Focal Point Banner


As of December 1, 2020, Focal Point is retired and repurposed as a reference repository. We value the wealth of knowledge that's been shared here over the years. You'll continue to have access to this treasure trove of knowledge, for search purposes only.

Join the TIBCO Community
TIBCO Community is a collaborative space for users to share knowledge and support one another in making the best use of TIBCO products and services. There are several TIBCO WebFOCUS resources in the community.

  • From the Home page, select Predict: WebFOCUS to view articles, questions, and trending articles.
  • Select Products from the top navigation bar, scroll, and then select the TIBCO WebFOCUS product page to view product overview, articles, and discussions.
  • Request access to the private WebFOCUS User Group (login required) to network with fellow members.

Former myibi community members should have received an email on 8/3/22 to activate their user accounts to join the community. Check your Spam folder for the email. Please get in touch with us at community@tibco.com for further assistance. Reference the community FAQ to learn more about the community.


Focal Point    Focal Point Forums  Hop To Forum Categories  WebFOCUS/FOCUS Forum on Focal Point     [SOLVED] JavaScript/jQuery for Dummies

Read-Only Read-Only Topic
Go
Search
Notify
Tools
[SOLVED] JavaScript/jQuery for Dummies
 Login/Join
 
Joel Elscott
Gold member
posted
I’m trying to wrap my head around how to incorporate JavaScript and/or jQuery into WebFOCUS, and after reading through dozens of threads I think I’m getting more confused. In many of threads I’m seeing coding examples of where there is both HTML code and jQuery included. My company has given us the direction to use the WebFOCUS UI tools as much as possible, but incorporating some custom style sheets or JS is acceptable. Basically I need to use the HTML Composer tool, and not freehand HTML.

So the following questions come to mind. Please note that I’m very much a novice and trying to learn.

1 – Is the jQuery JavaScript library installed by default? Do I need to reference anything when using the commands?
2 – Where should the JavaScript be coded? In the embedded JavaScript tab of composer? In the fex?
3 – What is the purpose of including “-HTMLFORM BEGIN” code in a fex? Is it required?
4 – Are there any simple examples for me to take a look at to learn these concepts?
5 – Suggested websites or documents to further my learning?

I really appreciate any help you can provide, even if it’s to point me in the right direction.

Joel Elscott
WebFOCUS 8.0.08

This message has been edited. Last edited by: <Kathryn Henning>,
 
Posts: 66 | Registered: May 20, 2013Report This Post
Mike in DeLand
Guru
posted Hide Post
I would love to see the answer to those same questions!


Webfocus 8
Windows, Linux
 
Posts: 258 | Location: Palm Coast, FL | Registered: February 05, 2010Report This Post
Dave
Master
posted Hide Post
Let me try...

1.
Javascript is always available. It's embedded and supported by all browsers. If it isn't, WebFocus wouldn't work either.
JQuery is an extention to javascript and needs to be installed and/or referenced.

2.
Javascript works on the client browser. So you should add it to anything that ends up in browser. HTML obviously, but it could also be embedded in fex ( see answer 3 ).
If you want javascript to help improve the HTML file ( e.g. input validation ) you could/should use "embedded JavaScript tab" (*WF8).

3.
This can be used to direct create HTML from within a fex.

4.
-SET &SAMPLEPARAMETER = 'Hello, world!';

TABLE FILE CAR
	SUM SALES
	BY	COUNTRY
ON TABLE HOLD AS SAMPLEHOLD FORMAT HTMTABLE
END

-HTMLFORM BEGIN
<html>
<body>
<b>!IBI.AMP.SAMPLEPARAMETER;</b><br>
<hr>
!IBI.FIL.SAMPLEHOLD;
<hr>
</body>
</html>
-HTMLFORM END



...and with embedded javascript code:
-SET &SAMPLEPARAMETER = 'Hello, world!';

TABLE FILE CAR
	SUM SALES
	BY	COUNTRY
ON TABLE HOLD AS SAMPLEHOLD FORMAT HTMTABLE
END

-HTMLFORM BEGIN
<html>
<head>
<script>
alert('javascript says: hello world!');
</script>
</head>
<body>
<b>!IBI.AMP.SAMPLEPARAMETER;</b><br>
<hr>
!IBI.FIL.SAMPLEHOLD;
<hr>
</body>
</html>
-HTMLFORM END


5.
If you want to learn javascript go to http://www.w3schools.com/js/



Hope this helps.
Greets,
Dave


_____________________
WF: 8.0.0.9 > going 8.2.0.5
 
Posts: 668 | Location: Veghel, The Netherlands | Registered: February 16, 2010Report This Post
BarryS
Gold member
posted Hide Post
Hi

jQuery is imported and used by App Studio the calendar control is jQuery. jQuery is just javaScript code that is prewritten for you to use and can be applied to any control an HTML Composer page. You put the code in the embedded JavaScript text area. First learn the webFOCUS Coding and the HTML Composer tool before you venture out into jQuery land.

HTMLFORM is a way to add HTML/JavaScript to a report. When using HTML Format the report is written using HTML and you can use HTMLFORM to customize the look and feel as well as functionality.

Good luck learning all this stuff. IBI has courses and there are a lot of books on jQuery.

Happy coding.

Thanks Barry,


WebFOCUS 8103, Windows, App Studio
 
Posts: 80 | Location: NYC | Registered: November 13, 2008Report This Post
dhagen
Virtuoso
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Joel Elscott:

3 – What is the purpose of including “-HTMLFORM BEGIN” code in a fex? Is it required?



I know I will get into a bunch of trouble with the online community for this, but you should ignore this code ... pretend you never saw it. If forces your report developers to be HTML coders as well, and it makes support of the resulting code a lot harder. I hate this so much, that I will not allow anyone working for me to use it.


"There is no limit to what you can achieve ... if you don’t care who gets the credit." Roger Abbott
 
Posts: 1102 | Location: Toronto, Ontario | Registered: May 26, 2004Report This Post
Francis Mariani
Expert
posted Hide Post
The jQuery and jQuery UI libraries are automatically installed when WebFOCUS 8.x is installed.

The jQuery and jQuery UI libraries are automatically referenced in your HTML file if you use App Studio HTML Composer GUI to build your HTML pages.

The installed versions of jQuery and jQuery UI aren't the latest, but they will do...


Francis


Give me code, or give me retirement. In FOCUS since 1991

Production: WF 7.7.05M, Dev Studio, BID, MRE, WebSphere, DB2 / Test: WF 8.1.05M, App Studio, BI Portal, Report Caster, jQuery, HighCharts, Apache Tomcat, MS SQL Server
 
Posts: 10577 | Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada | Registered: April 27, 2005Report This Post
David Briars
Master
posted Hide Post
Hi Joel,

It was great meeting you in class a while back.

Just some thoughts that come to mind, while reviewing your post and great question list...

Basically the browser is looking for/ready to interpret the following code:
1. HTML, for Page Structure
2. CSS, for Styling
3. JavaScript, for Behaviors

The browser doesn’t know/care how this code created, only that it can be rendered.

jQuery is a JavaScript library that supports coding web page behavior with more compact/easier to write and understand code, as compared to JavaScript. (‘j’ is for JavaScript, ‘query’ is for the ‘asking’ you do, for information related to the page.)

Two basic ways WebFOCUS developers can create the HTML/CSS/JavaScript code that the browser is willing and able to render:
1. HTML Composer (GUI Tool)
2. Coding within a focexec, using the -HTMLFORM construct.

Both of these methodologies have something very important in common. They each harness and leverage the power of the WebFOCUS reporting/visualization language (TABLE FILE… GRAPH FILE…).

(To add to the fun, TABLE and GRAPH, can be written with a WF GUI Tool or coded within a focexec. :-))

List of considerations when choosing between the two, that I have used. (There are others.):
1. User requirements.
2. Current level of staff expertise in HTML Composer/HTML/CSS/JavaScript.
3. Career goals of staff... Do they want to learn more about coding? Do they want to learn more about using GUI tools?
4. IT Standards... GUI Tools only? Coding only? Hybrid? Best tool for the job at hand?
5. Current installed WebFOCUS release.

In practice I’ve built web page with both, and have obtained excellent results with each, that have solved problems and made users happy.

The IB manuals are my primary source of examples of both methodologies. I then supplement with FocalPoint, internet searches, and (ok I admit it) books. I am currently reading ‘Head First jQuery’ and am finding it enjoyable as well as educational.

Good luck!

Regards,
Dave
 
Posts: 822 | Registered: April 23, 2003Report This Post
Joel Elscott
Gold member
posted Hide Post
Thank you all so much for your responses! This gives me a good starting spot to learn.


WebFOCUS 8.2.03
z/OS
 
Posts: 66 | Registered: May 20, 2013Report This Post
Anatess
Guru
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by dhagen:
quote:
Originally posted by Joel Elscott:

3 – What is the purpose of including “-HTMLFORM BEGIN” code in a fex? Is it required?



I know I will get into a bunch of trouble with the online community for this, but you should ignore this code ... pretend you never saw it. If forces your report developers to be HTML coders as well, and it makes support of the resulting code a lot harder. I hate this so much, that I will not allow anyone working for me to use it.


I understand your position on this.

For most of us Webfocus Developers we're both Report Coders and Web developers so we use
-HTMLFORM
so we can use FocExec and Dialogue Manager to have the flexibility to manipulate the HTML using report conditions.

But yeah, you can definitely run robust applications without it.


WF 8.1.05 Windows
 
Posts: 333 | Location: Orlando, FL | Registered: October 17, 2006Report This Post
  Powered by Social Strata  

Read-Only Read-Only Topic

Focal Point    Focal Point Forums  Hop To Forum Categories  WebFOCUS/FOCUS Forum on Focal Point     [SOLVED] JavaScript/jQuery for Dummies

Copyright © 1996-2020 Information Builders