New Page 1

This page contains many large images, please be patient while they load.......thank you.

This page has an example of FX #3 Page Effects: Bubbles

FrontLook FX #3 – DPA Software

www.frontlook.com

Maureen Shannon, NJPCUG

Brand new from DPA Software is a third collection of page effects called FX #3. FX #3 adds more variety to this fun collection of page and cursor effects by offering even more holiday choices and some new business style options too. I have been a fan of this software company from the day I discovered it and continue to recommend it to anyone who wants to make their web site a little more special. The image to the left is a Halloween splash page with animated page effects. Bats and ghosts hover over the page, a witch flies across the night sky over the dark and gloomy haunted house. What could be more fun than to have this Halloween theme as an entry page for your web site during the month of October!

As with all software applications from DPA Software, FX #3 installs directly into FrontPage 2000/2002 (also works in FrontPage 98) and becomes available through the “Insert” drop down menu. Scrolling down the menu choices you will see FrontLook, selecting this opens up the FrontLook items that are available, FX3# would be the items selected, then another window of options opens. From this menu choose either “FrontLook Page Effects”, “FrontLook Cursor Effects”, or “Insert a Splash Page”.

Selected here is the “Page Effects” option which has opened the application’s dialog editing window. Four tabbed sections take you through the effects set up and add it to the web page.

Page Effects Tab – Here you select which page effect you would like to add (for example – Bubbles 2, Rain, Computer, Halloween). Select the option to add a sound effect and a preview button is available. (Sound can be looped to run continuously, run it once, or not at all.)

Images Tab – Shows which effect images are available, previews them, and has the animated page preview option.

Animation Tab - Set the slider options for the page effects: maximum number of objects (on the page), number of objects at startup, object entry delay, delay between steps, animations step size (pixels), and variation of moving objects….with preview option.

About Tab- The last tab has the DPA Software information.

Clicking “OK” adds the effect to the page. When adding the page with an effect to the web site, the FrontLook items (usually found in a FrontLook folder) have to be uploaded to the site directory. They are needed to make the script run (images, sound files, etc.) once the page is uploaded. The image to the left, shows the test page with Halloween page effects – bats, a ghost, and a witch – floating over and down the page. You will see a small marker image (gif with the letters “PE”) on the page that indicates that the page effects have been added to the web page.

The effects begin at the top of the page and work their way down to the bottom of the page. As items drop out of site, more items start from the top. You can have as many or as few items and you would like. I use anywhere from 3 to 5 depending on the effect so I don’t overcrowd the animations as they move across and down the page.

It is extremely easy to add any of the effects to a web site. By double-clicking the effects place marker or indicator gif, you can edit or change the effects that are on the page. Deleting the “PE” gif will remove the effect from the page.

This is an example of the Fireworks Splash Page. It’s a perfect 4^th of July effect. A fireworks display bursts into the night sky over a cityscape. There’s a small moving spiral effect that is a cursor effect. The spiral will follow the mouse movement anywhere it goes on the page – it becomes the cursor for the page. It may be too small to see in this image but if you look at the example below and the splash page, you’ll be able to see the images in a larger format. You will get a much better idea of how great this looks.

Animation Themes included in FX#3:

Fireworks: 1 Page Effect, 1 Cursor Effect, and a Splash Page
Bubbles: 2 Page Effects, 1 Cursor Effect, 2 Splash Pages
Halloween: 2 Page Effects, 1 Cursor Effect, 2 Splash Effects
Rain: 1 Page Effect, 3 Cursor Effects, 1 Page Effect
Computer: 2 Page Effects, 2 Cursor Effects, 2 Splash Pages
Business: 2 Page Effects, 1 Cursor Effects, 2 Splash Pages
Templates: 12 Effects, 3 Cursor Effects

Each of the three FX series is a separate application and not an upgrade. Each one has a completely different set of animations to choose from. FX #1 has 9 page effects, 11 cursor effects, and 13 splash pages. FX #2 has 13 page effects, 9 cursor effects, and 11 splash pages. FX #3 has 10 page effects, 10 cursor effects, and 10 splash pages. Each of them has 15 animation templates included in the package. They are compatible with Netscape 4+ and Internet Explorer 4+ browsers. If viewed with browsers that are older, they will not cause any errors they just won’t been seen. Each FX package sells individually for $39.95 and once you have purchased any product from their web site you get a $10 discount on future purchases. Once you add an FX package to FrontPage each additional FX edition will be added to the menu already available. Instead of having three FX selections, all of the options become available within one menu. These applications are available by download from the DPA web site. Each customer has an account area set up for them where they can access their purchases and download any upgrades that become available.

System requirements: FrontPage 2002/2000/98; Windows 98, NT, 2000, ME, or XP; requires 2 MB of hard drive space.

These page effects, splash pages, and cursor effects can be used on many types of web sites. They will add touch of whimsy or a particular special effect that brings a web site to life. Whether you would like a seasonal theme, a holiday design, business look, or reflect a personal expression, there’s a little something for everyone to be found in the FX collections.

Click Here To See a Viewlet How-To

FX #3