This post is just an observation.  I was working today on a way to sort an entire table by any column via JavaScript on the client side.  This is desirable because it's faster for the user and the server will not have to deal with as much traffic.

It's interesting just how much JavaScript exposure I have received over the past year while working at Managed Data Group, LLC.  (For those that don't know me, I am an ASP .Net developer, preferring to work on the back end, non design code.  I am the only developer creating the Advanced Reports system, which UI I have recently finished, and am now concentrating on a tight deadline to develop the Accounting Export system.)  I had a little experience with JavaScript before coming on, but that mainly covered switching CSS classes to show and hide menus.

Since I have been at MDG, I have learned AJAX, AJAX .Net, moving/copying from select (list) boxes to others, in-depth editing of the dTree and calendar JavaScript (a LOT of deep editing for the dTree script!), date validation, populating select boxes, sorting data, and now sorting tables a la creating a generic table sort script that will also adjust sort icons.  I know I'm forgetting a lot of other things I have done over the past ten months, but I tend to forget things after they work.

In my opinion, the single most valuable thing I learned was AJAX, or "client callbacks" as others call.  For those unfamiliar with the term, I can use one JavaScript method to hit something on the server and execute code it receives back--all without the user either submitting the form or knowing what's happening.  Think of it this way: You have two drop-down lists (DDLs), one for a car's manufacturer and the other for models, the second of which is blank.  After you select a manufacturer, the model DDL automatically fills with that particular manufacturer's models.  If you look at the page source, you can see that AJAX is used if you can't find the list of models (don't forget to look in the script files).  I can employ AJAX .Net as a cleaner way to execute my .Net code from the client.  It's very handy, though I am committed to avoiding overusing this so much that I use it in the wrong situation.

I even created a JavaScript version of "Lights Out" two months ago using nothing but Notepad.  The next version of ConTrak Systems will make use of a lot of JavaScript and AJAX--trust me.  The convention management system will keep getting sharper and easier to use (and for me to maintain).  Now if only I can have a good idea for the new layout, I can begin building the next version...