Dhtmlx

DHTMLX JavaScript Library

User interface built with DHTMLX library
Developer(s)	DHTMLX Ltd.
Stable release	3.0 / July 7, 2011; 4 months ago (2011-07-07)
Type	JavaScript library
License	GNU General Public License, Commercial
Website	www.dhtmlx.com

DHTMLX is a JavaScript GUI widget library for building dynamic web applications with desktop-like user experience and Ajax data loading. The library is released under both open-source GNU General Public License and commercial licenses. Modular architecture of the library allows using the components as separate blocks or combining them into a common Ajax-based interface.

The first components, dhtmlxTree and dhtmlxGrid ^[1], were released in 2005-2006. Later, DHTMLX has been extended with other user interface components to become a complete toolkit that covers the most required aspects of modern application interface. Being a standalone library written in pure JavaScript and CSS, DHTMLX does not conflict with other well-known Ajax frameworks, including jQuery, YUI, Prototype, etc.

Features

• Module structure: the philosophy that lies under DHTMLX library implies that each components is a separate and self-sufficient entity which can be used individually to ensure some specific part of application, e.g. navigation menu, treeview, datagrid, or date picker. Although, the components API allows organizing them in a common interface layout.

• Desktop-like functionality: drag-and-drop, in-line editing, clipboard operations, data validation, interactivity via Ajax. Starting from version 2.5 UI components can have skin and behavior similar to standard Window's UI elements.

• Client-to-server communication: library is fully client side and can be used with any back-end languages or databases. Additionally, ready to use communication layer (dhtmlxConnector) can be used to manage this client-server communication with PHP, .Net, ColdFusion, or Java.

• Visual Designer: DHTMLX 3.0 comes with a Visual Designer tool that allows developers to build web application interface in a visual, codeless environment. Built-in form builder provides a simplified way to create web forms based on the dhtmlxForm component.

• Theming: the coloring of the components interface can be customized via online SkinBuilder, which generates necessary CSS files and images to provide the coloring theme chosen by developers. Starting from version 2.6, there are multiple skin presets available.

• Touch UI support: DHTMLX released an HTML5 JavaScript framework optimized for touchscreen and mobile devices. DHTMLX Touch 1.0 final release is available since November 14, 2011.

• Cross-browser: the library works in all modern browsers: Safari, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, and Chrome.

UI Components

DHTMLX JavaScript library includes the list of reusable widgets:

• DataGrid: the most mature and developed DHTMLX component with solid features ^[2], can be extended to hierarchical grid.
• Navigation: treemenu, menu, tabs, and accordion.
• Layout: dataview, layout, and popup windows.
• Form: form validation, form data is retrieved and saved back to database automatically.
• Charts: dynamic charts written in JavaScript: line, bar, and pie charts.
• Scheduler: events calendar, or scheduler, also available as Joomla! ^[3] and WordPress ^[4] plugins.
• Gantt: interactive Gantt chart component.

References

1. ^ "Create an Ajax Web site using dhtmlxGrid to present data". http://www.linux.com/archive/articles/125256. 
2. ^ "Data Grids with AJAX, DHTML and JavaScript". http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2007/05/30/tables-and-data-grids-with-ajax-dhtml-javascript/. 
3. ^ "dhtmlxScheduler Joomla! Extension". http://extensions.joomla.org/extensions/calendars-a-events/calendars/10363. 
4. ^ "dhtmlxScheduler WordPress Plugin". http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/event-calendar-scheduler/. 

External links

• DHTMLX website
• DHTMLX Touch
• Demo Applications
• Documentation

See also

• JavaScript
• Ajax (programming)
• Comparison of JavaScript frameworks
• List of JavaScript libraries
• List of widget toolkits