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Apache
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Apache is an open source Web server that runs primarily on Linux but
has also been ported to other operating systems including Solaris and
NT. Users can use UltraDev to develop sites for Apache if they have added
either Tomcat (JSP for Apache free from Jakarta)
or ChiliASP.
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Application
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A program or script that encodes rules and behavior of the desired
functionality. The tool to open, read and edit the files in a computer.
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ASP
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Active Server Pages is Microsoft's technology for adding server-side
scripts to Web pages. ASP allows users to connect Web pages to back end
databases and COM objects. ASP has been ported to non-Windows platforms
by other vendors. ChiliASP provides ASP scripting for Linux machines
running Apache Web server. ASP scripts can be written in both VB Script
and JavaScript scripting languages. For more information on ASP, visit Microsoft's
Web site.
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Bandwidth
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The width of a transmission channel's allocated band of frequencies.
Often erroneously used to mean data rate or capacity.
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Browser
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A program that displays documents written for the web. Some documents
written for the web are viewed with a browser only with the installation
of a plug in. The plug in installation may be invisible to the user since
they are installed when the browser is installed in a new computer. Like
the Macromedia Flash player and the JavaScript runtime. But would be
noticed when it needs to be updated.
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CFML
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Cold Fusion Markup Language is Macromedia's tag based language that
is used for creating web sites that run on Macromedia's Cold Fusion application
server. For more information on CFML, visit the Cold
Fusion product page.
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COM
Objects
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Component Object Model. COM objects are programs that are written
to the Microsoft component
specification. These objects are used to encapsulate programming
logic. Using COM objects, ASP sites can connect to other server-side
systems. The ASP pages do not contain the code for these connections.
Instead, the ASP pages make calls to COM objects. COM objects contain
all of the programming to work with the back end system. For more information
on COM objects, visit Microsoft's
Web site.
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Cross-
platform
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Can run on any Operating System. Usually referring to a computer language
or document. E.g., HTML, JavaScript, etc.
Tip: It is advisable to test anything
that claims to be cross-platform. Each platform has its own interpretation.
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CSS
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Cascading Style Sheets. A set of rules that define how HTML will be
displayed. Differing from FONT tags which attach properties to text throughout
the page, style properties are written once with in the page or linked
to a CSS file, and only the style name needs to be attached to the text.
The cascading aspect addresses conflicting style sheets. The priority
cascades from these three rules:
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The existence of the attribute:
!important
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The source of the rules: the author's CSS will
override the visitor's.
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Specificity: The more specific a rule is the higher
its cascade priority.
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DHTML
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Dynamic Hypertext Markup Language. HTML enhanced
with other technologies: CSS, DOM, Dynamic Positioning (Layers), JavaScript.
Providing the author with tools to further control display, permit reaction,
change positioning, hide and show content.
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DNS
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Domain Name System. A query system used to translate hostnames into
(numeric) internet addresses. See Lycos' Webmonkey site
for an in depth article.
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DOM
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Document Object Model. A programming interface specification being
developed by the W3C, permits developing HTML pages
and XML documents as full-fledged program objects.
Currently, HTML and XML are ways to express a document in terms of a
data structure. As program objects, such documents are able to have their
contents and data "hidden" within the object, helping to ensure
control over who can manipulate the document. DOM is a strategic and
open effort to specify how to provide programming control over documents.
Developed as a way to encourage consistent browser behavior with Web
pages and their elements.
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DSN
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Data Source Name. A DSN is the
name for an ODBC connection for ASP servers.
A DSN specifies the database connectivity driver to be used and
physical location of the database.
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Digital Switched Network. The
completely digital version of the collection of interconnected
systems operated by the various telephone companies and administrations
around the world.
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DSN-less
Connection
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DSN-less connections are database connections for ASP servers
that function as an alternative connection method to DSNs. The connection
is written as a path to a database instead of an object (file) name which
contains that information. DSN-less connections are commonly used on
sites that are hosted with Internet Service Providers since a DSN connection
would be an additional service.
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ECMA
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European Computer Manufactures Association founded in ~1950 set standards
for scripting languages. Within the guidelines of these standards languages
like JavaScript and ActionScript can be created and embellished.
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Extension
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Macromedia term for application "plug in". A small
application which is installed in the major application. Extensions
add to the functionality of a Macromedia program. A developer will
write an extension for her/himself, the developing community or
for sale. Free Extensions are available at the Macromedia
Exchange and some third party web sites.
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The 2 to 4 characters that appear after the dot
at the end of a file name. These characters indicate to your operating
system what program to use to open, read or edit the file.
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File
Structure
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The order in which files and folders are organized. Their location
relative to each other, e.g., site root folder > sub folder (precise
name), constitute the file structure.
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Frame
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An HTML page that appears in the browser with other
HTML pages. These pages are "called" by a Frameset
page which contains code to layout and provide the location
of the pages.
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An instance on a timeline. A
collection of frames is used to create an animation.
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FrameSet
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The collection of pages, with the FrameSet page, to appear in a browser
window at the same time.
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FrameSet
Page
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The page which holds code that directs the layout of a frameset. Naming
the HTML pages, how they are laid out in the browser window, the space
they take up in the browser window and where the files are located. This
page, when set up correctly, is not visible in the browser window. The
BODY tag is optional, used to hold alternative content, for browsers
that cannot see Framesets. Browsers that do not see FrameSets will see
the content within the BODY tag of the Frameset Page.
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HTML
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Hypertext Markup Language. The basic language used to build web pages.
See the complete specifications here.
See Lycos' Webmonkey site
for an introduction.
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Hypertext
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A nonlinear way of presenting, reading and navigating text. The ability
to jump to a specific point of a subject or an entirely different subject.
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IIS
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Microsoft's Internet
Information Server versions 3.0 and higher include support for
Active Server Pages (ASP). IIS is only available on Windows NT, 2000
and XP (professional version) operating systems. IIS 4.0 and 5.0 have
been tested with Dreamweaver UltraDev Dreamweaver MX. For more information
on IIS, visit Microsoft's
Web site.
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Image Editor
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An image editor is a tool used to create and modify images. When inserting
text in an image editor the export will be an image that appears to be
text. Some image editors (e.g., Fireworks) has the ability to export
your text without creating an image of it. In this case you will be exporting
more than one kind of file, you will export HTML and image files.
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Internet
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Another term for the World Wide Web. A global, cross-platform, hypertext information
system.
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Intranet
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Private systems, with controlled access, that use internet technology.
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Java Beans
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Java Beans are java components that are part of Sun's Java 2 platform.
A Java bean is a program that is written to Sun's Bean specification.
Java Beans are often used to connect to data sources from JSP pages.
The appropriate code for the system is contained within the Java Bean
and the JSP page communicates with the Bean rather than talking directly
to the other program. By separating and isolating the different parts
and pieces of site development, applications are easier to maintain.
For more information on Java Beans, visit Sun's
Web site.
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JavaScript
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JavaScript is a scripting language used to add functionality to web
pages making them easier to use and more interesting. Not to confused
with Java which is an unrelated programming language.
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JDBC
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Java Database Connectivity is the Sun database connectivity standard.
JDBC is part of the Java 2 platform. JDBC drivers enable database connectivity
on any Java platform including Windows, Mac, and UNIX. JDBC drivers can
be downloaded from various vendors. The Sun Web site includes a list
of all the latest
drivers for JDBC.
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JSP
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Java Server Pages is Sun's technology for adding server-side scripts
to Web pages. JSP was developed by Sun as a standard for Web servers
to support. JSP allows users to connect Web pages to databases and Java
Beans JSP pages consist of HTML and Java. A number of different vendors
include JSP support with their servers. These include: BEA WebLogic,
IBM WebSphere, Netscape Enterprise Server (iPlanet), Allaire JRun, Oracle
Application Server, Sun's JServ, and more. For more information on JSP,
visit Sun's
Web site.
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Layer
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HTML elements that are placed on the page with X,
Y and Z-index positioning, relative
to the browser window.
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An organizational element used in image editors. |
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A server term for a network switch that routes the
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Linux
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UNIX based operating system that runs on Intel or Macintosh hardware.
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Netscape
Enterprise
Server
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Formerly known as iPlanet, now known as Sun
ONE. The latest version of Netscape Enterprise Server is now sold
as part of the Netscape-Sun ONE servers. Sun ONE supports JSP 1.0 code.
Users can use Dreamweaver UltraDev and Dreamweaver MX to develop sites
for this server.
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ODBC
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Open DataBase Connectivity. A Microsoft standard for connecting to
databases. ODBC is included with the Windows operating system. ODBC drivers
for most relational databases are available. The latest version of ODBC
drivers can be downloaded from Microsoft as part of the MDAC
installer.
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OLE DB
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Object Linking and Embedding DataBase. Another Microsoft standard for
connecting to databases. OLE DB is object-oriented and works with relational
and non-relational databases. There are fewer OLE DB drivers available
for existing databases but those that are available provide better performance
for ASP sites than ODBC.
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OS
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Operating System. The software that interfaces with the hard drive
and programs on a computer. Often referred to as the "platform".
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Pixel
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A relative measurement unit. To measure an object by pixels a physical
reference is given, usually an inch, and the number of pixels that fit
within the inch. Standard web graphics have 72 pixels per inch (PPI).
The same image in a book may be printed at 2400 PPI or dots per inch
(DPI). The printed image in the book appears more detailed and brighter.
That is because there is more information in the printed space. However,
the web developer has the limitations of file size and monitor resolution
to consider.
Images created with pixels are also know as Raster images or Bit Maps
(BMP).
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Plug in
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A software application that runs inside of another software application
to enhance major application's capabilities. Often available as a free
download from the developer's site. However, many third-party developers
develop their own plug ins and make them availability to the community
or sell them.
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Render
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The visual interpretation of code. The way code is displayed.
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Search
Engine
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An application used to search a site or the Internet for information.
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SQL
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Standard Query Language. SQL (pronounced See-Quel), or structured
query language, is the programming language used to connect to, query
and update relational databases.
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Table
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A grid on a page comprised of columns and rows. Used for page layout
or organizing information.
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Tag
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An instruction, a group of tags makes up the code. In the case of
mark-up languages they come in opening and closing sets, referred to
as "container tags". A tag begins and ends with angel brackets.
The closing tag begins with an angel bracket and forward slash. Here
is an example of a FONT tag and content:
<font size="2">Text here.</font>
With container tags it is important that the content falls within the
set of tags. And that tag sets are nested and do not straddle each other.
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Text Editor
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A tool used to edit text in a particular format, such as HTML, ASP,
a Word document, etc. Some text editors, e.g. Dreamweaver can generate
a Flash object, have the additional ability to generate additional media.
But this is not to be taken for granted and the documentation for the
tool you are using should be consulted to discover its capabilities.
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Timeline
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A series of frames that represent instances of time. A series of images
on frames, put together with instructions, create an animation.
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URL
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Universal Resource Locator. The formal term for a web address.
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W3C
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World Wide Web Consortium. The
organization that sets the standards for web development languages.
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Web, The
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Also referred to as: WWW, the World Wide Web and the Internet. A global, cross-platform, hypertext information
system.
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WebSphere
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WebSphere is IBM's Java application server. WebSphere 4.0 supports
JSP 1.0 and has been tested with Dreamweaver UltraDev, Dreamweaver MX
and ColdFusion
MX. For more information visit the WebSphere
Web site.
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WWW
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World Wide Web. Another term for the Internet. A global, cross-platform, hypertext information
system.
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XHTML
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Extensible Hypertext Mark-up Language. A formal version of HTML, recommended
by the W3C. E.g., open tags not permitted.
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XML
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Extensible Mark-up Language. A structure language. A flexible way
to create common information formats and share both the format and the
data on the World Wide Web, intranets, and elsewhere. Recommended by
the World Wide Web Consortium, is similar to HTML.
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X/Y
positioning
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The horizontal and vertical positions on a page. In web development
the units are pixels. The top/left corner of the page is zero.
The X (horizontal) position includes how many pixels
the object is placed from the left of the browser window.
The Y (vertical) position includes how many pixels
the object is placed from the top of the browser window.
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Z-Index
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Indicates the stacking (like a stack of paper) order of elements.
The higher numbers will appear on top. In HTML development the z-index
is used in controlling the appearance of layers.
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