Rating:  - The Bible
This is, simply, the only reference you must have to understand modern web authoring. As other reviewers have noted, it does assume that the reader has a decent base of knowledge about HTML to begin. Expand that base to an intimate understanding with this tome (it's massive) and amuse your friends at parties by rattling off syntactically correct JavaScript functions, and discoursing wisely on how a DIV's z-index affects neighboring IFRAME elements.
Rating:  - Beginners beware but great for the more experienced
If you don't already know basic HTML, a little JavaScript, and a little CSS, might I suggest starting somewhere else? "Web Design in a Nutshell" perhaps is a better place to start.
However, if you've been slinging the
The positive points here are for the comprehensiveness and the sheer VOLUME of this volume. It's a dense reference with some good chapters on basic programming (vis a vis DHTML, of course) and best practice techniques. It covers backwards-compatibility but focuses on future-forwardness with a special emphasis on the DOM and W3C standards.
The point comes off because all that comprehensiveness can make it a little daunting to sift through it. You really need to have a pretty good idea of what you're looking for in the first place. Which is fine for intermediate and advanced users ... which is who this book is for anyway. (So that's really only half a point.) The other half point comes off for the CSS/JavaScript stuff -- it's a bit thin -- but then again, this book is already thicker than Flanagan's JavaScript Guide which was the thickest book on my shelf until this arrived. So there's coverage but it's general. But the HTML coverage is right on.
In short: Great resource for intermediate to advanced developers but a bit too daunting for the novices. Or the faint of heart.
Rating: - 5 (or so) Books in One
This book was recommended to me by a peer. The first day I had it on my desk I was impressed by its ability to take up desk space and stand uprgiht of its own accord. This book is thick. The next 7 days running, the book was open and in use. It is simply invaluable... though I'm glad the pricing doesn't reflect this. If you're using CSS or DHTML or Javascript or HTML, this book will help you no end. The author is exceedingly thorough, every entry is noted as to browser compatibility and has a nice standard layout so you can quickly ascertain properties, methods, implementation and DOM useage.
Wonderfully useful. Buy two, one for you and one for your friend. Don't let your boss see it though... best he thinks you know all this stuff already...
Rating: - Truly definitive, well written and laid out
Many years ago I learnt my AppleScript skills from a book by a gentleman by the name of Danny Goodman and I was happy to find him tackling the subject of dynamic HTML in Dynamic HTML: The Definitive Reference. Indeed this is the second edition and seems supremely up to date.
Goodman has tackled a complex subject. With changing standards and even quicker changing browser compatibility it can be a nightmare trying to get a dynamic web site working across disparate browsers and operating systems. A guide that tells you exact syntax and exact compatibility can be invaluable, but is only as good as the research behind it, an area where I cannot fault Goodman.
This volume covers XHTML, CSS and DOM with a large smidgeon of JavaScript. It's not an easy book to get into and consume in large chunks as it does little hand holding but as I was prepared to knuckle down and work at the topics, I found it perfect for me. Goodman has recently released JavaScript & DHTML Cookbook which I have found to be a marvelous volume to assist the process of understanding these technologies.
The target audience would be best summed up as those who have done a fair amount of HTML hand coding and some work in dynamic HTML. The book also adds that you should have "the basics of client-side scripting in JavaScript" and I would agree, when I first acquired this book my JavaScript skills were exceptionally primitive (mainly at the 'plug in example' stage) and found the latter sections of this book heavy going and not much help; now that I am a better JavaScript programmer I find these parts much easier to understand and use.
The book is divided into four parts, 'Applying Dynamic HTML', 'Dynamic HTML Reference', 'Cross References' and 'Appendixes'. I found the first Part particularly helpful when converting my old site across to a more dynamic CSS based site as it helps with various strategies for making sure your content works across browsers and various methods for making sure that visitors with older browsers and search engines can still retrieve valid pages. Goodman's approach of increasing complexity through this Part also suited a movement from a straight HTML site to one using XHTML and CSS. This is also where Goodman's writing can shine, it's an excellent guide to all the technologies and acronym soup. The appendices are marvelous, from 'A', a list of colour names with their RGB value, through a list of character entities to a 50 page list of all HTML tags, their attributes and if they are supported in the two HTML 4 and three XHTML 1 standards.
The reference Parts are well structured with extensive notes on browser support and which particular standard (DOM 1, DOM 2, CSS 1, CSS 2, or none) the tag or attribute comes from. For example, in the DOM section the reference gives you the object name, which versions of Navigator and Explorer support it, the DOM version (if any), a short explanation, then an object reference example, list of properties, methods and event handlers. For each of the properties it gives an example, the type and if it is read-only or read/write. For methods it gives the return value and parameters. This sort of attention to fine detail is throughout the book. You end up with a book 1343 pages long and a 51 page index. Goodman mentions in his Preface that the book now encompasses 'more than 15,000 unique instances of properties, methods and event handlers', a figure I'd believe.
I found this a hard book to review, as are most references. The questions I asked were: one, does the book cover all the material; two, is it correct; three, is it easy to find the entry you want and four, are the entries laid out in an easy to understand manner? In these criteria this volume rates well, with the added bonus of some good material in the first section for understanding the nuances of dynamic HTML in multiple browser, multiple operating system world.
If you are doing a lot of work in Dynamic HTML then this book is probably an essential. While I don't consult it every time I start working on HTML when I run into trouble it is the first place I turn to make sure my syntax and browser compatibility are straight. This book ain't cheap, and it ain't small but I'd recommend it for your desk if you're working with web sites.
Rating: - Invaluable Reference
Certainly not a cover to cover read! After owning and using this book, I have to agree with the cover when it brags to be the Definitive Reference. Despite its immense size, information is so well organized that I have yet to have difficulty finding exactly what I need in a quick and efficient manner.
The book provides complete references for HTML, XHTML, DOM, Events, CSS and JavaScript/Jscript. It is a shame that the Table of Contents is not presented as that truly shows how complete this title is. Luckily, the TOC is presented on the publisher's web site and I recommend a visit there to see for yourself. Each element reference is complete with information on properties, methods, examples and explanations in a straightforward arraignment. Beyond the references are sections dedicated to explaining how to use the technologies. These sections are not designed as a learners guide, but do provide the information necessary to implement the technology.
I could not imagine my web development without this title. It has been a constant presence on my desk since the first release.
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