Essential XUL Programming

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.

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.

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

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The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

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Essential XUL Programming

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials