AJAX was a term coined in 2005 to refer to a method of programming web pages that had been in use for many years. It involves a combination of several browser technologies (most notably JavaScript and XmlHttpRequest) to allow asynchronous calls from a web page back to the server. This allows a much more intuitive user interface, as the web page can appear more responsive and the user does not see the entire page "flash" as it is reloaded from the server.
GrandView has taken advantage of AJAX technologies since back when it was referred to as "Remote Scripting." However, developing web pages that can update asynchronously can be challenging and time-consuming. Throughout the years, we have not looked to recreate our entire application as an AJAX application, but instead looked to integrate asynchronous calls at key places in GrandView. Nowadays, we use a suite of AJAX controls from
Telerik to accelerate development, and provide a consistent user experience.
So where is AJAX used in GrandView? You might be surprised to find out where. After all, AJAX is a technology that's designed to be completely invisible when it's working correctly! Here are some examples:
| The Dashboard |
Timesheet |
Project Dropdown |
 |
 |
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Of course, technologies like AJAX do not
inherently make a better user experience. It's up to your trusted GrandView developers to use this and all the tools available to us to create the best application we can!
Bryan DeBois
GrandView Business Solutions Senior Developer