XML Server Getting Started    

Part 1 Welcome to XML Server Pages 

Introduction 

This part is an overview of the XMLSP development environment. It defines a number of terms and concepts that are used 

throughout the XMLSP documentation set.  

What XMLSP is all about 

XMLSP is an object oriented application development framework that allows you to build powerful, multi tier applications 

to run on multiple platforms and interact with various databases. 

A typical XMLSP application contains user interface controls and application processing logic. 

User interface

controls:  TabFolder, Treview, Panel, RadioButton, EditMask   facilitate interaction of user with application. 

You can use standard XMLSP and HTML controls as well as build your own. Your own controls can be developed as 

independent modules or as extensions for the standards controls, or they can include any number of them 

Application processing logic is consists from event and function scripts in which you code business rules, validation rules, 

and other application processing. 

You can code application processing logic as part of the user interface or you can build your 

own controls for that. 

XMLSP applications are event driven. In a XMLSP application, users control what happens by the actions they take. For 

example, when a user clicks a button, chooses an item from a menu, or enters data into a edit control, one or more events are 

fired. You write scripts that specify the processing that should happen when events are fired. 

Application components you create with XMLSP each have a set of predefined events. For example, each button has a 

onClick

 event associated with it and each editable control has a 

onItemChanging

 event. Most of the time, the predefined 

events are all you need. However, in some situations, you may want to define your own events and methods for the object. 

JavaScript language and XMLSP client side run time  

You write scripts using JavaScript, the browser language. Scripts consist of JavaScript commands, functions, and statements 

that perform processing in response to an event. For example, the script for a button's 

onClick

 event might retrieve and 

display information from the database; the script for a edit's 

onItemChanging

 event might evaluate the data and perform 

processing based on the data. 

The execution of an event script can also cause other events to be fired. For example, the script for an 

onClick

 event in a 

button might open another HTML page, firing the  onLoad  event in that page. 

Object oriented programming with XMLSP 

XMLSP controls are basic building blocks of a XMLSP application. Each controls contains the particular characteristics and 

behaviors (properties, events, and functions) that are appropriate to it. You can create your own objects that encapsulate those 

controls. By taking advantage of object oriented programming techniques such as encapsulation, inheritance, and 

polymorphism, you can get the most out of object you create, making your work more reusable, extensible, and powerful. 

XMLSP functions 

XMLSP provides a powerful assortment of built in functions you can use to act on the various components of your 

application. For example, there is a function to show confirmation 

messageBox()

, a function to issue XML over HTTP calls 

like WebServices   

XMLHttpRequest()

 and so on. You can also build your own functions to define processing unique to your 

application. 

 2000 2002 Computer Technology Inc. All rights reserved. 

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