Drupal 6 JavaScript and jQuery: Putting jQuery, AJAX, and JavaScript effects into your Drupal 6 modules and themes

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JavaScript: It's not just for calculators and image rollovers. Drupal 6 is loaded with new features, and not all of them are necessarily implemented in PHP. This unique book, for web designers and developers, will take you through what can be done with JavaScript (and especially with jQuery) in Drupal 6. With the combination of the powerhouse jQuery library with its own robust set of JavaScript tools, Drupal 6 comes with a pre-packaged killer JavaScript environment. Cross-platform by nature, it provides all of the tools necessary to create powerful AJAX-enabled scripts, gorgeous visual effects, and view-enhancing behaviors. In addition, Drupal developers have ported some of its most powerful PHP tools – like a theming engine and support for localization and language translation – to JavaScript, making it possible to write simple scripts where once only complex PHP code could be used. This book gives you the keys to the toolbox, showing you how to use Drupal's JavaScript libraries to make your modules and themes more dynamic, interactive and responsive, and add effects to make your Drupal site explode into life! If you've dipped your toe in the water of theme or module development with Drupal 6, this is the book you want to make the look and behavior of your work something special. With it's project-based approach, this book is carefully constructed to guide you from how JavaScript fits into the overall Drupal architecture through to making you a master of the jQuery library in the world of Drupal themes and modules. What you will learn from this book An introduction to JavaScript in Drupal 6 The basics of the jQuery library Creating JavaScript-enabled themes Manipulating a page on the fly with jQuery Authoring simple PHP Template files designed to maximize scripting potential Using jQuery to add effects in Drupal 6 Working with Drupal 6 behaviors Adding AJAX to modules Using Drupal's localization and language translation engine in your JavaScript Theming on the client-side with Drupal's JavaScript theme engine Building better forms Working with Drupal 6's JavaScript library Writing portable JavaScript tools as Drupal modules Approach This book focuses on teaching by example. Chapters are packed with example code, providing hands-on examples you can play with and then release to your own Drupal sites. By introducing short projects interspersed with discussion, the pace is rapid yet practical. Who this book is written for This book is for web designers and developers who want to add JavaScript elements to Drupal themes or modules to create more flexible and responsive user interfaces. You are expected to know about the basic operation of Drupal, and be familiar with the concept of theming and modules in Drupal. No experience of creating themes or modules is required. You will need to know the basics of client-side web development; this means HTML, CSS, but also have a rudimentary grasp of the syntax of JavaScript. Familiarity with PHP programming will be an advantage, since we will be writing PHPTemplate files and (at the end) creating Drupal modules. However, the PHP is covered thoroughly enough that even the PHP neophyte will not find the text too demanding. The book also covers the jQuery JavaScript library and its use in Drupal, but no knowledge of jQuery is expected - you will learn everything you need in this book. About The Author Matt Butcher is a senior programmer at Palantir.net, where he specializes in content management systems, web services, and browser scripting. He has been an active participant in Open Source technologies for over a decade. Matt has written five books for Packt, including Learning Drupal 6 Module Development, Mastering OpenLDAP, and Drupal 6 JavaScript and jQuery., all of which are published by Packt. Matt writes his technical blog at technosophos.com. When not pushing bits, Matt likes to explore Chicago with his wife and three daughters.