Using AJAX within SharePoint for User Feedback
Westin Kriebel wrote an interesting article about using AJAX within SharePoint to create a feedback method that does not require the user to browse away from the current page when leaving feedback or comments. Since AJAX can post to pages without actually leaving the current page, this provides a very non-intrusive way to allow SharePoint users to leave feedback. As AJAX continues to gain popularity, I think we will see even more WebParts and code that exploit its usefulness within SharePoint.
I saved Westin’s code into an html page and loaded this into a Page Viewer WebPart to get the screenshots below. However, this could also be coded into a custom WebPart to streamline the deployment of this functionality. You could easily add this to the bottom of your SharePoint pages to create a quick way to receive feedback from SharePoint users. This code could also be extended to include other feedback objects, such as, radio buttons or a slider that could allow users to rate a page's popularity or effectiveness.
The “Provide Feedback” button can be tucked away anywhere on the webpage. The Sample Fields are examples of what you may have on your SharePoint page. If you enter text in these fields and decide to leave feedback, you will not lose your entries, as AJAX does not require a redirect to another page.
A click on the “Provide Feedback” button brings up a small window where users can leave feedback. Very simple, yet very useful.
