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Wiki source code of ERDivaLook

Version 193.1 by David Holt on 2009/04/23 13:09
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1 === What is ERDivaLook? ===
2
3 Much like ExcelLook, that vends excel pages, Diva look generates a Web 2.0 interface for DirectToWeb.
4 More specifically, it generates pages that are:
5
6 * Semantically-rich or **tables-less**
7 * XHTML 1.0 strict compliant
8 * Sans images, inline styles or presentation attributes
9 * Use a CSS **theme**
10 * With Scriptaculous **effects**
11 * Seamless use of **Ajax widgets**
12
13 = Why Table-less Markup? =
14
15 Scriptaculous, jQuery effects, etc work by manipulating CSS attributes.
16 Mostly they don't work very well on tables, if at all.
17 Furthermore, the more sophisticated widgets (like accordions) make use of effects and so don't function as they should without.
18
19 This is even more true for unobtrusive javascript for which table-less markup is usually a prerequisite.
20 Like jQuery, which takes this a step further, by applying functionality via CSS selectors.
21 (So for jQuery it is an absolute requirement).
22
23 Therefore, if you are developing a Web 2.0/Ajax UI, the transition to table-less markup is an imperative.
24
25 === What is a Diva Theme? ===
26
27 In ERDivaLook, or Diva for short, your application is not complete without a CSS theme.
28 All images, layout, colors and font information are maintained in the CSS.
29
30 All your customizations to the look and layout of your application is also done in the CSS (and via D2W rules).
31
32 ===== Example Diva Themes: =====
33
34 The following are a sample of themes for Diva look. The first two are included in the Wonder/Examples/Ajax/ERDivaLookExample app.
35
36 |= Neutral |= WebObjects |= Simple |= Organica
37 | [[image:Picture 1.jpg||]] | [[image:Picture 2.jpg||]] | [[image:Picture 3.jpg||]] | [[image:slides_directtoweb_04.jpg.jpeg||]]
38 | D2W Neutral look reverse engineered
39 as a Diva Theme | D2W WebObjects look reverse engineered
40 as a Diva Theme | [[//Simple//>>http://www.csszengarden.com/?cssfile=/174/174.css&page=2]] theme from css Zen Garden | [[//Organica//>>http://www.csszengarden.com/?cssfile=/188/188.css&page=0]] theme from css Zen Garden
41 | //Included in ERDivaLookExample// | //Included in ERDivaLookExample// | Shawn Chin [[mailto:schin@shawnchin.net]] | Eduardo Cesario [[mailto:design@criaturacreativa.com.ar]]
42
43 The graphics designer Eduardo Cesario wrote up his experience of developing his //Organica// design for an early prototype of ERDivaLook on his [[blog>>http://www.organicacreativa.com/organica-creativa.php?area=directtoweb&lang=en]].
44
45 = Using ERDivaLook =
46
47 === Setting the D2W Page CSS ===
48
49 Diva look introduces a new D2W key: **stylesheet**.
50 The CSS file computed by this key will be set as the stylesheet for the page.
51
52 e.g:
53
54 |= LHS |= key |= RHS
55 | task = 'edit' |**stylesheet**| //NeutralEditPage.css//
56 | task = 'inspect' and session.theme = 'Simple' |**stylesheet**| //SimpleInspectPage.css// |
57
58 ==== A closer look at the CSS file... ====
59
60 ===== 1. CSS Imports =====
61
62 {{code}}
63
64 @import url("Neutral.css");
65 @import url("ERDIVEditPage.css");
66 @import url("NeutralEditToManyFault.css");
67 @import url("NeutralEditToOneFault.css");
68 @import url("NeutralCalendarDateSelect.css");
69 @import url("NeutralAjaxAccordion.css");
70 @import url("NeutralEditToOneRelationship2.css");
71
72 {{/code}}
73
74 The CSS imports a global CSS for the theme, //Neutral.css//, a generic one for the edit page //ERDIVEditPage.css// and CSS files for D2W components used on an edit page.
75
76 ===== 2. Image Replacement =====
77
78 {{code}}
79
80 div#a form h1.edit {
81 background: url(/WebObjects/Frameworks/JavaDirectToWeb.framework/WebServerResources/EditMetalBan.gif) no-repeat;
82 text-indent: -5000px;
83 }
84
85 {{/code}}
86
87 Standard CSS image replacement applies.
88
89 Here, the edit page banner is being set. {{color value="red"}}{{div#a form h1.edit}}{{/color}} is an example of a **CSS selector**. All elements in a Diva look D2W page will begin with {{color value="red"}}{{div#a}}{{/color}}. The page title is a <h1> with a class //edit//, so the resulting CSS selector for that element would be {{color value="red"}}{{h1.edit}}{{/color}} or {{color value="red"}}{{div#a form h1.edit}}{{/color}} more specifically.