Roger Varley wrote:
>
> I would like to be able to be able
> to pop up a message over whatever page the client was viewing. Obviously, if
> the client leaves the site then all bets are off. I think I might be able to
> achieve this by opening a second browser window when the query is submitted,
> I was wondering if there is a more elegant solution.
>
Generic HTML browsers just don't work very well as front
ends for applications with complex interactions. Your idea
about having a second browser window (with a refresh
tag) sounds good.
Again, off the top of my head, some things to consider:
- Do you need to support older browsers, or lynx, or
any of the technology to assist disabled users?
- Is this for internal use, where you have good control
over the user's desktop, or for public internet use,
where people have an annoying[1] habit of turning java
and javascript off?
- Browser windows popping up unexpectedly tends to remind
people of free hosting and porn sites.
- My favorite UI for this sort of thing is an auto-refresh
page with a notice that says "check back for results" so
you can either sit and spin, or head back off to other
parts of the site and check back on your own. If you're
using session-tracking, you could even have it so that
the server checks for completion every time the user
goes to a new page, and puts up a "your results are
ready" message when the results are ready. That puts
all the control on the user side, but admittedly isn't
always appropriate for all situations.
-cks
[1] I turn java and javascript off :-)
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