pop-up window with PHP/Javascript

[le_stonian]

Hi,
I want to create the following:
When a hyperlinked word in an HTML page is clicked, show a pop-up browser window with a definition of the word.

I can get the name of the word by using something like ".../define_word.php?word=grok" in the href for the link (where grok is the word to define). From there, I can retrieve the definition from my data source.

I know I can use Javascript to show another browser window.

But the Javascript wants a filename (URL), and I am generating the HTML dynamically in PHP...?

Can any of you PHP gurus enlighten this newbie about how this should be done?

Thanks.

[bastien]

I had the same idea for a project and ended up using layers. Way faster and cleaner to code. I just placed each definition in a layer that got created when I looped through the result of a DB query. Then just used OnMouseOver and OnMouseOut to show/hide the layers to create the pop-up effect.

hth
Bastien

[Anon]

actually, this isn't that hard. You don't have to generate your code dynamically. You just call the php file as your URL (like you referred to above). I do it like so:

var newWind = window.open("bo_bml_lookup.php?fieldname="+name+"&list="+list, "BMLlookup", "toolbar=no,width=400,height=250,screenX=300,screenY=300,top=300,left=300");

where bo_bml_lookup.php is a php file that dynamically pulls together the info that is needed (much like your situation.)

good luck!

[le_stonian]

Thanks Craig.

I didn't recognize the fact that the url you pass could be a php file.

BTW, it's working nicely!