-
nology subjects, including ColdFusion MX Developer’s Handbook(Sybex), Mastering ColdFusion MX(Sybex),
SAIR Linux & Gnu Certified Administrator All-in-One Exam Guide(Osborne/McGraw-Hill), and Safe and
Secure: Secure Your Home Network and Protect Your Privacy Online(Sams). He is pursuing an advanced
degree in computer science at Simon Fraser University outside Vancouver, British Columbia.
01 542419 FM.qxd 11/19/03 10:28 AM Page viii
01 542419 FM.qxd 11/19/03 10:28 AM Page ix
Acknowledgments
T
he task of writing these long computer books is a daunting one, and it is a process that requires
significant contributions from many people who help these projects see their way to completion.
Forthis project, I need to thank the entire team, including Sharon Nash and Jim Minatel at Wiley, as
well as all the myriad others involved in preparing, designing, and producing the books there.
I also need to thank my family for their patience during the writing of the book. In particular, my wife,
Tahirih, and son, Ethan, deserve credit for tolerating the time I had to devote to the preparation of
thisbook.