Create a dynamic Web application with AJAX

This tutorial demonstrates how to expose a server-side method to an AJAX-enabled client application. You will use the WebSphere^® Application Server Feature Pack for Web 2.0, RPC Adapter technology to expose a method in a Java™ class that returns a list of movie data. You will use the Dojo Toolkit, included in the WebSphere Application Server Feature Pack for Web 2.0, to create the Web page that will display the movie data.

Learning objectives

The purpose of this tutorial is to teach you how you can use the RPC Adapter to create a command-based service to an AJAX-based user interface. In this tutorial you will learn how to :

Create a Web 2.0 enabled Web application to contain all of the resources required by your application.
Create the RPC Adapter service that returns a JSON response.
Create the Java objects that contain the data for your application.
Create a Web page that is Dojo enabled.
Write JavaScript™ and HTML code to create the AJAX-based user interface for your application

Time required

This tutorial should take approximately 60 minutes to finish. If you explore other concepts related to this tutorial, it could take longer to complete.

Prerequisite

Install WebSphere Application Server Version 7.0:

Open the IBM^® Installation Manager.
Click Install. The Install Packages page opens.
In the package list, select IBM WebSphere Application Server Version 7.0 Test Environment, then click Next.
Read the license agreements. Accept the license agreements then click Next.
Follow the instructions in the Installation Manager to install WebSphere Application Server Version 7.0.
In the Features list, ensure that you select IBM WebSphere Application Server Version 7.0 Feature Packs. These feature packs include the WebSphere Application Server Feature Pack for Web 2.0.

Tip: You can also run this tutorial using WebSphere Application Server Versions 6.0 and 6.1. If you use WebSphere Application Server Version 6.0 or 6.1, ensure that you also install the feature packs. The instructions in this tutorial assume that you are using WebSphere Application Server Version 7.0. The instructions will vary if you use a different test environment.

Lessons in this tutorial

Lesson 1: Create a Web project
In this lesson, you will learn to create a Web project that is configured for Web 2.0 application development by enabling specific project facets.
Lesson 2: Create server side Java classes
In this lesson you will learn to create the server side Java classes that will hold the data for the application.
Lesson 3: Expose the RPC Adapter Service
In this lesson you will learn how to create the RPC Adapter service that returns a JSON response.
Lesson 4: Create the Dojo client
In this lesson you will enable the Web page that you created earlier for Dojo development.
Lesson 5: Script the data grid
Now that you have declared the grid, you can write the necessary JavaScript that loads the data from our MovieService Java object, and to bind that data to the grid.
Lesson 6: Create the details pane
In this lesson, you will create a details pane that displays the properties of a Movie object when it is selected in the Master table.