Expandable Outlines

Expandable Outlines
creating expandable/collapsable outlines in both browsers

This tutorial can be appreciated by users of any browser, any version. The in-line examples will work only in Netscape Navigator 4 or Internet Explorer 4, Release.
This technique was developed after a suggestion by Anders Lund.

Those of you who visit our links page regularly will be pleased to know that we've minimized the scrolling needed to browse the link list, by presenting the page in an expandable/collapsable outline format for DHTML browers.

In fact, the whole list is reproduced here. Click on the triangle images to expand and collapse the individual headings or even the complete list:

Non-DHTML Browsers: Jump to end of outline

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World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)

Standards

HTML 4.0 Proposed Recommendation   New! - Important!!
https://www.w3.org/TR/PR-html40
The Biggie! Already implemented in part by 4th generation browsers, HTML 4.0 ties up the loose ends created by the browser wars, and sets the standard for the fifth browser generation.

HTML 3.2 Recommendation
https://www.w3.org/pub/WWW/TR/REC-html32.html

Cascading Style Sheets, level 1 (CSS1)
https://www.w3.org/pub/WWW/TR/PR-CSS1

Soon-to-be Standards

The Document Object Model   New!
https://www.w3.org/TR/WD-DOM/
By far the most important pending recommendation for Dynamic HTML. At last being publicly discussed and developed.

Cascading Style Sheets, level 2 (CSS2)   N e w!
https://www.w3.org/TR/WD-CSS2/
The future style sheet standard. Many features are already implemented in DHTML browsers. Expands on CSS1 and includes the following separately-developed working drafts:

• CSS Positioning
• Web Fonts
• Aural Cascading Style Sheets
• CSS Printing Extensions

Extensible Markup Language (XML): Part1. Syntax
https://www.w3.org/TR/WD-xml-lang
Do-it-yourself mark up. Then what will the W3C do?

 Netscape

Dynamic HTML documentation   Updated!
https://developer.netscape.com/library/documentation/communicator/dynhtml/index.htm
Recently updated for Communicator final release with better CSS documentation and examples. An invaluable reference for developers, the complete documentation can be viewed online, or downloaded as:

• Windows ZIP
• Acrobat PDF
• UNIX TAR.GZ

 Microsoft

Dynamic HTML documentation
https://www.microsoft.com/sitebuilder/workshop/author/dhtml/
a.k.a Anything you can do, I can do better.

Internet Client SDK   Invaluable!
https://www.microsoft.com/msdn/sdk/inetsdk/help/
The Complete Reference for Internet Explorer. Dynamic HTML section superior to Microsoft's own DHTML docs, above.

Microsoft - Final Release Notes   New!
https://www.microsoft.com/workshop/prog/ie4/new/

If you have a low-resolution monitor or just plain want to break out of Microsoft's ridiculous multi-framed navigation, go directly to...

What's New in Internet Explorer 4.0 Final Release?   New!
https://www.microsoft.com/workshop/prog/ie4/new/new.htm

Changes between Internet Explorer 3 and 4   New!
https://www.microsoft.com/workshop/prog/ie4/changes/4vs3.htm

 Scripting

JavaScript, The Complete Reference   Updated! - Must Have!!
https://developer.netscape.com/library/documentation/communicator/jsref/index.htm
Finally available, the comprehensive documentation for JavaScript, both client and server. Includes the JavaScript 1.2 addendum. The new JavaScript Bible. Can be viewed online, or downloaded as:

• Windows ZIP
• Acrobat PDF

JavaScript Guide   New!
https://developer.netscape.com/library/documentation/communicator/jsguide4/index.htm
Describes the core JavaScript language, including JavaScript 1.2 features. Serves as a quick reference to JavaScript structure. Full description of properties and methods, however, only in The JavaScript Reference. Can be viewed online, or downloaded as:

• Windows ZIP
• Acrobat PDF

JavaScript 1.2 Addendum   Updated!
https://developer.netscape.com/library/documentation/communicator/jsguide/js1_2.htm
Puts the Dynamic in Netscape's Dynamic HTML. Now also available as part of The JavaScript Reference. Can be viewed online, or downloaded as:

• Windows ZIP
• Acrobat PDF

ECMAscript
https://www.ecma.ch/STAND/Ecma-262.htm
The new international web scripting language standard based on JavaScript 1.1, recently ratified by ECMA, now available for downloading, in
self-expanding MS WORD or Acrobat PDF format.
You read it here first: ECMA stands for European Computer Manufacturers Association

Microsoft Scripting   New!
https://www.microsoft.com/scripting/
Microsoft's new home page for all its scripting docs, articles and links.

JScript   Updated!
https://www.microsoft.com/jscript/
Complete Reference for JScript 3 for IE4.

What's New in JScript 3.0   New!
https://www.microsoft.com/workshop/prog/ie4/jscript3.htm
Answers the question "How compatible is JScript 3 with JavaScript 1.2?"

VBScript
https://www.microsoft.com/vbscript/
The 8-track tape of scripting.

 PNG (Portable Network Graphics) Image Format

W3C PNG Recommendation
https://www.w3.org/pub/WWW/TR/REC-png.html

The Official PNG Home Page
https://www.wco.com/~png/png.html

Plug-in for Netscape Navigator
https://codelab.siegelgale.com/solutions/png_index.html

 Implementation Issues (bugs or limitations)

Netscape JavaScript Bugs   Updated for Communicator!
https://developer.netscape.com/library/javascript/faqs/buglist/js-known-bugs.html

Communicator CSS1 Known Issues
https://developer.netscape.com/support/bugs/known/css.html

 Further Reading

There's no place like home

Doc JavaScript
https://www.webreference.com/js/
Bi-weekly prescriptions for all your JavaScript ailments.

Cascading Style Sheets
https://www.webreference.com/dev/style/
An Introduction to CSS

Style Sheet Syntax
https://www.webreference.com/dev/style/syntax.html
Excert from the upcoming book HTML Web Publishing SECRETS from IDG Books

Cascading Style Sheets: Designing for the Web
https://www.webreference.com/content/css/
Excerpts and a full chapter from the book by Hakon Lee and Bert Bos of the W3C.

The Evolution of Style Sheets
https://www.webreference.com/dev/style/evolution.html
A history of CSS and future directions.

Other Developer Sites

IE Help   New!
https://www.iehelp.com/
Compuserve's new Explorer-related megasite.

Dynamic HTML in IE   New!
https://www.iehelp.com/iehelp/solutions/
Weekly IE-related DHTML techniques by yours truly.

Netscape Help   New!
https://www.netscapehelp.com/
Compuserve's new Netscape-related megasite.

BrowserWars.com   New!
https://www.browserwars.com/
Compuserve's new megasite devoted solely to coverage of browser development.

DHTML Dude   New!
https://www.microsoft.com/sitebuilder/columnists/default.asp
Microsoft's own regular DHTML column with a name I wish I had thought of.

Builder.com
https://www.builder.com/
C|NET's site for web developers. Regular SuperScripter column, and longer in-depth occasional articles.

Inside DHTML
https://www.insidedhtml.com/
Scott Isaacs' comprehensive source of Dynamic HTML information and techniques. Focus on IE4. MSIE4 absolute must!

Dynamic HTML Zone
https://www.dhtmlzone.com/
Macromedia's ambitious new Dynamic HTML mega-site with articles, tutorials, and discussion group.

Web Review
https://www.webreview.com/
Regular Dynamic HTML articles, particularly in bi-weekly Web Coder column by Nick Heinle of WebReference's JavaScript Tip of the Week

WebCoder
https://webcoder.com/
Nick Heinle's all-encompassing site on DHTML and JavaScript.

NetscapeWorld
https://www.netscapeworld.com/
Monthly articles, strong in JavaScript, some DHTML. Undergoing major re-construction. Stay tuned.

WebMonkey
https://www.webmonkey.com/
Regular coding columns, but their Wired layout needs deciphering.

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