I used Ajax today!

Today I decided to try an implement an Ajax solution into the project I am currently working on. Since everyone and their brother has been talking about this “new technology” lately, I’ve been looking for ways (excuses) to give it a shot.

I’m working on a system to manage rejected checks at the bank I work for. Checks are grouped by account and you can easily move from one account to the next to view the new “rejects” for the day. Knowing a user would want to view rejects for a specific account in certain situations, I began to code a simple search system. The user enters the account they are looking for, and if that account has rejects and exists in the system, a link is displayed. Easy enough…

Then I thought, what if when the user started typing the account number, a list of possible accounts would appear below the input box, much like Google Suggest?

After researching the technical aspects, I found out folks had already dissected Google Suggest. Julian Robichaux had even done it in Lotus Notes! (What I was trying to do..)

After hacking his code to make it work with mine, I now have my first working Ajax-enabled application! And, most importantly, it’s quite useful too, in my opinion.

Just by starting to type the digits of an account number, a user will know if it exists in the system or not, without ever having to submit a search form.

I’m sure some developers will get carried away, including Ajax in web applications where it need not be. The key is to first find a situation where it will be useful to the user of a web application.