Re: Dynamic HTML -- a definition

[David Blyth <dblyth -at- QUALCOMM -dot- COM>]

Hi again!

>My explanation of dynamic HTML does not describe a situation in which the HTML
>tags are dynamic; only the text nested in the tags.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like you just said that that it's
"dynamic text", not "dynamic HTML".  The HTML tags are not dynamic and
(if we're both using the same definitions) the text is not HTML.

>You'll just have to take it on faith that the HTML (text and tags) are
>manipulated (added, changed, etc.) based on information returned from a query.

Don't need to.  I've written both the HTML forms and the CGI scripts for
similar projects, so I'm already a believer.... ;)

>Now, does that satisfy a definition of "pure" dynamic HTML?

No, but I can move somewhat in your direction.  A Web document is
dynamically assembled from HTML and text inside a database based on user
responses in a HTML form.

  Web Form --> CGI+Database --> New Web page.

To continue the thought,

  A)  if the text is reduced to objects and if
  B)  the application is already reduced to objects, then
  C)  the document and the application can be conceptually mixed.

This has already been noted by Marc Andreesen and others.  The next question
is figuring out how this changes:

  o   the document and application elements
  o   the process by which a document & application is built
  o   the means by which technology (the application) is communicated
      (by a document)

Sigh.  Now if only I can convince someone to pay me to think about this... ;)


David (The Man) Blyth
Technical Writer & Web Site Designer
QUALCOMM

The usual disclaimers apply - QUALCOMM isn't that crazy.

Blodo Poa Maximus
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