You think the more secure blog, the more successful blogging job, don’t you? You can keep your blog secure by installing a bunch of WordPress security plugins. However, instead of activating too many plugins that have the same features, same purposes… and even some issues because of the conflicts between them, you should consider using only these top plugins that help you to do the job better.

Here is the list of Top 15 WordPress Security Plugins that have all the features you need. If you got some other plugins that are better, please help us to complete the list by dropping your thought in comment form.

Askimet and no more other plugin for spam protection

Akismet is a wonderful plugin for spam protection, really! It checks your comments against the Akismet web service to see if they look like spam or not and lets you review the spam it catches under your blog’s “Comments” admin screen.

I personally don’t use any spam prevention plugin but Askimet. Why do you need to install other plugins since you had Askimet. The spam filter of this service is really cool. I’m facing with not more than 1 spam comment a day!

AskApache Password Protect

With AskApache Password Protect, you can set password for your admin dashboard, also with any files folder in your web host without messing with your database. This plugin is specifically designed and regularly updated specifically to stop automated and unskilled attackers attempts to exploit vulnerabilities on your blog resulting in a hacked site.

Admin Log

I’m using this plugin to keep tracking all foot prints of users logged in to the blog admin area. This is updated every time a page in the admin area is accessed. Information displayed includes: admin page accessed, user, and time of access. However, this should be filtered better because it’s keeping some access pages that are unnecessary at all.

Secure WordPress

It will help to secure WordPress installation by removing miscellaneous items after the installation process which may aid hackers: Remove Error information on login page; adds index.html to plugin directory; removes the wp-version, except in admin area.

WP-Ban

Ban users by IP, IP Range, host name, user agent and referer url from visiting your WordPress’s blog. It will display a custom ban message when the banned IP, IP range, host name, user agent or referer url tries to visit you blog. You can also exclude certain IPs from being banned. There will be statistics recordered on how many times they attemp to visit your blog. It allows wildcard matching too.

WARNING: When using the WP-Ban plugin, be very careful when banning certain IP addresses, especially your own. If you accidentally ban your IP address, you won’t be getting back into your blog until you acquire a new IP.

Limit Login Attempts – Login LockDown – User Locker

These plugins are very useful for protecting WordPress login page if you combine them into a set of 3.

Limit Login Attempts will shut down anybody who fails X number of logins from a specific IP address (using auth cookies). It keeps tracking all failed IPs, emails you in the event of a lockout, and is the perfect solution for keeping nosy relatives out of your admin area.. Download

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Login Lockdown is a great security plugin to prevent some people guessing your password to login to your site. It records the IP address and timestamp of every failed login attempt. This helps to prevent brute force password discovery. Download

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User Locker plugin is a great solution to limit the number of invalid logins for specific user. Once the plugin has been installed, it is set by default to lock the user’s account after 5 invalid login attempts. Furthermore, you can manually lock any user via plugin setting. This is a really helpful for some blog, magazine that have more than one user. Download

WP Security Scan

Nice plugin helps you to scan your WordPress installation for security vulnerabilities and suggests corrective actions: passwords, file permissions, database security, version hiding, WordPress admin protection/security…

Admin SSL

Secure WordPress login and admin pages for that extra bit of security with Admin SSL. This plugin forces SSL on all pages where passwords can be entered so that all information transmitted are encrypted. However, you have to own a SSL certificate before you can do it. If you are not willing to shell out the extra money to buy a private SSL certificate, you can ask your Web host about Shared SSL. Most webhosting provide Shared SSL for all their clients and it is easy to configure.

Stealth Login

Stealth Login obfuscates your login page by allowing you to define a custom login page rather than the default wp-login.php. In the event that your password is leaked, the hacker will also have a hard time finding the correct login URL. A good use of this is to prevent any malicious bots from accessing your wp-login.php file and attempting to break in.

WordPress Database Backup

WordPress database backup creates backups of your core WordPress tables as well as other tables of your choice in the same database. It’s very simple to use! If you need only the backup feature for your blog database, this is your best choice.

WP-DBManager

One of the widely used and one of the must have plugin for wordpress is WP-DBManager. A very popular plugin for database management. This plugin is not only perfect for doing automated backups, it can also do things like database optimization and the admin pages for it allow you to do the occasional query from within WordPress! You can schedule to back up your database and email it to your email. You can also run mysql query in plugin setting page. With WP-DBManager, you won’t need any other plugin for your wordpress database, you can find all the needed features in this all in one plugin.

TAC (Theme Authenticity Checker)

TAC helps you to scan your themes for any unwanted or potentially dangerous code. This is a helpful plugin for you to check any theme you download somewhere to make sure the theme is safe for using.

WP Sentry

This is a simple plugin just for privacy reason. WP Sentry restricts access to the post for specific users, groups…and a little more granular access controls.

Extended Reading:

There are some helpful articles and tutorials helps you to secure your WordPress better.

• WordPress Security Tips and Hacks
• 11 Best Ways To Improve WordPress Security
• Hardening WordPress
• 12 Essential Security Tips and Hacks for WordPress
• 5 Plugins to Keep WordPress Secure
• How to Keep WordPress Secure

Many people these days feel that their minds are being flooded with various bits and pieces of data or information and they quite naturally find that it is more and more difficult to organize many of their thoughts. Along with this lack of logical thought the people start to experience moments of time where they find they are forgetting relevant facts, dates, events and similar data. During important meetings these same people may find that it is difficult to even take simple notes. The problems that I have just mentioned are typical of those that many people have been experiencing lately in their daily activities.

The process known as mind mapping has proven itself to be a helpful and very useful instrument for both individuals as well as corporations from all areas of the globe. In this article we’ll talk about mind mapping, why you need it, how to produce effective visual mind maps and the tools.

Mind mapping in perspective

Mind mapping is a technique which is performed individually in order to produce visualizes makeup and categorizes these arrays of different ideas. It was created as an aid to help people in their efforts to achieve effective study habits, to clearly organize their thoughts, to perform problem solving procedures, to write in an understandable manner as well as to do well in their daily decision making regardless of the particular thinking circumstances which may be involved.

From Ben Heine

What’s more, they are very quick to review as you can often refresh information in your mind just by glancing at one. In the same way, they can be effective mnemonics: Remembering the shape and structure of a Mind Map can give you the cues you need to remember the information within it. As such, they engage much more of your brain in the process of assimilating and connecting facts, compared with conventional notes. If you’ve already made your list, try turning it into a mind map.

Further reference

• Mind map – From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Visual mapping types

Mind Mapping is just one of several methods of mapping out information and ideas that one can utilize. Our brains think in unique and exponential ways. Each and every piece of information is best studied and memorized through a structured process of learning that assimilates each chunk of information in the most effective and efficient manner that naturally mimics the brain’s cognitive thinking patterns. Within this branch of the IQ Matrix we will discuss some of these types of maps and their purpose. We will also delve into the computer generated and hand drawn methods of Mind Mapping that you can utilize on a daily basis.

From Will UK

The following is a quick break down of 7 unique mapping types that can be utilized to effectively represent the information. How you apply these maps will vary in accordance to the structure of the information you are learning, and upon your purpose, objectives and goals.

• Cyclical Maps
  Are used to represent key terms within stages in a cyclic process.
• Radial Maps
  Are Mind Map type structures with sub-topics radiating from a central image or word.
• Converging Maps
  Are used to represent causes that lead to a single effect.
• Hierarchical Maps
  Are used to represent key terms as smaller and smaller parts of a larger topic.
• Interacting Maps
  Are Concept Map type structures that interlink with each other in a variety of ways.
• Comparison Maps
  Are used to compare two or more things with each other. The central interlocking part represents the object’s shared components or characteristics.
• Linear Maps
  Are Flowchart type structures that represent linear stages of a process that has a beginning and an ending.

Benefits of mind mapping

My photo on Flickr 3rd Anniversary by neloqua

Link to the original post of Benefits of mind mapping and 10 reasons why mind mapping software should be the foundation of your personal productivity system. Click here.

Common mistakes that you should try to avoid.

An Honest Mistake by artzy.viva

Link to the original post of 10 mistakes to avoid with mind mapping software Click here.

So, where the tips to produce effective visual mind maps?

Mind Mapping by sirwiseowl

However I’ve lost count of the number of people who tell me that they were first introduced to Mind Maps in two minutes on some course or other and that as a result they just didn’t “get it”. That is a real shame, because, although they are easy to use, a few guidelines and directed practice means that people get far more benefits from the technique. The following suggestions may help to increase effectiveness when you making a mind map.

1. Just focus
   Start your session in a quiet, light environment where you will not be disturbed until you are finished. If you are doing your mind map on your computer, turn off your chatting client (YM!, gTalk, MSN), email, social media such as Facebook and Twitter, and everything else that you have running except the mind mapping software. It is too easy to “take a small break” that turns out to waste 30 minutes. If you are using paper, make sure your desk is clear, except for the paper and your writing materials.
2. Start with good question or idea.
   Think about what you want to accomplish during your session, and start with an idea that is precisely defined, so it will help you work towards your goal.
3. Write down every thought or idea that comes to you.
   Do not judge your ideas too heavily before you put them down, because you may change your mind later and regret throwing them out.
4. Set your goals, but feel free to deviate from it.
   As your brainstorm grows, follow your creativity and expand it however you like. Don’t feel constrained by that bubble in the middle, because it is only there as a starting point.
5. Leave yourself enough room to expand.
   Don’t expect to fit everything onto one piece of paper. Make sure you have extra paper, and draw your branches generously far apart, so you have room to expand on ideas. Obviously this does not apply to brainstorming software on your computer, as you can move stuff around easily. Color code, doodle, scratch out and do whatever else you want to your brainstorm, if it will help you get a better understanding of it. Again, you don’t have to be neat and tidy. Think of your brainstorm as art, and act creatively.

Once you understand how to make notes in the Mind Map format, you can develop your own conventions to take them further, just like the way I use this when start up.

• Use single words or simple phrases for information.
  Most words in normal writing are padding: They convey facts in the correct context, and in a format that is pleasant to read. In your own Mind Maps, single strong words and meaningful phrases can convey the same meaning more potently. Excess words just clutter the Mind Map.
• Print words.
  Joined up or indistinct writing can be more difficult to read.
• Use color to separate different ideas.
  This will help you to separate ideas where necessary. It also makes your Mind Map easier to remember. Color also helps to show the organization of the subject.
• Use symbols and images.
  Where a symbol or picture means something to you, use it. Pictures can help you to remember information more effectively than words.
• Using cross-linkages.
  Information in one part of the Mind Map may relate to another part. Here you can draw in lines to show the cross-linkages. This helps you to see how one part of the subject connects with another.

Which is the best tools for mind mapping?

What’s “best” depends so much on how you use mind maps. Some people use them for study, some for planning projects, some for organizing information, some for sparking ideas and facilitating brainstorming sessions, some for planning the writing of a report or blog. Some mindmap alone, others mindmap in groups. Most of us probably do all of these from time to time, so we need a quiver full of arrows to choose from.

So, it could be up to you. Every tools are great if you know how to do. There are several software products available for mind mapping. I personally use MindManager on my desktop computer and have also used it on my Windows XP laptop.

Fortunately, there is no shortage of good options in this area. Here are 30+ very powerful mind mapping tools (applications & web services) that you can use for brainstorming, strategizing, project planning, and even for managing tasks.

01. MindMeister

MindMeister is by far the most simplistic mind mapping tool in the top five, but its simplicity is definitely an asset. Once you’re logged into the service, you can create a fully functional mind map using little more than the directional arrows and the Insert key to add new nodes to your map. Additional customizations like font size and node colors are available for when you want to go beyond the basics. In the upper right corner is a navigation window, handy for when your mind maps become larger than the display space.

Exporting is also a strong point for MindMeister; you can export your files to a text outline, PDF, JPG, PNG, or GIF. MindMeister’s history function lets you view past versions of your mind map and revert to them if you desire. You can share your maps for public collaboration or hand-select collaborators.

Official link

02. Mindjet MindManager

Mindjet MindManager isn’t cheap by any means, but you get more than your share of value and sophistication for the hundreds you spend on the program. The interface and feature set of MindManager are very polished, and the primary menus are set up like the Microsoft Office Ribbon. After the initial installation, MindManager walks you through the creation of a sample mind map—helpful both to familiarize you with the interface but also to show you features you may have overlooked.

MindManager is definitely oriented towards corporate environments, including extensive integration with the Office suite and support for linking your mind maps directly into common database formats like MySQL and Access.

Official link

03. XMind

XMind is the kind of free application that makes you forget you’re not paying for the privilege of using it. The interface is simple and intuitive to use. You can quickly move through your entire mind map with only a handful of keystrokes or jump over to the outline view for even quicker navigation.

In addition to a basic mind map you can also create fishbone, organizational, tree, and logic charts. You can export charts as HTML, images, or text, and XMind comes a free account on XMind.net which allows you to share your charts online and embed them into blogs and web sites.

Official link

04. FreeMind

One of FreeMind’s strongest selling points is a Java-based implementation. Whether you use it on Ubuntu or Windows, the features and user interface remain consistent. FreeMind is keyboard friendly with the core functionality well covered by keyboard shortcuts.

The visual elements of your mind maps are highly customizable, including custom icons for flagging nodes on the map, color coding, grouping, and more. Mind maps created with FreeMind can be exported as HTML, PDF, and PNG files, among others.The support wiki for FreeMind is extensive and goes well beyond simply explaining how the application functions, covering things like how to add your own keyboard shortcuts and how to make the application portable.

Official link

05. iMindMap

iMindMap can claim two distinctions among the top five tools. First, it’s the biggest download (weighing in at 135MB). Second it’s the only application on the list developed by Tony Buzan (who lays claim to being the inventor of the mind map). iMindMap takes a different approach to mapping than the other applications in the list.

Rather than create new nodes off the main idea by adding boxes, nodes are created by clicking in the center or the main idea and drawing away from it with the mouse. Each new idea is a branch off the center. Strangely, many of basic feature available in free mind-mapping software are only found in the more expensive versions of iMindMap, like the ability to expand and collapse branches. Mind maps created in iMindMap can be exported as PDF, JPG, PNG and text outline.

Official link

06. WiseMapping

Wise Mapping is the web mind mapping tool that leverages the power of Mind Maps mixing new technologies like vectorial languages (SVG and VML) and the power of the whole Web 2.0 concept. No pluggin required.

Official link

07. CmapTools

Cmap Tools: Free to universities, students, federal employees, and individuals for personal use.

Official link

08. Mindomo

Mindomo is perhaps one of the best free web-based mind mapping applications. Mindomo comes with a very elegant interface which mimics Microsoft Office. Flash-based, the service offers many different export options and formats, alongside a rich choice of layouts to arrange your ideas. Mindomo supports multimedia files and image uploading, as well as organic style maps. The free version is ad-supported but you can switch to one of the available pricing solutions.

Official link

09. Bubbl.us

A flash based brainstorming tool that you can share with others and also embed in to your site.

Official link

10. ConceptDraw MINDMAP

ConceptDraw MINDMAP is a powerful business and personal productivity software application that provides visual organization and access to information for individuals and organizations

Official link

11. Curio

Curio is another application that looks like it was designed for the OS X platform, with a fairly advanced interface allowing several complex features. These include in-built searching of popular image website, encryption, a “dossier” screen to help track the requirements of a project, and a full-screen presentation mode.

Official link

12. Semantik

Semantik is a KDE Linux application for creating mind maps, though they can be viewed in different formats, such as a linear tree view with retractable and expandable branches.

Official link

13. Mindplan

Free for all who don’t need MindPlan as a groupware tool. Get the personal edition for your private life or your business.

Official link

14. Recall Plus

RecallPlus is software designed specifically for students who want to learn faster and improve their marks. RecallPlus goes beyond simple note-taking and organizing – it actually tests students on their notes so they can learn the information. RecallPlus is the only true study software because it is the only software that combines concept mapping of notes with testing.

Official link

15. DeepMehta

DeepaMehta is a software platform for Knowledge Management. Knowledge is represented in a semantic network and is handled collaboratively. DeepaMehta combines interdisciplinary research with the idea of Open Source to generate a true benefit for workflow as well as for social processes. At the same time Deepa Mehta is an indian movie director.

The DeepaMehta user interface is build according to research in Cognitive Psychology and accomodates the knowledge building process of the individual. Instead of handling information through applications, windows and files with DeepaMehta the user handles all kind of information directly and individually. DeepaMehtas user interface is completely based on Mind Maps / Concept Maps.

Official link

16. Mapul

Would you like to create a mind maps in Web from anywhere at anytime with no complex software to install or maintain? With MAPMYself you can just do it because it is a free Web-based online mind mapping tool. MAPMYself is unique web based software allows you to create completely organic looking mind maps. We integrated the own and an your ideas to helps more when 2000 peoples to accelerate learning, improve your memory, increase your productivity and save your time.

Official link

17. MindView 3 Business – Professional Mind Mapping Software

MatchWare’s MindView 3 Business is a professional Mind Mapping® software application that allows users to brainstorm and visualize ideas quickly and easily. MindView 3 Business makes meetings more productive, accelerates project planning and helps turn ideas into action faster than ever before!

Official link

18. Edrawsoft

Mind mapping (or brainstorming diagram) involves writing down a central idea and thinking up new and related ideas which radiate out from the centre. By focusing on key ideas written down in your own words, and then looking for branches out and connections between the ideas, you are mapping knowledge in a manner which will help you understand and remember new information.

Official link

19. MyThought for Mac

MyThoughts for Mac Creates Fluid, Organic, Curvy Mind Maps that work in a way that the human brain enjoys!

Official link

20. Mind42

Mind42 is a totally free mind mapping web app and it is one of my favorites. The interface is a good one, and it has some excellent features such as easy navigation for large mind maps with zoom and birdview (and branch hiding, but that’s pretty standard these days), and the ability to attach notes and images to branches, which isn’t always allowed in “pure” mind mapping software. You can also link branches to other sites and see a preview when you rollover the link, which I think is probably the only appropriate use of those preview rollovers anywhere on the net.

Official link

21. Gliffy

Diagram Software for the rest of us! With Gliffy online diagram software, you can easily create professional-quality flowcharts, diagrams, floor plans, technical drawings, and more. Our online diagram editor makes it easier than ever to create great looking drawings.

Official link

22. Wikka Wiki

WikkaWiki is a flexible, standards-compliant and lightweight wiki engine written in PHP, which uses MySQL to store pages. Forked from WakkaWiki. Designed for speed, extensibility, and security. Released under the GPL license.

Official link

23. Labyrinth

Labyrinth is a lightweight mind-mapping tool, written in Python using Gtk and Cairo to do the drawing. It is intended to be as light and intuitive as possible, but still provide a wide range of powerful features.

Official link

24. Pimki

Pimki is a PIM (Personal Information Manager) loosely based on Instiki’s Wiki technology. This is the place to dump your brain, organise your thoughts and Get Things Done. The ease of use and immediacy of a wiki combined with extended view to slice and dice the data give you a unique power to store, manage and retrieve all loose bit of information in your life.

Official link

25. Xmind Pro

XMind Pro makes it easier to express your ideas and share your information using its Presentation function. Launch your XMind Pro, where you can draw a mind map or open existed maps. One click enters you into Presentation mode, where your map will be shown on the full screen. You can just use the navigation toolbar within Presentation mode or Spacebar, Enter, Tab, or Arrow keys to navigate through topics. Every time a new topic is selected, it will be highlighted and positioned in the center of screen so your audience can concentrate on it.

Official link

26. Visual Strategist

Visual Strategist – founded by Kyle McFarin to assist Entrepreneurs and Organizational Teams in Strategic Management.

Official link

27. Blackbelt mind map training

Black Belt MindMapping teaches you mindmapping in 5 days. Every day has its own color. We go from yellow to orange to green, blue to brown. You receive the black belt after sending in the completed final assignment. You receive this

assignment at the end of day five (brown).

Official link

28. DropMind

Choose to use a desktop or web-based version of DropMind for real-time collaboration or the ability to add hyperlinks and images.

Official link

29. Mindcad

Organize your ideas using a tool that complements the way you think. Drag in text and images from Safari, Word, the Desktop and most other OS X applications. Place them anywhere on multiple worksheets within a single document.

Official link

30. Wridea

Wridea is an idea and content manager marketed towards writers but can work for any individual or group wanting to organize projects, papers and more.

Official link

31. Dabbleboard

Dabbleboard is an online white board that lets you create mind maps, sketches, project outlines and more with your group.

Official link

Conclusion

Mind Mapping is an extremely effective method of taking notes. Mind Maps show not only facts, but also the overall structure of a subject and the relative importance of individual parts of it. Lastly remember that the use of mind map is not just limited to inspiration and creativity. Instead use this “power tool” to develop projects, make better decisions, learn effective time management and manage information efficiently. Mind mapping software tools can be used in different ways in your personal and professional life to yield beneficial results.

Now it’s time to get your feedback about this post – Please feel free to leave your comments if one of you had experience about mind mapping or maybe I’ve missed another tools. I think, share would be very good for everyone and communities.

We all know that IE 6,7 not support the new increase CSS3 property, even with IE8 which is not fully ready for CSS3 yet. You know what, there is a script hack that helps you enable CSS3 support in IE (even with IE6) with new CSS3 properties, including: border-radius (rounded), box-shadow ( shadow), text-shadow (the shadow of the text).

It’s very simple to use. For example you have a box content that you want to make it support CSS3, the only thing you need is including one new line:

behavior: url(ie-css3.htc);

Code:

.box {
  -moz-border-radius: 15px; /* Firefox */
  -webkit-border-radius: 15px; /* Safari and Chrome */
  border-radius: 15px; /* Opera 10.5+, future browsers, and now also Internet Explorer 6+ using IE-CSS3 */

  -moz-box-shadow: 10px 10px 20px #000; /* Firefox */
  -webkit-box-shadow: 10px 10px 20px #000; /* Safari and Chrome */
  box-shadow: 10px 10px 20px #000; /* Opera 10.5+, future browsers and IE6+ using IE-CSS3 */

  behavior: url(ie-css3.htc); /* This lets IE know to call the script on all elements which get the 'box' class */
}

Although there are some issues with z-index and box-shadow color (only with #000 color), it’s really helpful script hack. You should give it a try!

Download script here.

Thanks Fetchak.com for this awesome script!

Jquery is becoming increasingly known in the web designers and developers community. Why not take advantage of its magic? In this collection we showcase some really cool jquery plugins and resources to enhance data presentation in grid layout design. Some are practical plugins that will definitely provide a fond user experience. As well, some refined resources that will help layout the span of data beautifully.

jQuery Plugins to work with Data Grid

This is a very useful list of jQuery plugins that will help avoiding messing up data table, that at times may intimidate you. There are some that may duplicate features. But, the choice is yours and you can compare them. Choose the one that best fits your project’s requirement.

Compass Datagrid for jQuery

Compass DataGrid has a nice looking UI design. It is an ajax-driven data grid that relies on server-side code for its data. Compass DataGrid populates an empty table by requesting a server-side url via ajax, then update the table using the data return from the server-side in JSON format. This jQuery plugin for data table also has a nice pagination for data table. It’s really a worthwhile plugin to try.

jqGrid

jqGrid is a jQuery plugin that works in fun and easy way to save time for web developers. You won’t need to mess up with javascript code if you don’t like it because everything is handled with PHP (ASP.NET is now supported). The interesting thing is you can export your data table to an Excel format.

Zentable

Zentable is a plug-in for the jQuery Javascript library that allows to show and manipulate tabulated data on a web page but with many functionalities: scrolling with the mouse wheel, resizing column widths or using keys to move through the data. You can also editable the data field in the table.

jgrideditor

This jQuery plugin allow you to add on-the-flight cell editing functionality in your table. Very lightweight and easy to use.

columnManager

ColumnManager is light-weight jQuery plugin that helps to toggle the visibility of table columns (collapsing and expanding them) and to save the state until the next visit. It’s supporting tables with colspans and rowspans, too.

jqGridView

This jqGridView is the best jQuery plugin for data table I would recommend for people. jqGridView is a hight bowser compatibility jQuery plugin. It provide web developers, client-rich, XML-based, ajax grid plugin for jQuery library. jqGridView provides professional solution for representing and editing tabular data on the web. Via CSS, you can easily to customize the look-and-feel of this plugin. Also with the real-time data rows editing/updating, this one will make you happier.

ingrid

Datagrids supports good datagrid behaviors(column resizing, paging, sorting, row and column styling, and more) to your tables and you won’t have any difficulty to use.

Flexigrid

Flexigrid is lightweight jQuery plugin that can be used to convert any ordinary table into a feature rich control. Main features include: resizable columns, scrolling data and the ability to connect to xml based data source using AJAX to load content. Just like Compass Datagrid, Flexigrid has a nice looking interface and easy to customize via CSS.

SlickGrid

It’s very light script made for jQuery. SlickGrid utilizes virtual rendering to enable you to easily work with hundreds of thousands of items without any drop in performance.

jQuery treeTable

treeTable is a plugin for jQuery that helps you to display a tree in a table, i.e. a directory structure or a nested list. It’s great idea for display additional data besides the tree in multiple columns.

Tablesorter

Tablesorter is a jQuery plugin for turning a standard HTML table with THEAD and TBODY tags into a sortable table without page refreshes. tablesorter can successfully parse and sort many types of data including linked data in a cell. As the name said, Tablesorter works like charm in data table sorting.

DataTables

DataTables is a highly flexible jQuery plugin, based upon the foundations of progressive enhancement, which will add advanced interaction controls to any HTML table. It’s also the plugin for data grid which is easiest to implement.

uiTableFilter

uiTableFilter is a jQuery plugin for filtering table rows. It allows you to filter the data rows based on your mouse selection. You can sort the table by any of the columns, in both ascending and descending order, and even by multiple columns.

Table Pagination

This jquery plugin is used to create a pagination element under a table element. You can customize your pagination needs through various settings. Small plugin for jQuery but enough for a simple use such as data table pagination.

Grider

Grider is a plugin for jQuery that makes your life easier when you need to edit or create a table that handles a list of items. It helps you to do calculations in a very simple way. Nice for trying!

jQuery Week Calendar

The most completed calendar plugin for jQuery is here. The jquery-week-calendar plugin provides a simple and flexible way of including a weekly calendar in your application. It is built on top of jquery and jquery ui and is inspired by other online weekly calendars such as google calendar.

FireScope Grid

FireScope Grid is a jQuery component that adds datagrid behaviors to your HTML tables, regardless of the server-side technology being used.

BI Grid

BI Grid is designed to present your data, especially in the reports for enterprises. It would be able to edit data easily, drill down to details easily and ajax enabled. With Bi Grid, users management or users data reporting is not a nightmare anymore.

Table Drag and Drop JQuery plugin (TableDnD)

This TableDnD plugin allows the user to reorder rows within a table. Individual rows can be marked as non-draggable and/or non-droppable (so other rows can’t be dropped onto them). Rows can have as many cells as necessary and the cells can contain form elements. This plugin also allows you to enable table real-time editing.

zzGrid

zzGrid is a Javascript grid control with continuous scroll. Your users do not have to click on distinct page numbers or forth and back buttons to see another portion of data, data is loaded from a server upon need in a natural way via AJAX.

jQuery Plugins to work with Layout Design

Be confident now! Designing in Grid with these jQuery plugins, will help you manage your grid layout better. Most of these plugins are to help you enhance design, but they can also be used during developing a project.

jQuery designerGrid

The {css} designerGrid jQuery plugin enables a web designer to view their design work in a standard browser with rulers and grids similar to that of Photoshop. Nice idea! Currently {css} designerGrid does not work in Internet Explorer as it is the only browser that does not natively support the HTML 5 canvas element.

Expanding Grid

Expanding Grid helps you to create a grid system from some class items that then expand on hover and contract on hover off. On hover the active grid expands to ratio set by the config, fades out the background. It gave me an idea for an interactive image gallery in my next project.

Columnizer

he Columnizer jQuery Plugin will automatically layout your content in newspaper column format. You can specify either column width or a static number of columns.

Variable Grid Layout

This is my second favorite after Masonry. This plugin can do the grid layout for you with any height of layout element just like Masonry. Furthermore, Variable Grid Layout supports some effects such as fadein/fadeout that make your grid more attractive.

jQuery Panel Magic

If you are going to build a portfolio in only one page but you think the windows size doesn’t have enough space for you, this is the solution. jQuery Panel Magic is a new take on website navigation. Using a matrix or grid style layout for your website, you can easily implement this plugin for small websites and web applications. It gives you more room for your design and provides a cool new approach to a sitemap.

Css-Template-Layout

This plugin provides web designers a way to use the W3′s CSS Template Layout Module. The script parses a given set of CSS rules and displays the content as indicated in the specification.

jPhotoGrid

Actually it’s an image gallery by jQuery instead just a plugin for jQuery. This plugin displays a list of image thumbnails in a grid and allows them to be zoomed open. It’s a cool and simple effect.

jQuery Masonry

Masonry is a layout plugin for jQuery that is awesome for generate a perfect grid layout. It re-arrange the float elements vertically then horizontally. And the result is no vertical gaps between elements of varying height.

Equal Heights with jQuery

The simple jQuery script loops through the top-level child nodes of a specified element and sets their min-height values to that of the tallest.

960gs Grid Overlay

This is a nice plugin to work with 960gs Grid framework. You will work with it when developing your web site design. It provides a visual grid overlay for the 960.gs grid framework. The grid can be toggled on and off, and is configurable (e.g. opacity). Works for both 12 column and 16 column grids.

CTRL + SHIFT + G

The Grid Layout Javascript enables web-developers to stick to a Grid Layout quickly and simply by including the Grid Layouts Javascript file and simple XHTML code. Currently, the Grid Layouts Javascript relies on jQuery.

jLayout

The jLayout jQuery plugin provides four layout algorithms for laying out HTML elements in web pages.

jSquares

jSquares is a jQuery plugin that pops up an image and a description in an overlay on hover. It is basically identical to the image grid found on www.ted.com.

More Resources

Grid Calculator

Change the settings (by dragging the sliders, clicking on the bars, or editing the values) to calculate the overall width of your grid.

Grid Calculator by Designers Bookshop

Grid Calculator Basic Edition calculates grid systems for you really fast, all you need to do is to paste the information into your layout software.

The grid system

You can find a lot of information about grid in layout design here.

960 Grid System

The 960.gs was primarily developed for rapid prototyping, cutting down on repetitive and tedious tasks, but is also more than suited to be used for any web design project.

Blueprintcss

Same features as 960 grid system, Blueprint is a CSS framework, which aims to cut down on your development time especially in grid system.

YUI 2: Grids CSS

The 4kb file in YUI Grids CSS provides over 1000 page layout combinations.

Fluid 960 Grid System

It’s really nice looking CSS framework for fluid-width support.

Update: The icons used in this tutorial can be found free here.

There are many posts available detailing how to write your own jQuery plugin. It won’t take long before you realize that building in jQuery is very simple. Continuing in our jQuery Learning Series, here we’re going to build your first jQuery plugin. It’ll generate a bubble effect for your menu list and we’re going to call it BubbleUP.

What is BubbleUP? BubbleUP is a fun and easy plugin to get you started in jQuery. The effect is a nice starting point for learning the basics and many of the steps involved in creating other more intricate plugins you will make in the future. With this plugin, images in a list will enlarge with a smooth animation when you move your mouse over it. Then, if you move the mouse out, it will reset to the original size with the same smooth animation.

Implement jQuery

This is a plugin for jQuery, so we first have to implement the jQuery library in our webpage header (you must upload jQuery to your server or link to Google’s hosted version):

<script type="text/javascript"src="js/jquery-1.3.2.js"></script>

1. Choose a name

We will name this plugin as BubbleUP, but feel free to choose another name that suits you better.

In building a jQuery plugin, it’s recommended you write all the plugin code in one javascript file. Your jQuery plugin’s file should be named as: [Your-jQuey-Plugin-Name].jQuery.js, but if it’s too complicated for you, just name it as: bubbleup.js.

Now, we’ll start with a blank javascript file and begin with the following lines (the template for any jQuery plugin):

(function($){
    $.fn.BubbleUP = function() {

        return this.each(function() {

        });

    };
})(jQuery);

We named the plugin above “BubbleUP“, so we are going to define the name of this plugin by using this code:

...

    $.fn.BubbleUP = function() {

...

Because we have more than one item in our list, we have to use the each() function to execute the called function for every item in our list.

The first step is finished: creating the jQuery plugin template and naming it.

2. Implement jQuery Plugin to web page

Now you need to link the javascript file that you created above into your web page. For this, we’ll use this code:

<script type="text/javascript"src="js/bubbleup.jquery.js"></script>

To make the plugin work, we need to use this code below. You can insert it anywhere you want as long as it’s inside the <head> or <body> tags:

<script type="text/javascript">

$(function(){

    $("ul#menu li img").bubbleup();

});

</script>

As you can see in the demo, we are going to enlarge the image in the list. That’s why we use images in this menu as target elements.

3. Animate

Let’s write the skeleton of the code. We’re going to use the mouseover(), mouseout(), animate(), and stop() functions.

(function($){
    $.fn.bubbleup = function() {

        return this.each(function() {

            $(this).mouseover(

                function() {

                    $(this).stop();
                    $(this).animate({

                        ...

                    });
                }

            ).mouseout(

                function() {
                    $(this).stop();
                    $(this).animate({

                        ...

                    });
                }

            );

        });

    };
})(jQuery);

This code basically says this: “Upon mouseover or mouseout, stop any animations that are currently active in this element, and start a new animation (which we’re going to define later)”. We need to immediately stop active animations first to prevent undesirable behavior. This function stop() will stop the animation before it starts the new animation. The function we are using to generate the smooth bubble effect is animate().

4. Build the menu

We need to build the menu using HTML. The menu is an unordered list, so it should be something like below. Notice this list has been simplified for this tutorial.

<ul id="menu">
  <li>
    <a href="#"title="Full RSS Feed">
        <img src="images/rss.png"alt="Full RSS Feed">
    </a>
  </li>
  <li>
    <a href="#"title="E-Mail Delivery">
        <img src="images/email.png"alt="E-Mail Delivery">
    </a>
  </li>
  <li>
    <a href="#"title="Follow me on Twitter">
        <img src="images/twitter.png"alt="Follow me on Twitter">
    </a>
  </li>
  <li>
    <a href="#"title="I'm on FaceBook">
        <img src="images/facebook.png"alt="I'm on FaceBook">
    </a>
  </li>
  <li>
    <a href="#"title="E-Mail Delivery">
        <img src="delicious.png"alt="Save it!">
    </a>
  </li>
  <li>
    <a href="#"title="E-Mail Delivery">
        <img src="images/technorati.png"alt="Favorite this blog">
    </a>
  </li>
</ul>

This HTML code is very simple. You need to create just one image for each item and the jQuery plugin will do the rest. The next step is the CSS.

5. Style the menu (CSS)

The following CSS is used to style the menu. There are two important things that you should notice: position for <li> elements must be set to relative because img elements inside it must be set as absolute. Absolute positioning for an element will not work if the parent is not set as absolute or relative.

The original size of the images is 48px in this tutorial, and the size when enlarged is 96px. That means the images will start animation at 48px and enlarge to 96px. Some margins and padding is in this css code below just make the list display better.

ul#menu {
    margin: 5px 0px;
}

ul#menu li {
    padding: 0px;
    display: inline-block;
    *display: inline; /* IE 7 and below */
    position: relative;
    margin-left: 5px;
    margin-right: 5px;
    width: 48px;
    height: 48px;
}

ul#menu li img {
    width: 48px;
    position: absolute;
    top: 0px;
    left: 0px;
    padding: 0px;
    margin: 0 8px 0 0;
    border: none;
}

6. Create the animations

This is the main part of this plugin. We will pass some parameters to the animate function.

First, I strongly recommended you re-read one of our previous articles,Bubble Effect with CSS. When you return to this post, you will understand why we need to enlarge the image and move it up and left the way we are.

As you can see, we need to re-size the images in menu to make it larger. The original size is 48px; the animate function will re-size it to 96px. Take a look in detail at the javascript code below:

(function($){
    $.fn.bubbleup = function() {

        return this.each(function() {

            $(this).mouseover(

                function() {

                    $(this).stop();
                    $(this).animate({
                        left: "-=24",
                        top: "-=24",
                        width: 96
                    }, 'fast');
                }

            ).mouseout(

                ...

            );

        });

    };
})(jQuery);

We will place this image by using negative pixel amounts. The code above will listen for a mousehover() event. When the mouse is over the item, the item will be moved diagonally towards to the top left corner by 24 pixels and then also enlarged to 96px.

However, we have a few issues right here. The problem is the action for this image will cover the image next in the list. Thus, we need to set z-index for it by using css. We also need to reset the placements of all the images before and after the animation, because if the animation is not completed and we move the mouse out and over again immediately, the image will be moved once again diagonally towards the top left corner. We must understand that the amount of pixel this image animates base on the current position + (-24px)

The complete javascript code that helps the animation to work correctly:

(function($){
    $.fn.bubbleup = function() {

        return this.each(function() {

            $(this).mouseover(

                function() {

                    $(this).stop();
                    $(this).css({'z-index' : 100, 'top' : 0, 'left' : 0, 'width' : 48}).animate({
                        left: "-=24",
                        top: "-=24",
                        width: 96
                    }, 'fast');
                }

            ).mouseout(

                ...

            );

        });

    };
})(jQuery);

We do something similar with the mouseout() event, but it has a few differences. Of course, the images must be placed back to the original position and re-sized back to the initial size. However, we need to call a new function when the animation is completed. The callback function is used to reset the z-index to the original.

(function($){
    $.fn.bubbleup = function() {

        return this.each(function() {

            $(this).mouseover(

                ...

            ).mouseout(

                function() {
                    $(this).stop();
                    $(this).animate({
                        left: 0,
                        top: 0,
                        width: 48
                    }, 'fast', function() {
                            $(this).css({'z-index' : 0});
                        }
                    );
                }

            );

        });

    };
})(jQuery);

7. Add option(s)

I know there some great tutorials out there help you make a jQuery Plugin with options supported, but this one is different. The difference is not the content, because there are many ways to add options to it, it’s just a change of the code format. The difference here is in the value of this plugin – it is not just a tutorial, but is actually useful.

In this part, I will help you add options for your menu BubbleUp. So, stop right here and think about the options we might require. How about the tooltip? We can add the tooltip for this over the top of each item when the mouse is hovering over it. Let’s begin!

First, write a draft for it, as a template. jQuery plugins should have default options and users will decide to use these options or not. Change the code to this template:

(function($){
    $.fn.bubbleup = function(options) {

        //Extend the default options of plugin         var opts = $.extend({}, $.fn.bubbleup.defaults, options);

        //Initial the tooltip         var tip = null;

        return this.each(function() {   

            //Set the option value passed here             var $tooltip = opts.tooltip; 

            $(this).mouseover(

                function() {

                    if($tooltip) {

                        //Display the tooltip                         
                    }               

                    $(this).stop();
                    $(this).css({
                        'z-index' : 100,
                        'top' : 0,
                        'left' : 0,
                        'width' : 48
                    }).animate({
                        left: "-=24",
                        top: "-=24",
                        width: 96
                    }, 'fast');

                }

            ).mouseout(

                function() {

                    if($tooltip) {

                        //Hide the tooltip                         
                    }           

                    $(this).stop();
                    $(this).animate({
                        left: 0,
                        top: 0,
                        width: 48
                    }, 'fast', function() {
                            $(this).css({'z-index' : 0});
                        }
                    );
                }

            );

        });

    };

    //All default options go here     //Must called     $.fn.bubbleup.defaults = {
        tooltip: false
    }

})(jQuery);

When you mouse-over

This tooltip will display in the same way as other plugins. When you mouse-over, the tooltip will show up and when the mouse is moved away, the tooltip will be invisible.

Add this code to the mouseover() code block and inside the tooltip is this enabled condition:

if($tooltip) {

    tip = $('<div>' + $(this).attr('alt') + '</div>');

    tip.css({
        color: '#333333',
        fontSize: 12,
        fontWeight: 'bold',
        position: 'absolute',
        zIndex: 100000
    });

    tip.remove().css({
        top: 0, left: 0,
        visibility: 'hidden',
        display: 'block'
    }).appendTo(document.body);

  ...

}

We will not use any external CSS, but instead style the tooltip with JavaScript. This code will create a new tooltip which uses the value of the image’s alt attribute. We put it in the div tag to display, then put the tip at the end of the HTML document.

Next, we will display the tip:

if($tooltip) {

  ...

    //Get the width and height of current image item     var position = $.extend({}, $(this).offset(), {
        width: this.offsetWidth,
        height: this.offsetHeight
    });

    //Get the width and height of the tip element                        var tipWidth = tip[0].offsetWidth,
        tipHeight = tip[0].offsetHeight;

    //Set position for the tip to display correctly     //Postion: top and center of image             tip.stop().css({
        top: position.top - tipHeight,
        left: position.left + position.width / 2 - tipWidth / 2,
        visibility: 'visible'
    });

}

However, our image will scale from small size to big size when we mouse-over. If the tip won’t move together with the image, then one of them will be covered by the other. The one that would be covered is the one that has the lower value of z-index.

That’s why we need to animate the tip:

if($tooltip) {

  ...

   tip.animate({
       top: "-=24",
   }, 'fast');

}

When the mouse is away

When the mouse is away, the code is very simple. We just need make the tip visible. However, we should remove it then create and create another one when the mouse is over it again. That’s better than just setting it to be invisible.

if($tooltip) {
    tip.remove();
}

You’re done!

That’s all you need to make a jQuery plugin!

Please understand that this is just a basic version of BubbleUP and it still has some issues. If we are going to create a complete jQuery plugin, we should do more. Creating a jQuery plugin by yourself is very easy if you know the basics of jQuery, and it is easier if you are creating a practical plugin, like BubbleUP, to understand the steps.

Are you going to use it on your site? It is quite a smooth and simple menu, isn’t it? Tell us how you’re using it on your website in the comments and don’t forget to subscribe to the feed!