Java Script Remote Scripting (JSRS) :

by Sam Blum Download Sourcefoge's JSRS Projects Page

Note:

Unfortunately Sorceforge hasn't installed PHP's WDDX support at the time (May.2002). But I hope this feature will be turned on soon.
You're then able to try the demo here

No Reload ...

When traditional web applications interact with the user, you often reach the point where data has to be fetched or exchanged with the server. This usually leads to a large overhead in transferring the data plus the state-info in hidden form fields and developing step by step wizards that cause frequent page reloads.
For example, when filling out a form on a Web page, the user must often reload the entire page several times in order for the application to validate the entries.

Immediate Interaction ...

Remote scripting enables a much more client/server-type interaction between the browser and the Web server. E.g. the Web application can now validate data while the user is still filling out the rest of the form, without having to reload the page.
With remote scripting, developers can now create seamless, interactive Web applications in which the browser can call scripts "behind the scene".

No Java Nor Plugin ...

Some solve this problem by embedding a Java applet in the page to communicate with the server, but it requires Java or other plugins. This package works without the use of Java nor plugins and supports NS6.2, IE5.5 and up (don't know about Opera). The idea is based on Brent Ashley's JSRS, Danne Lundqvist and other stuff I found on the Inet. But in the end it's total rewrite.

The Main Features ...

Data is exchanged without reload of the page.
Transparent parameter passing using WDDX (or a squeezed form of it, to reduce the size). WDDX makes it possible to transfer any js-types. Even complex structures like N- dimensional arrays and even objects (with restriction). I first intended to us XML-RPC but it seamed to be an overkill and PHP 4.1 doesn't support it by default at the time.
Calls to object-methods are supported. E.g. you can call a remote method 'Class.method' and your callback may be of the form 'myObject.method'.
When GET is used to transfer the data (default) I us Danne Lundqvist's idea of adding a <script>-tag instead of using the iframe (works more smoothly in NS and Opera?).

To Do ...

Currently the server library (Jsrs.Class.Script) is only written in PHP. Your invited to contribute with other script langs like JSP, Perl, ASP, Python.
Could not fully hide the iframe in NS. It produces a small frame (1x1 px).
Better debugging and warning handling (for instance when the connection to the server fails).

Acknowledgments

Many ppl helped directly or indirectly by implementing parts and peaces that I tried to merge to one whole. My thanks go to:

Brent Ashley's jsrs V1 and V2.
Danne Lundqvist's Remote scripting with javascript *without* IFRAME.
Eric Costello's Remote Scripting with IFRAME.
Nate Weiss's WDDX implementations for JavaScript (and COM/ASP)