Page Refreshers for Consistent Page Updates

Page refreshers is one of the few features of an Ajax based application that is met with disappointment as well as approval. Disappointment because there are certain functions that are overlooked by page refreshers, but they also place a stamp of approval to page refreshers because Ajax has enabled page refreshing without changing the webpage.

The result is a highly interactive website. This feature has actually ushered a lot of online tools which means the required application for local gadgets is no longer necessary. Connection to the internet is more than enough to fulfill the needed functions of users.

Popular Page Refreshers

Although auto and manual page refresh functions could be done by manual coding, there are Ajax tools found online that could be used to help enable this function. Their main feature is to provide a box wherein functions could be added and will be constantly refreshing based on actions or time bound depending on the developer's configuration.

They can be used by developers without any effort and could run in popular browsers and compatible to different versions of JavaScript.

One of the first tools released as page refreshers is SiteMesh. It's a very simple tool which also eases the integration of different functions. Its main feature is the ability to handle different configurations which increases its ability to interaction with other functions set by developers.

However, SiteMesh is a little bit strict on expanding the decorative side of the application. There exists an <exclude> function wherein images are automatically blocked. This function pushes the images outside so that the lightweight application could be implemented in the page refresh box. SiteMesh is basically geared towards formal applications as it is can easily accept text and HTML functions.

If you are planning to do more with your box for page refresh, consider using another page refresher called Ajaxified Body. This is relatively new compared to SiteMesh and it has improved on the lacking features of SiteMesh. Although it would still tend to exclude images, it does allow flow of information from outside sources.

That means developers can reconfigure the source so that it could provide CSS images to the Ajaxified body. The disadvantage of this is of course on the fact that you have to reconfigure the source all over again just to be read by the Ajaxified body. That could take time and it might not be worth it for smaller functions.

Better Tools, Same Stigma

Even though these are revolutionary tools in improving the Ajax based application, they would still have the regular flaws expected in the Ajax based application. The bookmarking function as well as the back function of the browser might not interact well with page refreshers.

Developers still have to look for ways on how to tag the functions and the state of interaction so that they could be bookmarked or be made receptive to back functions. This is quite unfortunate but this should not push back the development of page refreshers. They are relatively new to the Ajax community so its full capacity is still not there.