G-mail: How does it do that?

ATS16805

This question is for Gmail users, or anyone who has studied at all the Gmail user interface.

i think this is an amazing feature-- when you're ready to do so in your message composition window, you can spell check the text. no windows change, but any words in question are highlighted yellow, then you can pass your mouse over that highlighted text and a suggestion, if available, will pop up. how does that work?!?

anyone care to take a stab at the spell-checker, or already know how it's done?

LoganK

AJAX!!!!!

Well, more specifically, the entire interface is done in AJAX. The spell-checker is done through JavaScript (well, it may utilize some components of AJAX for the dictionary; obviously downloading an entire dictionary to a user's computer would be impractical).

So, to answer your question, I'd go with JavaScript. JavaScript also takes care of the nice formatting and rich-text capabilities; http://www.htmlarea.com/ will help you if you're looking for them. They're called WYSIWIG text editors, and they're quite useful in certain applications (E-mail editing, newspaper management, etc.).

The spell-check is also done through JavaScript, but, like I said earlier, it utilizes some components of AJAX to download (parts of) the dictionary to the user's machine at run-time. There are a lot of free JavaScript spell-checkers out there as well.

Obviously both Gmail's WYSIWIG editor and spell-checker have been custom-built; if you're not that advanced with JavaScript, take a look at some of the already-made solutions at that website or do a Google search (ironic? 😃)

ATS16805

Cool. Yeah, I am fascinated by a few things there at the Gmail interface. My original post here was actually quite lengthy (as i'm in the bad habit of doing), but i decided to trim it down to just the spell-checker.

what about the pop-up dialogs which, for example, warn you if you've begun to reply to, or compose a message, then before sending that message you decide to click back into the inbox view. a dialog box pops up asking if you really want to move away from the message before sending or saving it. that to me seems a bit tricky as well-- i would guess that it is also some javascript checking for user input in the message body area.

at risk of over-complicating the subject for anyone who decides to reply here-- what about the "status indicator" in the upper right-hand corner, visible when logging in , or submitting a message for sending by using the "send" button? it remains in the same spot at the foot of the browser menu bar (in the browser content, viewable area), even when scrolling. i've seen similar types of indicators on other sites as well.

LoganK

The popup - it's really simple. I can express the idea in very simple code:

/* id of message area is "message" */
/* this should be called when the document changes, like onUnload() */
if (document.getElementById("message").value != null)
{
     if (confirm("Are you sure you want to navigate away from the page?"))
     {
          document.location = "newpage.html";
     }
     else
     {
          return false();
     }
}

Basically, it checks (onUnload, or when the document is about to change and leave to a new page) if the message is not equal to null (blank). If that check is true, that means that they've typed stuff, and it asks them if they are sure they would like to leave. If they click "OK", it navigates to the new page; if they click "Cancel", it stays at the current page and stops the loading of the new page.

The "Loading" box is accomplished through both JavaScript and CSS. JavaScript is used to show/hide the loading box whenever needed. Since AJAX doesn't create page refreshes, the browser doesn't show the default loading animation (since there really is no page being loaded), so they show that so people know that it's doing something. The CSS is used to absolutely position it X number of pixels from the top-left of the browser.

LoganK

Just noticed a slight error in my code - it's "return false;" not "return false();".

Sxooter

The one that really impesses me is google maps. The way you can slide the map around and the app knows to ask the server for the maps at the edge of your display as you do so. Very cool interface. Now if we just had sub meter resolution, I could watch my ex girlfriend sun bath in her back yard. And no, I'm not a stalker... Well, not a very good one.

LoganK

That'd be a great feature...unfortunately all the map data isn't real-time; my house is 3 years old!

Sxooter

Well, you'd think they could at least update Black's Beach more often than that. 🙂

LoganK

You'd think, but they'd never listen! 😉

dalecosp

LoganK wrote:
You'd think, but they'd never listen! 😉

They might if they/you knew who his ex was ... :evilgrin:

(And I remember, but I'm not posting the linkage, UTSL yourself....) :p

ATS16805

hey, my thread...!

uh...okay, this definitely sounds more exciting than google code tricks! heehee
😉

ah the wonders of modern technology. how long till someone is offering up GPS satellite hacks to do just what you're talkin' about Sxooter!? ah, heck. it's probably already been done many times over.

speaking of hacks, have y'all ever seen the Film "Hackers" circa mid-ninetys w/ a young Angelina Jolie? now, that is a hoot! the way they're all ogling over her Laptop w/ the tiny little screen. ha!

LoganK

Yes, I saw "Hackers". Long time ago. :-D Good movie, yet horribly inaccurate, even by today's standards.

Sxooter - how do I pronounce your name?!?!?!

Sxooter

Actually, I don't know where THAT girlfriend lives anymore, besides, I can always just buy a copy of DIMJ IV if I wanna see her again. I was actually referring to a more recent ex gf who I do know where she lives. But I am still in touch with her so I guess it's not really all that stalkerish.

I pronounce it:

Scooter

but friends on the web have pronounced it:

Shooter
Six Shooter
Sex Shooter

and a few othes I can't think of right now.

csn

Dimj Iv?

Weedpacket

"Drinking Is My Joy"

No, not really. The second letter really stands for "In".

"'Drinking In My Joy'?"

In a manner of speaking......

Elizabeth

"Divas in Mary Janes?"

Sxooter

Here's a hint "Devil in M J"

piersk

"Devil In My Jacket pocket"??

Sxooter

miss...

goldbug

/me wonders if this thread is still work-safe.