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Ajax convenience.

Project description

Overview
========

``bdajax`` provides JavaScript helper functions and a simple dispatcher system
driven by XML-attributes. Attributes are defined in its own XML namespace,
placed in the XHTML markup.

The dispatcher basically provides two behaviors:

- trigger events

- perform actions

Behaviors are bound to JavaScript events.

This package bundles required resources for the use of bdajax inside a
``pyramid`` or ``zope`` application. It does NOT include the
required server implementations. bdajax can be used with other Python or
non-Python server backends too as long as action performing code is implemented
and available through browser URL.

.. contents::
:depth: 2


Dispatching
-----------

For those who know KSS (Kinetic Style Sheets) and TAL (Tag Attribute Language):
The syntax reminds of TAL - attributes are interpreted by JS instead of a TAL
interpreter - while the functionality is inspired by KSS.

The main paradigm is the use of an ``event/listener`` model. It enables bdajax
to ``listen`` to ``events`` and trigger ``events`` on ajaxified DOM components.

Consider a navtree as example: the idea is to trigger an event when a navigation
item gets clicked. Click semantically indicates a changed context. Then listen
to this event on all DOM elements to get notified on changing server context.

This makes it possible to have completely decoupled "sub-applications" knowing
nothing but an event contract from each other.


Attributes
----------

Following attributes are available:

**ajax:bind="evt1 evt2"**
Indicate bdajax behavior on DOM element and the event(s) triggering
it/them.

**ajax:event="evt1:sel1 evt2:sel2"**
Trigger event(s) on selector. The triggered event gets the target
as additional parameter on event.ajaxtarget.

**ajax:action="name1:selector1:mode1 name2:selector2:mode2"**
Perform AJAX action(s) on selector with mode. Selector points to target
DOM element, mode defines how to modify the DOM tree. Possible
mode values are ``inner`` and ``replace``.

**ajax:target="http://fubar.org?param=value"**
AJAX target definition. Consists out of target context URL and a
query string used for requests on the target context.
``ajax:target`` is mandatory when ``ajax:event`` is defined, and
optional when ``ajax:action`` is defined (depends on if event is triggered
by bdajax or browser event). See below to get a clue what i am
talking about.

**ajax:confirm="Do you really want to do this?"**
Show confirmation dialog before actually executing actions and trigger
events.

**ajax:overlay="actionname:selector:content_selector"**
Renders ajax action to overlay with selector. ``selector`` is optional and
defaults to ``#ajax-overlay``. ``content_selector`` is optional to
``selector`` and defaults to ``.overlay_content``.


Provide dependencies on server
------------------------------

This package already includes resource configuration for ``Zope`` and
``pyramid``. This is done by ZCML. Include the following ZCML include statement
to your ZCML configuration::

<include package="bdajax" />

The expected ``ajaxaction`` view is not provided. Its intended to be provided by
a custom implementation. See 'Perform actions' below.


Load dependencies in markup
---------------------------

Include dependencies jQuery (1.6.4) and jQuery Tools (1.2.6) to HTML Header.

Load bdajax related Scripts and CSS::

<script src="http://fubar.com/++resource++bdajax/bdajax.js"></script>
<link href="http://fubar.com/++resource++bdajax/bdajax.css"
rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="screen" />

Make sure the content of ``bdajax.pt`` is rendered in Markup.


Define namespace
----------------

In order to keep your XHTML valid when using the XML namespace extension define
this namespace in the XHTML document::

<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"
xmlns:ajax="http://namesspaces.bluedynamics.eu/ajax">
...
</html>


Event binding
-------------

Indicate bdajax behavior on DOM element::

<a href="http://fubar.com"
ajax:bind="keydown click">
fubar
</a>

Binds this element to events ``keydown`` and ``click``.


Trigger events
--------------

Bind event behavior to DOM element::

<a href="http://fubar.com/baz?a=a"
ajax:bind="click"
ajax:event="contextchanged:.contextsensitiv"
ajax:target="http://fubar.com/baz?a=a">
fubar
</a>

This causes the ``contextchanged`` event to be triggered on all DOM elements
defining ``contextsensitiv`` css class. The extra attribute ``ajaxtarget`` gets
written to the event before it is triggered, containing definitions from
``ajax:target``.


Perform actions
---------------

An action performs a JSON request to the server and modifies the DOM tree as
defined.

bdajax expects a resource (i.e a zope/pyramid view or some script) named
``ajaxaction`` on server. Resource is called on target url with target query
parameters. Three additional arguments are passed:

**bdajax.action**
name of the action

**bdajax.selector**
given selector must be added to response. could be ``NONE``, which means
that no Markup is hooked after action (useful i.e. in combination with
continuation actions and events).

**bdajax.mode**
the manipulation mode. Either ``inner`` or ``replace`` or ``NONE``
(see above).

The resource is responsible to return the requested resource as a JSON
response in the format as follows.::

{
mode: 'inner', // the passed mode
selector: '#someid', // the passed selector
payload: '<div>...</div>', // the rendered action
continuation: [{}], // continuation actions, events and messages
}


Action Continuation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The ``continuation`` value is an array of actions and/or events which should
be performed after performed ajaxaction returns. Available continuation
definitions are described below.

**actions**::

{
'type': 'action',
'target': 'http://example.com',
'name': 'actionname',
'mode': 'inner',
'selector': '.foo',
}

**events**::

{
'type': 'event',
'target': 'http://example.com',
'name': 'eventname',
'selector': '.foo',
}

**overlay**::

{
'type': 'overlay',
'selector': '#ajax-overlay',
'content_selector': '.overlay_content',
'action': 'actionname',
'target': 'http://example.com',
'close': false,
}

Overlays dynamically get a close button. In order to keep overlay contents
easily alterable inside the overlay element an element exists acting as overlay
content container. ``content_selector`` defines the selector of this container.

Setting close to ``true`` closes overlay at ``selector``. In this case
``action`` and target are ignored.

**messages**::

{
'type': 'message',
'payload': 'Text or <strong>Markup</strong>',
'flavor': 'error',
'selector': null,
}

Either ``flavor`` or ``selector`` must be given.
Flavor could be one of 'message', 'info', 'warning', 'error' and map to the
corresponding bdajax UI helper functions. Selector indicates to hook returned
payload at a custom location in DOM tree instead of displaying a message. In
this case, payload is set as contents of DOM element returned by selector.

If both ``flavor`` and ``selector`` are set, ``selector`` is ignored.

Be aware that you can provoke infinite loops with continuation actions and
events, use this feature sparingly.


Trigger actions directly
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bind an action which is triggered directly.::

<a href="http://fubar.com/baz?a=a"
ajax:bind="click"
ajax:action="renderfubar:.#fubar:replace"
ajax:target="http://fubar.com/baz?a=a">
fubar
</a>

On click the DOM element with id ``fubar`` will be replaced by the results of
action ``renderfubar``. Request context and request params are taken from
``ajax:target`` definition.


Trigger actions as event listener
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bind an action acting as event listener. See section 'Trigger events'.
A triggered event indicates change of context on target with params.
Hereupon perform some action.::

<div id="content"
class="contextsensitiv"
ajax:bind="contextchanged"
ajax:action="rendercontent:#content:inner">
...
</div>

Note: If binding actions as event listeners, there's no need to define a target
since it is passed along with the event.


Multiple behaviors
------------------

Bind multiple behaviors to the same DOM element::

<a href="http://fubar.com/baz?a=a"
ajax:bind="click"
ajax:event="contextchanged:.contextsensitiv"
ajax:action="rendersomething:.#something:replace"
ajax:target="http://fubar.com/baz?a=a">
fubar
</a>

In this example on click event ``contextchanged`` is triggered and action
``rendersomething`` is performed.


Confirm actions
---------------

Bdajax can display a confirmation dialog before performing actions or trigger
events::

<a href="http://fubar.com/baz?a=a"
ajax:bind="click"
ajax:event="contextchanged:.contextsensitiv"
ajax:action="rendersomething:.#something:replace"
ajax:target="http://fubar.com/baz?a=a"
ajax:confirm="Do you really want to do this?">
fubar
</a>

If ``ajax:confirm`` is set, a modal dialog is displayed before dispatching is
performed.


Overlays
--------

Ajax actions can be rendered to overlay directly by using ``bdajax:overlay``::

<a href="http://fubar.com/baz?a=a"
ajax:bind="click"
ajax:target="http://fubar.com/baz?a=a"
ajax:overlay="acionname">
fubar
</a>

This causes bdajax to perform action ``someaction`` on context defined in
``ajax:target`` and renders the result to an overlay element.

In addition a selector for the overlay can be defined. This is useful if
someone needs to display multiple overlays::

<a href="http://fubar.com/baz?a=a"
ajax:bind="click"
ajax:target="http://fubar.com/baz?a=a"
ajax:overlay="acionname:#custom-overlay">
fubar
</a>

Optional to a custom overlay selector a content container selector can be
defined::

<a href="http://fubar.com/baz?a=a"
ajax:bind="click"
ajax:target="http://fubar.com/baz?a=a"
ajax:overlay="acionname:#custom-overlay:.custom_overlay_content">
fubar
</a>


JavaScript API
==============


Messages, Infos, Warnings and Errors
------------------------------------

``bdajax`` displays application messages in a jQuery tools overlay.

``bdajax.message`` displays a plain message. ``bdajax.info`` ``bdajax.warning``
and ``bdajax.error`` decorates message with appropriate icon.::

bdajax.message('I am an application Message');


Overlay
-------

Load ajax action contents into an overlay.::

var overlay_api = bdajax.overlay({
action: 'actionname',
target: 'http://foobar.org?param=value',
selector: '#ajax-overlay',
content_selector: '.overlay_ontent'
});

``selector`` is optional and defaults to ``#ajax-overlay``.
``content_selector`` is optional to ``selector`` and defaults to
``overlay_ontent``.

Optionally to ``target``, ``url`` and ``params`` can be given as options to
the function. If both, ``target`` and ``url/params`` are given,
``target`` rules.


Modal dialog
------------

Render a modal dialog inside an overlay. The function expects an options object
and a callback function, which gets executed if user confirms dialog. The
callback gets passed the given options object as well. ``message`` is mandatory
in options.::

var options = {
message: 'I am an application Message'
};
bdajax.dialog(options, callback);


URL Operations
--------------

Parse hyperlinks for base URL or request parameters::

bdajax.parseurl('http://fubar.org?param=value');

results in::

'http://fubar.org'

while::

bdajax.parsequery('http://fubar.org?param=value');

results in::

{ param: 'value' }

Do both at once by calling ``parsetarget``::

bdajax.parsetarget('http://fubar.org?param=value');

This result in::

{
url: 'http://fubar.org',
params: { param: 'value' }
}


XMLHTTPRequest convenience
--------------------------

``bdajax.request`` function is convenience for XMLHTTPRequests. By default
it sends requests of type ``html`` and displays a ``bdajax.error`` message if
request fails::

bdajax.request({
success: function(data) {
// do something with data.
},
url: 'foo',
params: {
a: 'a',
b: 'b'
},
type: 'json',
error: function() {
bdajax.error('Request failed');
}
});

Given ``url`` might contain a query string. It gets parsed and written to
request parameters. If same request parameter is defined in URL query AND
params object, latter one rules.

Options:

**success**
Callback if request is successful.

**url**
Request url as string.

**params (optional)**
Query parameters for request as Object.

**type (optional)**
``xml``, ``json``, ``script``, or ``html``.

**error (optional)**
Callback if request fails.

Success and error callback functions are wrapped in ``bdajax.request`` to
consider ajax spinner handling automatically.


Perform action
--------------

Sometimes actions need to be performed inside JavaScript code.
``bdajax.action`` provides this::

var target = bdajax.parsetarget('http://fubar.org?param=value');
bdajax.action({
name: 'content',
selector: '#content',
mode: 'inner',
url: target.url,
params: target.params
});

Options:

**name**
Action name

**selector**
result selector

**mode**
action mode

**url**
target url

**params**
query params


Trigger events
--------------

Sometimes events need to be triggered manually. Since bdajax expects the
attribute ``ajaxtarget`` on the received event a convenience is provided::

Target might be a URL, then it gets parsed by the trigger function::

var url = 'http://fubar.org?param=value';
bdajax.trigger('contextchanged', '.contextsensitiv', url);

Target might be object as returned from ``bdajax.parsetarget``::

var url = 'http://fubar.org?param=value';
var target = bdajax.parsetarget(url);
bdajax.trigger('contextchanged', '.contextsensitiv', target);


AJAX Forms
----------

To process ajax forms, a hidden iframe is used where the form gets triggered to.
The form must be marked with CSS class ``ajax`` in order to be handled by
bdajax. The server side must return a response like so::

<div id="ajaxform">
<form class="ajax"
method="post"
action="http://example.com/myformaction"
enctype="multipart/form-data">
...
</form>
</div>
<script language="javascript" type="text/javascript">
var container = document.getElementById('ajaxform');
var child = container.firstChild;
while(child != null && child.nodeType == 3) {
child = child.nextSibling;
}
parent.bdajax.render_ajax_form(child, '#form_selector', 'fiddle_mode');
parent.bdajax.continuation({});
</script>

If ``div`` with id ``ajaxform`` contains markup, it gets rendered to
``#form_selector`` with ``fiddle_mode``. This makes it possible to rerender
forms on validation error or display a success page or similar. Further
bdajax continuation definitions can be given to ``parent.bdajax.continuation``.

Again, bdajax does not provide any server side implementation, it's up to you
providing this.


3rd Party Javascript
--------------------

When writing applications, one might use its own set of custom JavaScripts
where some actions need to be bound in the markup. Therefore the ``binders``
object on ``bdajax`` is intended. Hooking a binding callback to this object
results in a call every time bdajax hooks some markup.::

mybinder = function (context) {
jQuery('mysel').bind('click', function() { ... });
}
bdajax.binders.mybinder = mybinder;


Browsers
========

bdajax is tested with:

- Firefox 3.5, 3.6 and up
- IE 7, 8
- Chome 7
- Safari 5


Contributors
============

- Robert Niederreiter
- Attila Oláh


Changes
=======

1.4.2
-----

- ``bdaja.trigger`` also accepts object as returned by ``bdajax.parsetarget``
as target argument.
[rnix, 2012-10-28]

1.4.1
-----

- Explicit render ``about:blank`` in hidden form response iframe src.
[rnix, 2012-08-06]

1.4
---

- Nicer spinner image.
[rnix, 2012-05-21]

- Add ``overlay`` continuation support.
[rnix, 2012-05-04]

- Extend ``ajax:overlay`` to accept an optional overlay and content selector.
[rnix, 2012-05-04]

- Add AJAX form support.
[rnix, 2012-05-04]

1.3
---

- All overlays not positional fixed for now.
[rnix, 2011-12-02]

- jQuery 1.6.4 and jQuery Tools 1.2.6.
[rnix, 2011-12-01]

- Add ``ajax:overlay`` functionality.
[rnix, 2011-11-30]

- Call ``event.stopPropagation`` in ``bdajax._dispatching_handler``.
[rnix, 2011-11-23]

1.2.1
-----

- Use CSS 'min-width' instead of 'width' for messages.
[rnix, 2011-09-07]

1.2
---

- Add ``bdajax.fiddle`` function.
[rnix, 2011-04-28]

- Delete overlay data from DOM element before reinitializing.
[rnix, 2011-04-21]

- Add ``ajax:confirm`` functionality.
[rnix, 2011-04-20]

- Strip trailing '/' in ``bdajax.parseurl`` to avoid double slashes.
[rnix, 2011-04-19]

- Add continuation messages.
[rnix, 2011-04-12]

1.1
---

- Set focus on ok button for dialog boxes, so a user can dismiss the button by
pressing return key.
[aatiis, 2011-03-25]

- Don't define a default error callback twice, just rely on the default handler
prowided by ``bdajax.request``.
[aatiis, 2011-03-25]

- Add default 403 error page redirect.
[aatiis, 2011-03-25]

- Hide spinner after 'Empty response' message.
[aatiis, 2011-03-25]

- Used ``request.status`` and ``request.statusText`` in default error if they
are defined.
[aatiis, 2011-03-25]

- Continuation action and event support for ajaxaction.
[rnix, 2011-03-21]

- Better default error output.
[rnix, 2011-03-13]

- Remove ``ajaxerrors`` and ``ajaxerror`` from bdajax.
[rnix, 2011-03-13]

- Remove bfg.zcml and zope.zcml, switch to pyramid in configure.zcml with
conditional resource registration.
[rnix, 2011-02-07]

1.0.2
-----

- Rebind bdajax global if element is not found by selector after replace
action.
[rnix, 2011-01-14]

1.0.1
-----

- Add spinner handling.
[rnix, 2010-12-13]

- Return jquery context by ``jQuery.bdajax``.
[rnix, 2010-12-13]

1.0
---

- Remove call behaviour.
[rnix, 2010-12-04]

- Browser testing.
[rnix, 2010-12-04]

1.0b4
-----

- Add ``configure.zcml`` containing all configuration using
``zcml:condition``.
[rnix, 2010-11-16]

- Remove overlay data of modal dialog before reloading. otherwise callback
options are cached.
[rnix, 2010-11-09]

- Disable ajax request caching by default in ``bdajax.request``.
[rnix, 2010-11-09]

- Add modal dialog to bdajax.
[rnix, 2010-11-09]

- Mark ``ajax:call`` API deprecated. Will be removed for 1.0 final.
[rnix, 2010-11-09]

1.0b3
-----

- Add class ``allowMultiSubmit`` to fit a plone JS contract.
[rnix, 2010-07-01]

- Fix bug in bdajax.request when finding url including query params.
[rnix, 2010-07-01]

1.0b2
-----

- Switch to jQuery tools 1.2.3.
[rnix, 2010-07-01]

- Call binders with correct context.
[rnix, 2010-05-16]

- Add overlay helper function and corresponding styles.
[rnix, 2010-05-16]

1.0b1
-----

- Make it work.
[rnix]


License
=======

Copyright (c) 2010-2012, BlueDynamics Alliance, Austria
All rights reserved.

Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:

* Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this
list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
* Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this
list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or
other materials provided with the distribution.
* Neither the name of the BlueDynamics Alliance nor the names of its
contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this
software without specific prior written permission.

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY BlueDynamics Alliance ``AS IS`` AND ANY
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL BlueDynamics Alliance BE LIABLE FOR ANY
DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
(INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES;
LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND
ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
(INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

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