Ajax or just javascript

[ton]

Hi,

I wander what to do. I'm developing a webapplication. One of the parts is to
show records from a database.
To modifiy a value, text of relational link or date I would like to use Ajax
where possible. I saw the posiibilty of the Ajax control toolkit with the
calendar extender.
How nice. But is it fast? Thats the question, because the roundtrip to the
server would build the full page in postback and only the changes will be
posted back to the client. But it still is a full "renew" of the entire
page.
So my question is:

What is the advantage of using these controls, is it really faster, or is
there another way (javascript) to get a small calendar when the date-field
got the focus.

Please comment of better help me if you can

Thanx in advance


Ton

[Mark Rae [MVP]]

Re: Ajax or just javascript

"ton" <ton@nospam.nlw rote in message
news:14ce5$4843 f1f0$541ef063$8 988@cache3.tilb u1.nb.home.nl.. .

What is the advantage of using these controls, is it really faster, or is
there another way (javascript) to get a small calendar when the date-field
got the focus.

Ajax is superb technology. However, that does not mean that it must be used
for every eventuality...

The calendar example is a good one. I have a JavaScript calendar which I've
used for years. It does everything I require of it, namely to display a
month at a time and to respond to mouse clicks. While the user is scrolling
backwards and forwards through the months there is no roundtrip to the
server at all. When the user chooses a date, I can add the date to a DOM
control or cause a postback if I want to. I can even persuade it to call a
server-side C# function via Ajax. The only time I might want it to retrieve
data from the server is when the client requires more functionality that
this e.g. they might want to display public holidays in a different font or
colour or whatever. Then, the calendar control would need server-side
connectivity, almost certainly through Ajax.

You are correct that Ajax callbacks are not so "heavy" as full postbacks,
but they do still involve a roundtrip to the server.

It's always been my belief that one of the simplest ways to improve a web
application's performance is to minimise the roundtrips to the server.

So, I would say that if it can be done client-side with JavaScript, then do
it client-side with JavaScript. This applies especially to things like
validation - e.g. there is absolutely no requirement whatever to validate
the contents of a numeric-only TextBox server-side...

I'd also advise you to have a serious look at Silverlight - some of the
possibilities with that technology are bordering on the revolutionary.. .


--
Mark Rae
ASP.NET MVP

http://www.markrae.net

[ton]

Re: Ajax or just javascript

thank you. It is just what I had in mind. Ajax but not for everything

can you tell me what calendar control you use? And is it hard to implement
it on VB.NET websites?
Or better can it be used in a web server control, because I've allready
developed a webserver control which displays te record of a table in 2
columns. To modifiy a date field the user has to type the date and I want to
chenge this by using a ajax or javascript control.

thanx

Ton

"Mark Rae [MVP]" <mark@markNOSPA Mrae.netschreef in bericht
news:%23%23PPBV MxIHA.5892@TK2M SFTNGP02.phx.gb l...

"ton" <ton@nospam.nlw rote in message
news:14ce5$4843 f1f0$541ef063$8 988@cache3.tilb u1.nb.home.nl.. .
>

>What is the advantage of using these controls, is it really faster, or is
>there another way (javascript) to get a small calendar when the
>date-field got the focus.

>
Ajax is superb technology. However, that does not mean that it must be
used for every eventuality...
>
The calendar example is a good one. I have a JavaScript calendar which
I've used for years. It does everything I require of it, namely to display
a month at a time and to respond to mouse clicks. While the user is
scrolling backwards and forwards through the months there is no roundtrip
to the server at all. When the user chooses a date, I can add the date to
a DOM control or cause a postback if I want to. I can even persuade it to
call a server-side C# function via Ajax. The only time I might want it to
retrieve data from the server is when the client requires more
functionality that this e.g. they might want to display public holidays in
a different font or colour or whatever. Then, the calendar control would
need server-side connectivity, almost certainly through Ajax.
>
You are correct that Ajax callbacks are not so "heavy" as full postbacks,
but they do still involve a roundtrip to the server.
>
It's always been my belief that one of the simplest ways to improve a web
application's performance is to minimise the roundtrips to the server.
>
So, I would say that if it can be done client-side with JavaScript, then
do it client-side with JavaScript. This applies especially to things like
validation - e.g. there is absolutely no requirement whatever to validate
the contents of a numeric-only TextBox server-side...
>
I'd also advise you to have a serious look at Silverlight - some of the
possibilities with that technology are bordering on the revolutionary.. .
>
>
--
Mark Rae
ASP.NET MVP
http://www.markrae.net

[Mark Rae [MVP]]

Re: Ajax or just javascript

"ton" <ton@nospam.nlw rote in message
news:2474c$4844 2fac$541ef063$4 935@cache3.tilb u1.nb.home.nl.. .

[top-posting corrected]

>The calendar example is a good one. I have a JavaScript calendar which
>I've used for years.

Can you tell me what calendar control you use?

It's one that I wrote myself based on several that I found on the Internet,
all of which did part of what I wanted...

And is it hard to implement it on VB.NET websites?

I've never tried it with VB.NET as I never use that but, as I said, it's
pure client-side JavaScript so the server-side language is irrelevant...

Or better can it be used in a web server control

As above...


--
Mark Rae
ASP.NET MVP

http://www.markrae.net

[ton]

Re: Ajax or just javascript

thanx

ton

"Mark Rae [MVP]" <mark@markNOSPA Mrae.netschreef in bericht
news:eRejDvNxIH A.4772@TK2MSFTN GP03.phx.gbl...

"ton" <ton@nospam.nlw rote in message
news:2474c$4844 2fac$541ef063$4 935@cache3.tilb u1.nb.home.nl.. .
>
[top-posting corrected]
>

>>The calendar example is a good one. I have a JavaScript calendar which
>>I've used for years.

>

>Can you tell me what calendar control you use?

>
It's one that I wrote myself based on several that I found on the
Internet, all of which did part of what I wanted...
>

>And is it hard to implement it on VB.NET websites?

>
I've never tried it with VB.NET as I never use that but, as I said, it's
pure client-side JavaScript so the server-side language is irrelevant...
>

>Or better can it be used in a web server control

>
As above...
>
>
--
Mark Rae
ASP.NET MVP
http://www.markrae.net