Building a reusabe font size controller interface using jQuery

Most of the web2.0 design allows the user to change the font size of the main content area. This is indeed a good usability. So I thought, I should contribute something here. The result is a small jQuery code which can be used to generate a font size changer interface.

Only thing you need to make is a holder element for the controller and then call the function like

fontSize("#holder", "#content", 9, 12, 20);
// holder is the id of the element where the font size controller interface will be shown
// content is the id of the element where the font size changes will take place.
// The next three arguments are Minimum font size, Default font size and Maximum font size respectively

Yes, all done and it will automatically generate all required buttons. It also supports jquery cookie plugin. So when you open the page again, the preferred font size will be restored automatically. (Cookie plugin is not required, but recommended)

After the function is called, the controllers will be generated in the specified area like the following.

Advantages

• Small size, built on jQuery
• Fully skinnable using css
• Multiple interface can be used in the same page for two different content areas
• Support jQuery Cookie plugin for remembering the preferred font size
• Very easy to use

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Color picker galore!

A color picker allows the users to preview the color and select it by clicking on it. It is useful when you want to provide some customization for the user (for eg: select a background color, letter color etc). But I think is a very useful piece of code in the admin side of a CMS site (Select font color, theme color or anything that you can imagine). There are simple scripts which generates a simple web safe color palette to advanced ones which generates a color palette like Adobe Photoshop.

Here are some cool color picker scripts that can be used. Some of them are written using plain javascript – means you don’t need any javascript library like jQuery, Mootools. And some of them are written specifically for jQuery, Mootools or Prototype (Here the advantage is a smaller footprint. If you’re already using a javascript library like jQuery or Mootools, use the one particularly written for that library). There are more than 10 scripts to choose from. Read more

Add icons to your links automatically using jQuery & CSS

You want to show a particular icon to a particular type of link. For eg: a pdf icon to all pdf file links, a text document icon to all text document links, zip icon to all links that are linked to zip files etc.

Why jQuery?

Yes, it is not that difficult with css. Just declare some classes and give background images then assign that class to the links as required. Then why we need jQuery. The answer is, for simplicity. Who ever entering the content should be cautious to add the right classes for the right links. Also adding classes are difficult in a blog platform – you will need to switch to HTML view instead of the editor view.

Using jQuery we’ll make sure that the right icon is showing for a particular link. Read more

jQuery seekAttention plugin to get the users attention

The “seekAttention” plugin gracefully get’s your users attention by fading out a definable area but leaving the target element (the element which is seeking attention) un-faded and thereby focusing the users attention on it.

The definable area (to be called “container” from this point forward) can be the entire page or any element which surrounds the target element and the colour which overlays the container can also be defined by you.

This plugin can be useful for web based tutorials or in forms (May be in validation). Read more

Improved lava lamp effect for jQuery and Mootools

The lava lamp effect was an excellent technique to turn the navigation to a flash like animation. LavaLamp allows you to add nifty background hover effects to HTML lists in combination with the Easing library.

It is available for bot jQuery and Mootools Read more