Publishers of technology books, eBooks, and videos for creative people

Home > Articles > Web Design & Development > Adobe Dreamweaver

This chapter is from the book

Cookies and Code Snippets

One red flag that many people raise about the Web has always been the use of cookies. They are often cited as potential security or privacy breaches, but many sites still use them. Cookies can be quite useful in helping users remember their login names and in helping sites save personalization information on the user's computer rather than in a centralized database.

In this section, we'll show you how to use cookies, but you'll need to decide for yourself whether they're a good idea for your site.

To write a cookie, you need to use the readCookie and writeCookie functions that Dreamweaver provides in the Snippets panel.

The Snippets panel is a handy tool containing a fair number of useful JavaScript functions and fragments. They're quite easy to use, with a couple of caveats. You need to be sure to insert code snippets in Code view, and you need to add a <script> tag before you insert the snippets themselves.

To add JavaScript snippets to your page:

  1. View your page in Code view.

    If you are in Design view, the JavaScript code will be pasted in as text, not code (Figure 13.36)—and that won't do anyone any good.

    Figure 13.36Figure 13.36 You don't want to splatter code all over your page.

  2. From the menu bar, select Insert > Script Objects > Script.

    The Script dialog box will appear (Figure 13.37).

    Figure 13.37Figure 13.37 We're not using this the way it was intended.

  3. Click OK.

    What we just did probably seemed pointless, but when you insert a script snippet, Dreamweaver doesn't automatically surround it with a <script> tag, so unless you add the tag, the script won't work. We could have manually typed the tag, but we're lazy.

  4. In the Snippets panel, expand the JavaScript Folder (Figure 13.38).

    Figure 13.38Figure 13.38 You may need to drill down a little to find the snippet you want to insert.


  5. Still in the Snippets panel, expand the folder containing the snippet you wish to insert onto your page.

  6. Double-click on the appropriate snippet. The snippet will be added to your page, inside the script tag (Figure 13.39).

    Figure 13.39Figure 13.39 Now there's code in the right place.

For more information on the Snippets panel, see the Built-in Tag Writing Shortcuts section of Chapter 11.

Now, on to cookies. We'll make a page on which the user can select a color, which gets written to a cookie, and then open a new page which gets its background color from that cookie.

To write a cookie:

  1. Create a new HTML file.

  2. In Code view, click at the very top of the document (Figure 13.40).

    Figure 13.40Figure 13.40 We'll add the code at the very beginning of the page.

  3. Follow the Steps 1-3 in the previous list to insert a <script> tag.

  4. From the Cookies folder of the Snippets panel, insert Write Cookie.

  5. From the menu bar, select Insert > Form to insert an empty form.

  6. From the menu bar, choose Insert > Form Objects > List/Menu.

  7. In the Property inspector, click the List Values button.

    The List Values dialog box will appear (Figure 13.41).

    Figure 13.41Figure 13.41 Here's where you enter values for a list.

  8. Click the + (plus) button to add a new element, and in the Item Label column, type red.

  9. In the Value column, enter red.

  10. Repeat Steps 7 and 8 for blue and green.

  11. Click OK to close the dialog box.

  12. In the Initially Selected list box on the Property inspector, select one of the colors to be the default color (Figure 13.42).

    Figure 13.42Figure 13.42 You should set a default value for the menu.

  13. In the Property inspector, change the name of the menu to colormenu.

  14. From the menu bar, choose Insert > Form Objects > Button to insert a button..

  15. In the Property inspector, change the button's Label to Thank You.

  16. In the Tag selector, select the <form> tag.

  17. In the Property inspector, change the Action of the form to page2.html.

  18. Select Default from the Property inspector's Method drop-down menu.

  19. In Code view, find the HTML code for the button. It will look something like this:

    <input name="thankyou" type=
    "button" id="thankyou"
    value="Thank You">
  20. Click in the code right after the value="Thank You" entry, and type the following code:

    onClick="writeCookie('pagecolor',
    document.forms[0].colormenu.value,
    '1');"

    It should look like Figure 13.43.This line of code writes a cookie called pagecolor, assigns it the value of whatever the user chose in the menu, and sets it to expire in one hour.

    Figure 13.43Figure 13.43 This is the code that calls the code that writes the cookie.

  21. Save the file as cookie.html.

That's all there is to the cookie-writing file. Now we'll create the file that reads the cookie and sets its background color from it.

To read a cookie:

  1. Open a new HTML file.

  2. In Code view, click at the very top of the document.

  3. Following the instructions in To add JavaScript snippets to your page, earlier in this section, insert the Read Cookie snippet.

  4. In Code view, find the opening <body> tag.

  5. Directly after the <body> tag, type the following line of code (Figure 13.44):

    <script language="JavaScript">
    document.bgColor =
    readCookie('pagecolor');</script>

    Figure 13.44Figure 13.44 Make sure this code is in the <body> section of the page.

  6. In Design view, add some text.

  7. Save the file as page2.html.

  8. Preview cookie.html (Figure 13.45). Click on the Thank You button. The next page should use the color you chose in the menu as its background color.

    Figure 13.45Figure 13.45 Here's the color selector page. We won't show you the next page, because it'll just be gray in this book.

Peachpit Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from Peachpit and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about Peachpit products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites; develop new products and services; conduct educational research; and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email ask@peachpit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by Adobe Press. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.peachpit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020