Adapting to Web Standards. CSS and Ajax for Big Sites

Christopher Schmitt, Kimberly Blessing, Rob Cherny, Meryl K. Evans, Kevin Lawver, Mark Trammell9780321501820, 0321501829

After learning the language of design, how does one effectively use standards-based technologies to create visually strong Web sites? The full-color Adapting to Web Standards: CSS and Ajax for Big Sites gives developers a peek into the process of the best designers in the world through the work of high profile, real-world Web sites that made them famous. The book focuses on deconstructing these top-tier large-scale sites with particular attention given to deconstructing CSS.

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Table of contents :
Adapting to Web Standards: CSS and Ajax for Big Sites……Page 1
Contents……Page 8
Part 1: Constructing Standards-Based Web Sites……Page 12
INTRODUCTION……Page 14
What Are Web Standards?……Page 15
Web User Interfaces……Page 16
User Interface Planning……Page 17
CHAPTER 1: CODING THE FRONT END……Page 22
Where To Start……Page 23
Document Structure: Markup Language Choices……Page 24
CHAPTER 2: PRESENTING CASCADING STYLE SHEETS……Page 56
How Many CSS Files?……Page 57
Microformats for Conventions, Meaning, and Utility……Page 64
Too Much Class……Page 68
CSS File Content Structure……Page 74
Alternative Media CSS……Page 76
Presentation Set Free……Page 81
CHAPTER 3: INTEGRATING THE BEHAVIOR LAYER……Page 84
Modern Ajax Methods……Page 85
JavaScript Requirements: File and Function Inventory……Page 89
JavaScript Behavior with CSS and Presentation……Page 102
Custom Scripts vs. Frameworks……Page 107
CHAPTER 4: DEVELOPING WEB SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS……Page 118
Web Apps Stuck in the Past……Page 119
Guidelines, Rules, and Web Standards……Page 121
Microsoft ASP.NET Framework……Page 130
Content Management……Page 144
How To Approach Web Apps……Page 153
CHAPTER 5: THE CIRCLE OF STANDARDS……Page 156
Organizational Inertia……Page 157
Introducing the Circle……Page 159
Setting the Wheel in Motion……Page 166
Part 2: Case Studies……Page 170
PRACTICE DOESN’T MAKE PERFECT……Page 172
Adaptation……Page 173
Trials and Tribulations……Page 174
CHAPTER 6: EVERYTHINGTORI.COM……Page 176
Backstage……Page 177
Launching the Site……Page 199
Meet the Designer, Philip Fierlinger……Page 200
End Song……Page 204
CHAPTER 7: AOL.COM……Page 206
Setting Your Team Up for Success and Avoiding Failure……Page 208
Designing for Performance……Page 229
System Design and Architecture……Page 241
Front-End Wizardry……Page 244
Conclusion……Page 259
Afterword……Page 262
Appendix A: Targeting Web Browsers……Page 263
Appendix B: Accessibility……Page 268
Appendix C: Web Site Performance Tips……Page 270
Appendix D: CSS Selectors Reference……Page 279
A……Page 282
C……Page 283
E……Page 284
I……Page 285
P……Page 286
S……Page 287
W……Page 288
Y……Page 289