Who has even homepage, and this by interactive items to animate wants, came or goes certainly past once also at JavaScript. Who strives then still for higher one, as for instance a data base or such functions, comes however with JavaScript fast to its boundaries. Loading (~ reading in) of text and other files with JavaScript or JScript is already since the primeval times of the two languages a topic for itself. Since JavaScript do not have like also JScript a direct acces to the file system, must after other possibilities or cheat to be looked up. In the following now some solutions are to be given and treated for this problem.

The target consists then of it ( dynamically ) a text ( pours. * * * ) into the document ( target. * * * to merge) and to make the result for the visitor visible.

As basic stick thereby for a possibility one looks up in each case to load data into a variable . This variable is to be simply only written then into the document.

The simple Script version

One of the oldest and at the same time simplest ideas data into a variable to load consists of simply already having the data in a variable and these to loading. This way is completely sufficient and besides still very uncomplicated for most applications.

The idea is, the data, which are to be loaded later, than values of defined variables in a js - to store file and these then - if they are needed - into the HTML - file to load. For it thus 2 files are needed: We call it times quelle.js and target htm

Example:

In quelle.js :

var source = '... ';

In target htm :

< script src = " quelle.js ">< / script > < script > <! - -   document.writeln(Quelle); / / - - > < / script >

The dynamic Script version

In order loading of files now still somewhat more freely to gestallten, is to be merged it e.g. possible, the respective JavaScript file dynamically. This falls back also again to the first idea, with the difference that here the entire file and not only the text from a file is merged dynamically. In the following example it is assumed that the text variable source is stored in the file quelle.js. In the file becomes as additional entry document.writeln(Quelle); at the end inserted. The pertinent HTML - file loads the file as Script. Also the code contained in it is executed by loading and thus the text is written. Thus it is to be loaded quasi possible any (vorpreparierte) files.

Example:

In quelle.js :

var text = '... '; document.writeln(text);

In target htm :

  document.writeln(' < script src = " quelle.js ">< / script > ');

The window version

A further idea to read data in in JavaScript is the window version. The consideration consists of opening the file which can be read in into a new Browser window and selecting this then. Opening might represent thereby no larger problem. To only note it is that the file is if possible marked by file dung, which is not executed by the Browser or is not loaded down as Download. It should be thus guaranteed that the file is displayed by the Browser.
As by far the larger problem then the selection of the window presents itself. With Microsofts Internet Explorer goes this relatively simply:
The document is queried and selected by the opened window by this again with body.innerHTML or documentElement.innerHTML contents. The difference of the two is situated in the fact that with body really only contents of the Bodys are output-asked, against what document item outputs the root item of the file. For example if the text which can be read is stored into a file with the ending htm or html, then it normally gets - even if it no HTML - it contains formatting - a certain essential structure of the Browser lent (to which e.g. head or body belong). These off by only the Body being able to switch is output-asked - the queried text is however (after some transformations) the same.

Which concerns the Netscape navigator or other Browser, then is this idea fewer easily umzusetzten.
The Netscape navigator offers 6.0 no possibilities contents of an item or the document before the version to actually select. Starting from 6.0 - similarly as with the Internet Explorer - with document.documentElement.innerHTML contents of the root item can be picked out. The text with document.body.innerHTML to read in does not seem to function here however.

Opera and other Browser are to be induced against it not really to out-spit contents.

If the data are however firstonce unloaded, they must only processed and the Browser window can be closed again.

Example:

In quelle.txt :

...

In target htm :

b = ' quelle.txt '; c = window.open(b); d = c.document.documentElement.innerHTML; c.close(); if(d.toLowerCase().search(' < body ')! = -1) { d = d.substr(d.toLowerCase().search(' < body')+5, d.length); d = d.substr(d.search(' > ')+1, d.length); } if(d.toLowerCase().search(' < / body ')! = -1) { d = d.substr(0, d.toLowerCase().search(' < / body')-1); } document.writeln(d);

A further problem thereby is that perhaps, as soon as the loading procedure of the window persists too long the Ausfragen of the window causes no results or an error. It is advisable with events to operate (e.g. onLoad ).

The ActiveX version

Beside numerous other things - which do not control other Browser - the Internet Explorer also the possibility has to access ActiveX objects. The idea is now to use easily the responsible ActiveX object FileSystemObject around a file to open to read and output the text.

Also here again a larger problem develops: If the Script is executed with the Clienten, then a file in the Internet is found and cannot not be opened therefore. In addition it comes still that 1. of the ms Internet Explorer must be used and 2. ActiveX to be switched on must.

This version is rather interesting for server-lateral inserting (e.g. with ASP ) - for application in the own Intranet (etc..) it would be to be used however also in normal Internet pages.

Example:

In quelle.txt :

...

In target htm :

var a = new ActiveXObject('Scripting.FileSystemObject '); c = ' quelle.txt '; d = window.location.href; d = d.substr(0, d.lastIndexOf('/')+1); if(d.search('file:///') = -1) { d = d.substr(d.search('file:///')+8, d.length) } e = a.OpenTextFile(d+c, 1, false); f = e.ReadAll(); while(f.search('\u000A ')! = -1){f = f.replace('\u000A ', ' < br > '); } document.writeln(f);

The DATA being thing version (ActiveX Nr.2)

A further idea which is based on ActiveX is Microsofts DATA being thing or DATA-BINDS. In the Internet Explorer are used or Windows of integierte ActiveX control members. These can with the HTML - item to be object merged and through param controlled. Around data classid the ' CLSID:333C7BC4-460F-11D0-BC04-0080C705Ä83 ' will merge used. As parameters in addition the among other things following can be transferred:

• DataURL - the file which can be opened
• TextQualifier - separators which can be used

One is given to the object id. Within the page can then over these id div - item to be inserted, which to this object (by datascr - an attribute) refers. If it concerns with the data text, should be indicated additionally datafld " = " text. Additionally with dataformatas = HTML " " formatting the data can be defined as HTML.

The file which can be opened must additionally still (in order-)formatiert become. The first line should ' ext:String$ ' reads, whereby $ against the designated separators ( TextQualifier - attribute) to be exchanged can. Additionally each further line with this separator must be begun and terminated.

Example:

In quelle.txt :

ext:String$ $... $

In target htm :

b = ' quelle.txt '; c = ' < OBJECT ID = " meinObj " WIDTH = " 0 " HEIGHT = " 0 " ' + ' CLASSID = " CLSID:333C7BC4-460F-11D0-BC04-0080C705Ä83 "> \n ' + ' < PARAM NAME = " DataURL " VALUE = " ' + b + ' "> \n ' + ' < PARAM NAME = " TextQualifier " VALUE = " $ "> \n ' + ' < PARAM NAME = " FieldDelim " VALUE = " | "> \n ' + ' < PARAM NAME = " UseHeader " VALUE = " true "> \n ' + ' < / OBJECT > \n ' + ' < div datasrc = " # meinObj " datafld = " text " dataformatas = " HTML ">< / div > \n '; document.write(c);

The Java version

Further idea consists of accessing on Java for reading the file back. There the Netscape navigator in a the position is to be operated between Java and JavaScript communication, can here the data thus also with JavaScript further be processed. The Internet Explorer does not support this unfortunately - for it the Java code would have to be packed therefore in an applet. The file is equipped also here beforehand with separators and formatting, so that the files from the DATA Bining version can be used. The following code is suitable for selects from files with Java.

Example:

In quelle.txt :

ext:String$ $... $

In target htm :

function Einlesen(FileName, separator) { a = self.location.pathname; a = a.substring(0, a.lastIndexOf('/')+1); b = new java.net.URL(self.location.protocol.split(':').join(' '), a self.location.host + file name); c = new java.io.BufferedReader(new java.io.InputStreamReader(b.openStream())); d = c.readLine(); while((d = c.readLine())! = zero) { e + = d + ' '; } c.close(); e = e.split(Trennzeichen).join(' '); return(e); } if (document.layers & & navigator.javaEnabled()) { document.writeln(Einlesen('quelle.txt ', '$')); }

Alternative one to JavaScript

The described ideas for most simple JavaScript /Homepage amateur handicraftsmen will be completely sufficient, yet no really professional solution with JavaScript or Jscript can be attained. For most users the attention will therefore be directed rather toward another language.
For it server-lateral languages are useful such as PHP or ASP . The advantage is thereby clearly obvious: Since the Client of the server gets only the results of merging, it is no matter, which for a Browser it has and it functions imme *** TRANSLATION ENDS HERE ***r. Eine mögliche PHP -Umsetzung zum Einbinden einer Textdatei wäre zum Beispiel:

In quelle.txt :

...

In ziel.php :

<script language= "PHP "> include "quelle.txt "; </script >

Fazit

Letztlich sollte jeder selbst sehen, was für seine Bedürfnisse am Besten und ausreichend professionell genug ist. PHP oder ASP bieten sicherlich die beste Möglichkeit, wobei - je nach Anwendung - auch einfache JavaScript-Varianten durchaus ihren Dienst tun können.

PS: Dank an Andreas Zierhut ( http://www.dhtml-now.de / http://www.dhtml-now.de/javascr/sonstiges/externedatei.asp ) .