How to have AJAX trigger the browser's loading indicator

Question

I'm making an ajax-enabled lab scheduling program, and some of the ajax operations aren't exactly quick.

In Gmail, when you go to your inbox, send a message, etc. the browser acts like it's loading (In FF the stop button becomes enabled, the progress bar appears), but it's not on a new page, it's done via AJAX.

How do they do this? I have a little spinny indicator, but it would be a nice touch to have the browser act like it's loading. Any ideas?

question from:https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1918218/how-to-have-ajax-trigger-the-browsers-loading-indicator

Answer 1

I think this is your answer. (Reverse-AJAX or "Slow Load" technique from Obviously.com)

Looks like the GMail and Facebook method (browser is showing page as "loading" with loading icons etc. - it is just simulating, because there is a background ajax request) :)