JavaScript: External Javascripts

JavaScript: External JavaScripting(*.js files)

RELOAD THE PAGE! The top headline should have changed. Cool trick huh?

Using external javascript files are great. You code them once. Check them then transplant them to any page by adding the SRC="./external file.js" to your <script language="Javascript"></script> tags. We use it extensively for the Date Stamp( ) on our pages. We know the code will not change and makes it easier putting it into multiple pages. Also, we will use it to change content on a page randomly or date based. Neat trick and gives your visitors fresh content. Another advantage is that your code will not be visible to folks that right click and view source on your pages. (WARNING - DON'T think that this is totally fool proof.. Somebody can capture your code.. Don't rely on this as being totally secure.)

It does have some downfalls. You need to limit to a single purpose like writing a text link or image banner to a page, etc. Another consideration is that it requires your browser to make another call to the server to get the *.js file which can increase your your page load time.

The above example calls a file topstory.js from the server. This example writes text and text links to the page, but you can have it do most anything. Just remember only one function and keep your arrays to one line each. Here is another example link Dynamic.

USER QUESTION: HOW DO YOU USE QUOTES IN THE ARRAY FOR IMAGES, ETC?
The easy way is to leave them out as these image.js and the imag1.js
files are called by the test.htm file shows.

SOURCE FOR EXTERNALSCRIPT.HTM (calls the external *.JS javascript file)

<html>

<head>

<title>Test External JavaScript</title>

</head>

<body>

<big><big><big><big><big>TEST SCRIPTS</big></big></big></big></big>

</html>

</head>

SOURCE FOR TOPSTORY.JS - -WARNING-- Each ARRAY var has to be on a single line.

var quote = new Array(10);

quote[0] = "ONE RANDOM QUOTE";

quote[1] = "TWO RANDOM QUOTE";

quote[2] = "THREE RANDOM QUOTE";

quote[3] = "FOUR RANDOM QUOTE";

quote[4] = "FIVE RANDOM QUOTE";

quote[5] = "SIX RANDOM QUOTE";

quote[6] = "SEVEN RANDOM QUOTE";

quote[7] = "EIGHT RANDOM QUOTE";

quote[8] = "NINE RANDOM QUOTE";

quote[9] = "TEN RANDOM QUOTE";

now=new Date()

num=(now.getSeconds())%9

document.write(quote[num])