The <APPLET> tag
The applet tag defines where the applet will stay. It is like adding an image to your website.
You specify three things: the class, the width and the height. In this case, the class is VisualScrollFx, and a general width and height is 450x75.
Here is an example:
<APPLET class="VisualScrollFx.class" width="450" height="75">
When you are done adding parameters, remember to end the applet with </APPLET>.
The msg# parameter
The msg# parameter specifies how many messages are going to be displayed in the applet. For instance, if you have 4 messages defined, you would use this tag:
<PARAM name="msg#" value="4">
This is a required parameter.
The enter and exit parameter
The enter and exit parameters define how your message will enter and exit the applet. You have six options for each entrance and exit. Your message may enter or exit up, down, left, right, fade, or type. If you want your message to scroll upwards to the center, and then leave by typing backwards, you would use these two parameters:
<PARAM name="enter0" name="up">
<PARAM name="exit0" name="type">
These are optional parameters. A default of "left" will be used.
The text parameter
The text parameter is the message you'd like to use. It may be any length, but if it is longer than your applet width then it will be clipped on both sides when it is centered. Example:
<PARAM name="text0" name="Welcome to my homepage!">
This is a required parameter.
The color parameter
Your message may be any color you like. There are three ways you can select the color for your message. You can use the name of the color, you can specify it in R,G,B, or you can specify it in hexcode. Hexcode is the most common, it is what your HTML editors use to select a color for your backgrounds and text colors. Here are three examples to make your message blue:
<PARAM name="color0" name="blue">
<PARAM name="color0" name="0,0,255">
<PARAM name="color0" name="#0000FF">
If you are going to be using the name of the color, you may use these: white, lightgray, gray, darkgray, black, red, pink, orange, yellow, green, magenta, cyan or blue. If you need something different, you will need to specify it in RGB or hex.
This is an optional parameter. A default of "black" will be used.
The font parameter
The font parameter specifies what font your message will be in. You also specify what size and decoration the font will have. Java only supports the following fonts for use: bla. For decoration, you may use plain, bold, italic, or bold+italic.Here are some examples:
<PARAM name="font0" value="Helvetica,bold+italic,18">
<PARAM name="font0" value="Helvetica,plain,20">
This is an optional parameter. A default of "Arial,plain,30" will be used.
The highlight parameter
The highlight parameter changes the color of your message when the mouse runs over the applet. This is great for letting your users know that the message is a link and that it can be clicked to go to a website. (See the applet above for an example of this.) Like the color parameter, you can specify a color by its name, RGB value or hexcode. Here is an example:
<PARAM name="highlight0" value="#0000FF">
The shadow parameter
The shadow parameter is a visual feature. The shadow may be any color you like, and it may be very close to the original message or it can be far away. You may also choose where the shadow is in relation to the original message. You may choose these directions: left, right, top, bottom, bottomright, bottomleft, topright, or topleft. You can also specify what color the shadow is in its name format or in hexcode. RGB can not be used in this parameter. You can also specify how far the shadow should be from the original message in pixels. A 1 would mean that the shadow is very close to the original message. A 10 would be very far away. Here is an example:
<PARAM name="shadow0" value="bottomleft,blue,4">
<PARAM name="shadow0" value="topright,#FF0000,1">
This is an optional parameter. There is no default.
The url parameter
The url parameter lets your messages act like a link. If it is clicked, the applet can take the user to the website in the browser it is in right now, or it can create a new browser that will go to the desired website. Use _top if you would like the applet to start a new browser. Use _self if you would like the applet to go to the website in the current browser. Here are some examples:
<PARAM name="url0" value="http://www.cnn.com,_top">
<PARAM name="url0" value="http://www.cnn.com,_self">
The former creates a new browser and goes to http://www.cnn.com. The latter uses the current browser to go to http://www.cnn.com. They will have to use the back button to return to your website.
This is an optional parameter. There is no default.
The wait parameter
The wait parameter specifies how long your message will sit in the center so that your user can read it. The number you use is in milliseconds. A value of 1000 will make your message wait in the center for 1 second. Here is an example:
<PARAM name="wait0" name="1000">
This is an optional parameter. The default is 0.
The speed parameter
The speed parameter specifies how long your message takes to move one pixel. The value is specified in milliseconds. A low value means it takes less time for it to move one pixel over. A higher value will make it go slower. Here is an example:
<PARAM name="speed0" name="7">
This is an optional parameter. The default is 7.
The bgcolor parameter
The bgcolor parameter specifies the color of the background. If your website has a gray background, the applet's background will need to be gray. You may specifiy the color by its name, RGB or hexcode value. Got a textured background? You can specify an image as the background for the applet and it will tile it over its area so that it blends in with your background. Instead of a color, use "img:filename.jpg." Here are two examples:
<PARAM name="bgcolor" name="white">
<PARAM name="bgcolor" name="img:texture.jpg">
This is an optional parameter. The default is "white."
The status parameter (licensed class only)
The status parameter lets you specify a message to be displayed in the web browser's status bar. This is a great feature when one of your messages is a link to a website. For instance, if your message is a link to http://www.cnn.com, you can include a status message that says "Click here to go to http://www.cnn.com." You can still use it even if the message is not a link. Here is an example:
<PARAM name="status0" name="Click here to go to http://www.cnn.com!">
This is a feature available to the licensed class only. The unlicensed version displays an advertisement. If you'd like to purchase a licensed version for only $5, go to the purchase page. You will receive the class instantly when you pay with Paypal (credit cards accepted). Paypal is very safe for your credit card transaction. It uses SSL (secure socket layer) technology. It is 100% safe. Please support my work!
This is an optional feature. There is no default.
If you have any questions or comments, please e-mail me at matt@swfla.rr.com.
