  |
|
 |
|||
|
|
|||||
 |
 |
|
|
FrontLook Series Maureen Shannon, NJPCUG FrontPage 98, 2000 & 2002 users, here's something just for you. DPA Software has a series of products that are add-ons for FrontPage that are just terrific. There are five products to choose from and choosing just one is nearly impossible! If you have ever wanted to add applets to your pages but were unsure how to add the code, work with the parameters, and were just plain confused by all the variables that seem to go with adding java applets to your web pages, then you'll love the applet selections that come with the FrontLook Series. FrontLook offers a series of three different applet combinations. They also have clipart and themes included with them so that each package offers a well-rounded choice of items to add to web pages. I found this product by following a link in a developer newsletter I subscribed to. I don't always have the time to read all the things I subscribe to and I am really happy that I took the time to read the one that recommended these products or I would have missed out on a great selection of FrontPage add-ons. Each of these products is available by download from the DPA web site. They are very easy to install but do pay attention if you are running more version of FrontPage because the software must be installed into the "bots" folder of the version that is being used or the help files will not be available. They will install to the first version that it finds. When FrontPage is launched, a FirstLook option will be available on the menu bar. The themes will be installed into the theme selections and to access the clipart you have to point to the location they are in such as "C:\Program Files\DPA Software" then choose the clipart folder if more than one choice is available. The other two products from DPA software are Super Themes and Chameleon. Series 1: Series 1 has 16 (text) Java Applets, over 30 Business oriented Themes, and over 350 professionally designed clip art (buttons, bullets, banners, etc. Sale priced at $29.95 on their web site. The Java Applets included in series 1 are: Changing Size, Every Other, Fader, From the Bottom, From the Bottom2, From the Center, From the Right, Soft Shadow, Typing, Come Together, Come Together with Pointer, Engrave with Hammer, From the Left, Moving Character, Ticker, and Vertical Ticker.
Series 2: Series 2 has a Text Effect Applet with over 20 text motions effects, shadow effects and color for an unlimited number of text messages with interesting effects; an image effect applet with over 40 background image effects and shadow effects, more than 30 Personal and Business oriented Themes, and over 300 pieces of clip art. Series 2 is currently available for $39.95 - $10 off the regular price. Series 3: Series 3 is made up of a Presentation/Slide Show Applet (supporting 30 transition effects, hyperlinking, & sound triggers); a Scroller Applet - supports 1 or 2 column scrolling text, character by character messages, hyperlinking, line pauses, sound triggers - can be created in a small amount of space; button bar helper - creates buttons enabling the viewer to control the presentation applet (begin, back, pause, play, next, end); more than 30 Business and Personal Themes; and over 300 pieces of clip art. $39.95 - $29.95 for previous customers. The interface for each of the applets is a dialog box in which all the items in the applet can be edited.
Series 1 Series 2
Series 3 After selecting an applet choice from the drop down menu, use the interface (shown above) to edit all of the applet properties. Choose a size; select a color or image for the background; text size, style, and color; add the text string or strings; and select settings for any other effects that apply to that applet, click "OK", and the applet is added to your page. No code to add, it's all added to the page for you. As you can see from the three dialogue boxes above, each applet has a different set of options to choose from. When the pages are uploaded to the server, there are few files that must be uploaded for the applets to run. Once the selections have been made a place marker is inserted to show where the applet will be place in the page.
The applets are quick and easy to work with and add a great look to a web page. With the large selection of text effects available in series one, a web site will always have a new and interesting way of presenting important text that you want to call attention to. The difference between these applets and other software that creates applets is that this works inside FrontPage. It is not a stand-alone product. Once you have edited the fields with your selections the code is automatically placed into the pages html code, there's no need to cut and paste a generated piece of code into the page. The parameters will be correct, you don't have to tinker with code to make it work or have a problem with an applet not working because an open or close bracket is missing from the applets code. There's no hunting for the place inside the html to place the code because it's placed exactly where you place the cursor when you make the applet and added from the page you are working on. The FrontLook Series takes all the guesswork out of using an applet on a web page and makes it easy and fun to do. Another thing to note if you use FrontPage and are wondering why you couldn't just use the DHTML effects, they don't work in older browsers and non-Microsoft browsers. We have them in several places on our web site and because of the limitations Netscape users don't see them. These applets do run in both browsers. They work in both IE, versions 3, 4, and 5, and in Netscape 3 and 4. Super Themes Bundle is a component that installs into FrontPage and becomes available under the Format menu selections. It has a selection of wrap around themes that can be applied to an existing site to give it an updated look. This works with non-frames pages only. Be sure to back up an existing site before applying a Super Theme. The current selection has 8 themes to choose from and used in conjunction with the Chameleon product, you can edit the color schemes to create even more effects. The browser that comes with the Super Themes (also available as separate purchases) takes care of the shared borders, navigation bars, and copies the additional graphics to the web site. Super Themes costs $49.95/$39.95 for previous customers. Chameleon - Image and Theme Chameleon can be used to change the color of an image or a theme. With adjustable sliders, you can change the Hue, Saturation, or Brightness of any theme. All of the elements or some of them can be modified to create a new theme. I tried this and it worked very nicely. Then you can rename and save the theme and have a new color variation of a theme style that you like. Since all of the theme elements are editable, you can choose to change the colors of some or all of them. You can also change the coloration of any gif or jpg image such as a button, banner, or other graphic. It comes with over 15 themes that can be colorized and used on your web site and a selection of more than 100 pieces of clip art. This product is for FrontPage 2000 or 2002 and not for use with FP 97 or 98. Chameleon lists for $39.95, $29.95 for previous customers. If you are looking for something that will add some impact to your web pages and is easy to work with, I recommend that you take a look at these products. |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
To edit the applet once it has been added to the page, double click
the icon (place marker) and the dialog box will launch. 
