Programming

Implementing world-class business techniques often - almost always! - relies on the availability of suitable software: From ERP systems through shopfloor and back-office software to interactive web applications to ActiveX and Java applets.

Software to crunch numbers has traditionally been a key business resource - After all, that's how computing got into business in the first place. But now software to share information, software to facilitate workflow and software to integrate other software systems is vital to achieving business excellence. But these software applications don't always come off the shelf - especially software which integrates applications. The best in-house developments are often the glue that holds together the enterprise systems.

Developing applications for business, I've needed to search for all kinds of information - There are plenty of JavaScript tutorials on the web, for instance, but finding techniques to solve real-world problems isn't always so straightforward. So the pages in this section contain applications examples which were created on the way towards solutions to real development issues. One or two are interesting or amusing spin-offs but they all take the basic model forwards.

There are JavaScript, VBScript and PHP examples for the web. There is also Visual Basic for the desktop, and I'm working on some articles on useful concepts and techniques as well as newer technologies like .NET, having started on some C# .NET since new year 2003.

I can't claim that this collection is exhaustive - probably it never will be, although I'll try to continue to add to the collection as often as I can. Even while it's still quite small I hope it will useful. Neither do I claim that the examples are most efficiently coded: I've tried to ensure that the code is understandable while demonstrating how the requirement is met. Sometimes this has led to using in-line code rather than more elegant functions and function calls.

And the collection is growing! With the advent of ASP.NET and the deployment of the .NET framework, the general headings I originally used, For the web and For the desktop have become a little blurred, so I have placed them under new headings - still providing a reasonable categorisation of the topics, I hope: HTML, JavaScript, VBScript and PHP, depending on the significant element of the project. I'll have to redesign this page soon, to accommodate C# - I don't think I'll squeeze five columns across the page!

Feedback would be appreciated! Contributions gratefully considered!

JavaScript		HTML

Use JavaScript to add the current page to the IE Favorites list Web page interacts with user's browser (If the browser is IE!)		Using HotSpots to create a more dynamic rollover Using hotspot mapping and graphic links

Using JavaScript to add functionality to buttons JavaScript to respond to events triggered by HTML form objects		Controlling a web page's background image How to use <BODY> tag attributes or CSS styles to prevent a background image from scrolling and to position it behind a web page's content

Calculating permutations - Using recursive calls in JavaScript

The Wine Shop: Using JavaScript and client-side cookies to manage a shopping basket: A project of scripting examples		Layout using HTML tables Using tables to create a layout structure that delivers your design to your site's visitors. Includes some background on the HTML table element

Add scrolling text to tooltips - Useful but verging on naff . . . Using code to manipulate layers on a HTML page

VBScript	PHP	VB

Renaming files in a Windows environment Using the file system object	PHP Plays Noughts and Crosses A web application that plays noughts and crosses (OXO), coded in PHP - Or just play the game!	Creating and using ActiveX controls How to make ActiveX controls and use them in web pages

Working with dates in VBScript Using dates and date functions, including dynamic calendar processing	PHP: Arrays An introduction to arrays and how they can be used in PHP

Sending email from a web page How to use the CDONTS library's NewMail object to send email from a web site

Mix JavaScript with VBScript in an ASP page Use JavaScript to resolve VBScript issues, mixing scripting languages