Retrieve data from the server without going to a new web page - html

Question

I use a frame from a HTML page to load some data from the server without having to leave the original web page. I simply reassign the src of the frame and the shown data gets updated.
Now I need to programatically create a div, but the width and height have to be retrieved from the server. May I use a frame to get those values, without leaving the web page, or is there a more simple and efficiente way ?
I would prefer not to use ajax, and keep my code as simple as possible, thanks

Answer 1

One easiest way is to call page property like this:
<script type="text/javascript">
var width = <%=this.Width %>
</script>
and declare this property in cs file like this
public int Width
{
get;
set;
}
Is it what you expected? or if you have some calculations after pages loaded, you can simply achieve it by using jquery ajax and one httphanlder.

Answer 2

Use jQuery. It's really simple.
A simple example:
<script src="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.5/jquery.min.js"></script>
<script>
$('#result').load('otherfile.php');​
</script>
<div id="result"> </div>
Loads otherfile.php inside the div id'ed "result". No page reload.

Answer 3

Thanks for the jquery example, I may use it in the future. For now I found a very simple and efficient way to solve it using a frame (I know, I know...) that really surprised me for its simplicity:
I create a form (a javascript class that manages several divs), then a little frame inside it, and the frame change the form properties and remove itself.
The key was to access the javascript variable defined in the parent from the child:
echo "<script>";
echo "parent.window.oDlg.SetSize( ".$row[ "WIDTH" ].", ".$row[ "HEIGHT" ]." );";
echo "parent.window.oDlg.SetTitle( '".trim( $row[ "TITLE" ] )."' );";
echo "</script>";