UPDATED 2009-02-10: Due to problems with the ‘management’ of PHPClasses.Org I’m adding the zip file for this package here:  awfdialog v1.2 zip file.

Originally posted March 23, 2008.

The first significant component I’ve written from the ground up in PHP, the awfDialog Wizard is a PHP class object that allows you to dynamically generate multi-page wizard dialogs, just like you’re already used to seeing in Windows application installers.

Why write this? Well first of all, I needed something to sink my teeth into while learning PHP and AJAX. Second, that I can find there is not another component like it available to developers, so it fills a void in the re-usable PHP software world.

I’ve added all the end-user documentation and supporting examples here to the site. You can download the awfDialog Wizard’s latest distribution from PHPClasses.Org.

If you’re looking for help using or support issues with awfDialog Wizard just leave a comment on this post until I get the support forums up and running.

Lastly, if you use this class, or find it interesting, please write a comment or review on PHPClasses, FreshMeat, or HotScripts. awfDialog debuted on PHPClasses last week with a 5-star “Notable” rating and topped out the week as the #7 most downloaded class.

Thanks.

Tags: AJAX, awfDialog, class, component, PHP, wizard

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The awfDialog class received a nomination for the PHP Innovator Award for the month of March from PHPClasses.Org. Voting goes on through the month of April, so, shamelessly, I’d like to ask for your support. The nomination text reads as follows:

Wizard is the name that is called to user interfaces that guide the user
through a series of steps that need to be performed to achieve a certain
task. This kind of user interfaces is typically found in desktop
applications.

It is possible to implement wizards in a Web site by showing a sequence of
pages with all the steps. However, multi-page wizard are not as usable as
desktop application wizards, as they make the user wait for the next page
to load.

This class provides a solution to implement Web based wizards that uses
AJAX to minimize the time it takes to load the next page. This way, Web
based wizards are practically as usable as desktop application wizards.

Tags: award, awfDialog, class, PHP, wizard

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