[Savannah-dev] Re: Do we really need that Javascript?

[Laurent Julliard]

Jaime E. Villate wrote:
> Hi Laurent,
> A few months ago (before you joined savannah-hackers) I removed that
> Javascript help function that Layout.class puts at the top of every webpage,
> since it does not seem to serve any purpose. Now I've just noticed that you
> put it back, so I was wandering if you have any good reason to put it back.
>
> (if you think it can be removed, please let me do it since I have already made
> some other changes to Layout.class that I have not committed yet)
>
> Cheers,
> Jaime

Jaime,

I must say that when I started to work on CodeX for Xerox and made 
modification to the source code I took me some time to decide what to do 
with Javascript code. The final decision I took was a pragmatic one: 
keep Javascript at the minimum level and use it when it really makes the 
UI *much* easier to use.

The reason why I reactivated the help funtion is because of the new Bug 
Tracking System that I have introduced where most pages come with an 
online help. Clicking on a question mark (?) in those pages pops up a 
new medium-sized window which contains a contextual help. If I remember 
well it also forces the window to the top so that it is always visible.

I am by no mean an HTML export and there might be other ways to open 
this contextual help window. If so I am open to suggestions.

However I'd like that we think twice before removing this little piece 
of JScript because my plan is to put much more contextual help on-line 
in the coming weeks.

Hope this clarifies the reason why I have re-activated the JScript for 
help fucntions

Laurent


--
Laurent JULLIARD - Xerox R&T/SSTC/XPA - Open Source team
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