HTML Popup-like with previous page as background

[espfutbol98]

I was wondering if someone could show me how sites like Facebook have something that looks like a popup and shades the background previous page. I would normally look through the source code but as you might know, their source is complex and inelegant.

[descalzo]

Do you have a link to show us exactly what you are talking about?

Is it anything like the 'progress bar' that appears in the FileManager in cPanel when you click to edit a file?

[Anna]

I think I know what you are referring to.

that would probably be made with javascript / ajax functionality.

[espfutbol98]

I would post a link but I cant. It is like when you view other peoples' friends the box "pops up". The odd thing is I have looked through the entire source code (with the help of CTRL + F) and have found that the code isn't even referenced? If anybody could give me just a short explanation (with code;) ), that would be wonderful.

[allofus]

take a look at mootools or jquery

there js library plugins will do that stuff for you.

http://demos.mootools.net/

http://jquery.com/

Also silverlight

http://silverlight.net/getstarted/

Silverlight does exactly what you are asking for when you go to the link I have just posted.

The background frosts and a popup takes a central focus.

There are a bunch of really nice demo's on all of these sites above.
Edit:
I think the effect you are looking for is often called 'lightbox'

[espfutbol98]

Thank you guys. This should get me started.

[ichwar]

I understand you can't post a link, can you post a screenshot?

[espfutbol98]

Sorry it took so long; I just had to blur some stuff out ;)

[allofus]

Defo a lightbox effect.

http://leandrovieira.com/projects/jquery/lightbox/

Glad the info is helpful espfutbol98.

[ichwar]

I think the effect you want can be accomplished with a little bit of javasrcipting. But I don't know enough about js to tell you how to do it.

I would just advise to stay away from silverlight because as far as I know, it is windows only.