Dynamic HTML for Dummies explains how to take advantage of the decorative and functional HTML enhancements that Microsoft Internet Explorer can display. This book does a fine job of introducing Web developers to Microsoft's additions to the standard Web publishing language. In Dynamic HTML for Dummies, readers get exposed to filters, cascading style sheets, and event-driven interactivity. Rather than document Dynamic HTML (DHTML) fully, the author chooses to present a sort of "best of" collection, revealing the code behind the DHTML tricks that interest most publishers. As a result, it contains the HTML recipes for many effects you've seen on the Web.
While JScript greatly influences the creation of DHTML documents, Hyman refrains from making his book a comprehensive scripting text. Instead, he presents only the components of JScript necessary for writing DHTML event handlers and animations. He leaves detailed coverage of the language to more specialized books. Readers should walk away with a decent grasp of the DHTML object model, ready to explore it in greater depth.
The main shortcoming of Dynamic HTML for Dummies derives from its focus on Internet Explorer 4.x, now outmoded by version 5. The good news is that much of the material carries over to the new release. --David Wall
