Trying to create a thumbnail gallery with AJAX
Question
all. I've never worked with AJAX before, but I'm trying to create a sort of thumbnail gallery. The idea is that you can click one of several buttons and, depending on the specific button pressed, a div will be populated with the corresponding information from an xml file. There are a few issues I'm running into...
- I can't get any information from my xml file to show up on the html page.
- When I press a button, the function appears to run a number of times, rather than just once.
If anyone could help with these issues, I've be very appreciative!
Also, if anyone has any hints about how I might pass a number from each individual button to it's call its corresponding array with the xml information, I'd be grateful forever.
HTML:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<script src="loadXML.js" /></script>
<link href="style.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">
<title>Interesting Animals</title>
</head>
<body>
<div id="wrapper">
<h1>Interesting Animals</h1>
<div id="gallery">
<ul id="left">
<li><button class="leftExtreme" type="button" onClick="loadXML(0)"><img src="images/bat_thumb.png"></button></li>
<li><button class="leftMid" type="button" onClick="loadXML(1)"><img src="images/elephant_thumb.png"></button></li>
<li><button type="button" onClick="loadXML(2)"><img src="images/bear_thumb.png"></button></li>
<li><button class="leftMid" type="button" onClick="loadXML(3)"><img src="images/rhino_thumb.png"></button></li>
<li><button class="leftExtreme" type="button" onClick="loadXML(4)"><img src="images/meerkat_thumb.png"></button></li>
</ul>
<div id="animalInfo">
<img src="images/bat.png" height="440" width="276">
<div id="animalText">
<h2 id="commonName">Giant Fruit Bat</h2>
<p><span class="description">Scientific Name: </span><span id="scientificName">Pteropus Scapulatus</span></p>
<p><span class="description">Diet: </span><span id="diet">Fruit</span></p>
<p><span class="description">Habitat: </span><span id="habitat">Southern and Southeast Asia</span></p>
<p><span class="description">Interesting Facts: </span><span id="facts">The giant fruit bat has a wing span of up to 5 feet (1.5m). It is the largest bat in the world. It has a very keen sense of smell and a very long muzzle. They roost upside down in the trees and wrap their wings around their bodies. Feeding time is at dusk when they set off to eat fruit. They squish fruit in their jaws and drink the juice but let the seeds and the rest of the fruit fall to the ground. The females give birth to one baby at a time. They will carry their baby around with them for two months.</p>
</div><!--animalText-->
<br class="clear">
</div><!--animalInfo-->
<ul id="right">
<li><button class="rightExtreme" type="button" onClick="loadXML(5)"><img src="images/koala_thumb.png"></button></li>
<li><button class="rightMid" type="button" onClick="loadXML(6)"><img src="images/alpaca_thumb.png"></button></li>
<li><button class="rightCenter" type="button" onClick="loadXML(7)"><img src="images/platypus_thumb.png"></button></li>
<li><button class="rightMid" type="button" onClick="loadXML(8)"><img src="images/roadrunner_thumb.png"></button></li>
<li><button class="rightExtreme" type="button" onClick="loadXML(9)"><img src="images/gorilla_thumb.png"></button></li>
</ul>
<br class="clear">
</div>
</div><!--wrapper-->
</body>
</html>
Javascript:
var xmlhttp;
function loadXML() {
if (window.XMLHttpRequest) { // code for IE7+, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Safari
xmlhttp = new XMLHttpRequest();
} else { // code for IE6-
xmlhttp = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
}
xmlhttp.onreadystatechange = function() {
if (xmlhttp.readyState === 4 && xmlhttp.status === 200) {
changeDiv();
}
}
xmlhttp.open("GET", "animals.xml", "true");
xmlhttp.send();
}
function changeDiv() {
var xmlResponse = xmlhttp.responseXML;
root = xmlResponse.documentElement;
common = root.getElementByTagName("commonName");
scientific = root.getElementByTagName("scientificName");
food = root.getElementByTagName("diet");
environment = root.getElementByTagName("habitat");
interestingFacts = root.getElementByTagName("facts");
document.getElementById("commonName").innerHTML= common.item(1).firstChild.data;
document.getElementById("scientificName").innerHTML= scientific.item(1).firstChild.data;
document.getElementById("diet").innerHTML= food.item(1).firstChild.data;
document.getElementById("habitat").innerHTML= environment.item(1).firstChild.data;
document.getElementById("facts").innerHTML= interestingFacts.item(1).firstChild.data;
}
XML:
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!DOCTYPE allAnimals [
<!ELEMENT allAnimals (animal+)>
<!ELEMENT animal (commonName, scientificName, diet, habitat, facts)>
<!ELEMENT commonName (#PCDATA)>
<!ELEMENT scientificName (#PCDATA)>
<!ELEMENT diet (#PCDATA)>
<!ELEMENT habitat (#PCDATA)>
<!ELEMENT facts (#PCDATA)>
]>
<allAnimals>
<animal>
<commonName>Giant Fruit Bat or Flying Fox</commonName>
<scientificName>Pteropus Scapulatus</scientificName>
<diet>Fruit</diet>
<habitat>Southern and Southeast Asia</habitat>
<facts>The giant fruit bat has a wing span of up to 5 feet (1.5m). It is the largest bat in the world. It has a very keen sense of smell and a very long muzzle. They roost upside down in the trees and wrap their wings around their bodies. Feeding time is at dusk when they set off to eat fruit. They squish fruit in their jaws and drink the juice but let the seeds and the rest of the fruit fall to the ground. The females give birth to one baby at a time. They will carry their baby around with them for two months.</facts>
</animal>
<animal>
<commonName>African Elephant</commonName>
<scientificName>Loxodonta Africana</scientificName>
<diet>Leaves, branches, and fruit</diet>
<habitat>Africa, south of the Sahara Desert</habitat>
<facts>The African Elephant is the world's largest land animal. Adult males can weigh as much as six tons. They drink more than 25 gallons (100 liters) of water each day and eat up to 650 lbs. (300kg) of food. The trunks of African elephants have two tips which they use like fingertips to pick things up. African elephant calves feed on milk for up to 18 months, and do not breed until at least 11 years old.</facts>
</animal>
<animal>
<commonName>American Black Bear</commonName>
<scientificName>Ursus Americanus</scientificName>
<diet>Vegetation, honey, insects, and fish</diet>
<habitat>North America, including northern Mexico</habitat>
<facts>These bears are often found in national parks, where they raid campsites for food. They have a keen sense of smell, and usually hunt at night. They are smaller and less dangerous than their brown bear cousins, like the Grizzly. The American Black Bear will hibernate during the winter months, but if it is disturbed it can wake up because it doesn't sleep too deeply. American black bears will avoid people, but they will defend their cubs if they feel threatened.</facts>
</animal>
<animal>
<commonName>White Rhinoceros</commonName>
<scientificName>Ceratotherium Simum</scientificName>
<diet>Grass</diet>
<habitat>Africa</habitat>
<facts>White rhinoceroses are very large. In fact, they are the second largest land animal after elephants and can weigh as much as 3.5 tons. The diet of the White Rhino is mainly made up of grass, which they find growing in large open plains. These magnificent animals have poor eyesight but exceptional hearing and a keen sense of smell. Scientists estimate that there are currently less than 7,000 white rhinos left in the wild.</facts>
</animal>
<animal>
<commonName>Meerkat</commonName>
<scientificName>Suricata Suricatta</scientificName>
<diet>Insects and birds</diet>
<habitat>Southern Africa</habitat>
<facts>Meerkats feed together during the day in groups of 20-30 individuals in dry open country. This makes them a target for predators. While some members of a meerkat group look for insects, others act as lookouts popping up on their hind legs and tails. Living in large groups helps meerkats to survive. They shelter in underground burrows.</facts>
</animal>
<animal>
<commonName>Koala</commonName>
<scientificName>Phascolarctos Cinereus</scientificName>
<diet>Eucalyptus leaves</diet>
<habitat>Eastern Australia</habitat>
<facts>Koalas are very popular animals. Often called koala bears, koalas are actually not bears at all but marsupials. They have sharp claws that allow them to climb trees to find their food. Koalas only eat eucalyptus leaves. They never need to drink water because eucalyptus leaves provide all the water they need. Female koalas have one baby at a time. The female's pouch open near the rear of her body.</facts>
</animal>
<animal>
<commonName>Alpaca</commonName>
<scientificName>Vicugna Pacos</scientificName>
<diet>Grass</diet>
<habitat>South America</habitat>
<facts>Alpacas are a domesticated descendant of guanacos. Instead of working as a pack animal, alpacas are bred and raised for their high quality wool, which is used to make yarn and other products. Some alpacas' wool grows so long that it will almost touch the ground. Alpacas feed on grass, unlike its other South American relatives which feed on bushes.</facts>
</animal>
<animal>
<commonName>Platypus</commonName>
<scientificName>Ornithorhynchus Anatinus</scientificName>
<diet>Insects and crustaceans</diet>
<habitat>Eastern Australia and Tasmania</habitat>
<facts>The platypus is one of only three species of mammals that lay eggs. It has a fur-covered body, webbed feet, and a wide beak. It looks sort of like a beaver with a bird's beak. Platypuses find their food at the bottom of the lakes and rivers where they live. They use their sensitive beak to feel for and find food. Male platypuses have a defense against predators: Their hind legs have poisonous spurs, which can leave a painful wound.</facts>
</animal>
<animal>
<commonName>Greater Roadrunner</commonName>
<scientificName>Geococcyx Californianus</scientificName>
<diet>Lizards and snakes, insects, scorpions to small rodents and small birds, hummingbirds, some fruit</diet>
<habitat>Southwestern United States and central Mexico</habitat>
<facts>The Greater Roadrunner is one of the few animals that will attack a rattlesnake. To kill this snake, the roadrunner grabs the snake just behind the head, then it hits it against the ground or rocks. Roadrunners live in pairs, defending their area all year.</facts>
</animal>
<animal>
<commonName>Western Gorilla</commonName>
<scientificName>Gorilla Gorilla</scientificName>
<diet>Leaves</diet>
<habitat>Western and Central Africa</habitat>
<facts>Gorillas are the largest of the great apes. Great apes can stand on their hind legs. They are also very good with their hands and can use wooden sticks like tools. Gorillas live in groups of up to 20 animals. They eat in the trees and on the ground.</facts>
</animal>
</allAnimals>
1 answers
solution1
1 2014-05-01 11:29:25
First, you need to look into JQuery. This will simplify your code and the problems.
To load your XML and put it into a div (this is using JQuery)
HTML:
<div class="gallery">
<ul id="left">
<li><button class="leftExtreme button" type="button" onClick="loadXML(0)"><img src="images/bat_thumb.png"></button></li>
<!-- etc -->
</ul>
<div id="animalInfo">
<!-- I would wrap image below in a div and use css to control the height or width as % -->
<div class="my_sized_div"><img src="images/my_blank_image_until_click.jpg"></div>
<div id="animalText">
<h2 id="commonName">Giant Fruit Bat</h2>
<p><span class="description">Scientific Name: </span><span id="scientificName">Pteropus Scapulatus</span></p>
<!-- etc -->
</div><!--animalText-->
<br class="clear">
</div><!--animalInfo-->
<ul id="right">
<li><button value="Koala" class="rightExtreme button" type="button"><img src="images/koala_thumb.png"></button></li>
<!-- NOTE I removed the onClick call and added the value="" -->
<!-- etc -->
</ul>
<br class="clear">
</div>
</div>
JQuery / JS (You MUST include the JQuery library loading in your html to be able to run this code):
$(document).ready( function() {
//Load your XML using ajax
//Capture the click
$(".button").click( function() {
var button_value = $(this).val(); //Now we know what button was clicked. Use this later.
$.ajax({
type: "GET",
url: "animals.xml",
dataType: "xml",
success: function(xml) {
$(xml).find('animal').each(function() {
if($(this).find('commonName').text() == button_value){
$('#commonName').text($(this).find('commonName').text());
//This replaces the text in each span with your content
$('#scientificName').text($(this).find('scientificName').text());
//etc
}
});
}
});
});
});
You could speed this up by using a JSON dataset and loading it into a variable..
Note: I haven't tested this code - these are just my thoughts.
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