Menus & Messages

Class File Name: MenuMsg.class
Class File Size: 17K
Notice Tag: Menus & Messages, Copyright (c) 1997 OpenCube Technologies, Registered (Unique Key ID#)

Notes regarding Java:

Note: Some versions of Internet Explorer (primarily the pre beta 4.0) will not be able to view this and most other image based applets locally. If this is the case you must place the applet on a web server in order to view it. This bug will not be present for viewers of the applet once the program is on the internet, it is a local issue only.

Note: When uploading your class files and HTML document to the sever make certain that the class files are uploaded in binary format and the codebase value in the applet tag appropriately point to the location of the class file (If the class file is in the same folder as the HTML document containing the applet leave the codebase command out of the applet tag).

Applet Tag Template:

Based on a vertically oriented layout with message borders

Online Documentation at www.opencube.com:

The online documentation includes general information regarding the use of the applet tag and uploading applets to the server, common Java bugs with Internet Explorer and Netscape as well as an applet configuration FAQ.

Information about the applet and its parameters:

Required Parameters

Parameter 1 (the "notice" tag) must be included in the applet tag in order for the applet to work. Most of the parameters will default if you fail to define them, at a minimum you must include the notice tag, image file locations, and associated messages. Usually the easiest way to customize the applet is to cut and paste the applet tag information used in the sample and modify it to fit your web page.

Color Definition

Color Definition: This applet uses a simple RGB color scheme. To define a color in one of the color parameters use a value between 0 - 255 for the red, green, and blue components separated by commas and typed out in the correct r,g,b order. Below is a sample of how a color parameter should look, the example specifies several different sample colors for the "bgcolor" parameter.

WHITE: <param name="bgcolor" value="255,255,255">
GREEN: <param name="bgcolor" value="0,255,0">
BLACK: <param name="bgcolor" value="0,0,0">
YELLOW: <param name="bgcolor" value="255,255,0">
OFF WHITE: <param name="bgcolor" value="240,239,234">

The best way to choose the exact color you are looking for without having to guess the numbers is to access your systems Color Picker. Color Pickers usually allow you to drag the mouse over a rainbow type color grid to select a color, and show you the appropriate RGB values. In windows the Color Picker is accessible through MS Paint as well as a majority of the popular Imaging and HTML Authoring Software.

Defining Multiple Attributes with One Parameter Name

Parameters used to customize a specific image location or message are indicated using a range, such as "imagefile0" - "imagefileN". To define a parameter for a specific image or message (available when noted as above), use "imagefile0" to define, in this case, the first main menu image, "imagefile1" would define the second main menu image, etc.

Coordinate System

The origin of the applets coordinate system is located at the upper left corner of the applet. The x (horizontal) coordinate start at the left border with 0 and go as far to the right as the applet is wide (defined with the width tag - see above). The y (vertical) coordinate start at the top of the applet with 0 and go down as far as the applet is high (defined with the height tag - see above).

The Applet Parameters

General Applet Settings

Parameter 1
Attribute: Copyright notice.
param name="Notice"
value="Menus & Messages, Copyright (c) 1997 OpenCube Technologies, Registered (Unique Key ID#)"
Note: This must be included for the applet to work.

Parameter 2
Attribute: Applet Background Color
param name = "pagebgcolor"
Value = R,G,B, Where R,G,B are the red, green, and blue components of the applets background color.

Parameter 3
Attribute: Default Status Bar Text when mouse is over applet
param name = "onsbtext"
value="X", where X is the message to appear in the status bar when the mouse is over the applet but not over a URL link.
DEFAULT: OpenCube - Infinite Menus Menu

Parameter 4
Attribute: Default Status Bar Text when mouse is off applet
param name = "offsbtext"
value="X", where X is the message to appear in the status bar when the mouse is not over the applet.
DEFAULT: Java by OpenCube

The Images

Parameter 5
Attribute: Image File Location and Name
param name = "imagefile0" - "imagefileN"
Value = X. Where X is the relative location and name of the image file to be displayed in the applet area. This must be defined relative to the location of the document containing the applet.

Parameter 6
Attribute: Image x (horizontal) location
param name = "picx0" - "picxN"
Value = X. Where X is the horizontal location of the left border of the image relative to the left margin of the applet. If your applet width is defined as 100, picx="50" would place the left border of the image horizontally dead center.

Parameter 7
Attribute: Image y (vertical) location
param name = "picy0" - "picyN"
Value = X. Where X is the vertical location of the top border of the image relative to the top of the applet.

Image Highlighting

Parameter 8
Attribute: Image Highlight Border Color
param name = "hcolor"
Value = R,G,B. Where R,G,B defines the red, green, and blue components of an images highlight color
DEFAULT: Black

Parameter 9
Attribute: Image Highlight Border Distance from Image Border
param name = "hdist"
Value = X, Where X is the distance from the image borders of the highlight square.
DEFAULT: 5

The Associated Messages

Parameter 10
Attribute: Default Message Description
param name = "desc"
Value = X. Where X is the default message that is initially loaded before the mouse moves over any image. If your text is longer than the width of the applet it will automatically be formatted to multiple lines. You may use a horizontal bar ('|') character to force a paragraph break. For example "this is the first paragraph|this second paragraph and automatically has a space between itself and the first paragraph by using the horizontal bar character" You may force as may paragraph breaks as you wish so long as the length of the message does not exceed the available message length area.

Parameter 11
Attribute: Specific Messages associated with an Image
param name = "desc0" - "descN"
Value = X, Where x is the message that corresponds to the index used to identify a image defined with the "imagefile" parameter. This is the specific message that will appear when the mouse moves over its related image.

Parameter 12
Attribute: Message Bold
param name = "bold"
Value = true or false, true = yes bold text, false = normal text.
DEFAULT: false

Parameter 13
Attribute: Message Italic
param name = "italic"
Value = true or false, true = yes bold text, false = normal text.
DEFAULT: false

Parameter 14
Attribute: Default Font Size
param name = "size"
Value = X. Where X is the default size of the font for all messages.
DEFAULT: 24

Parameter 15
Attribute: Specific Font Size
param name = "size0" - "sizeN"
Value = X, Where X is the size of the font for a specific message.

Parameter 16
Attribute: Font Name
param name = "font"
Value = X. Where X is the name of the font to be used for all messages. (valid Java font names: "Courier", "Helvetica", "TimesRoman", "Dialog", "DialogInput")
DEFAULT: Helvetica

Parameter 17
Attribute: Default Text Color
param name = "textcolor"
Value = R,G,B. Where R,G,B define the red, green, and blue components of the color as described above.
DEFAULT: Black

Parameter 18
Attribute: Specific Text Color
param name = "textcolor0" - "textcolorN"
Value = R,G,B. Where R,G,B define the red, green, and blue components of the color for a specific message as described above.

Parameter 19
Attribute: Default Back Ground Color
param name = "bgcolor"
Value = R,G,B. Where R,G,B define the red, green, and blue components of the back ground color of the message area.
DEFAULT: White

Parameter 20
Attribute: Specific Back Ground Color
param name = "bgcolor0" - "bgcolorN"
Value = R,G,B. Where R,G,B define the red, green, and blue components of the back ground color for a specific message area.

Parameter 21
Attribute: Default Center or Left Justify Text
param name = "centertext"
Value = true or false. Where true = yes center text, false = no left justify text.
DEFAULT: false

Parameter 22
Attribute: Specific Center or Left Justify Text
param name = "centertext0" - "centertextN"
Value = true or false. Where true = yes center text, false = no left justify text.

Parameter 23
Attribute: Left and Right margin
param name = "lrmargin"
Value = X. Where X is the left and right margin not including the border area, if any.

Parameter 24
Attribute: Default Vertical Alignment
param name = "valign"
Value = 1 or 2 or 3. Where 1=align top: 2=align center: 3=align bottom
DEFAULT: 2

Parameter 25
Attribute: Specific Vertical Alignment
param name = "valign0" - "valignN"
Value = 1 or 2 or 3. Where 1=align top: 2=align center: 3=align bottom.

Parameter 26
Attribute: Default Border Thickness
param name = "borderthickness"
Value = X, Where X is the thickness of the border for all messages.
DEFAULT: 0

Parameter 27
Attribute: Specific Border Thickness
param name = "borderthickness0" - "borderthicknessN"
Value = X, Where X is the thickness of the border for a specific messages.

Parameter 28
Attribute: Default Border Color
param name = "bordercolor"
Value = R,G,B. Where R,G,B define the red, green, and blue components of the border color.
DEFAULT: Black

Parameter 29
Attribute: Specific Border Color
param name = "bordercolor0" - "bordercolorN"
Value = R,G,B. Where R,G,B define the red, green, and blue components of the specific border color.

Parameter 30
Attribute: Horizontal X Coordinate of Message
param name = "showx"
Value = X. Where X is the horizontal location, x coordinate of the messages left border using the coordinate system described above. This parameter difines the final horizontal resting location of the message.

Parameter 31
Attribute: Vertical Y Coordinate of Message
param name = "showy"
Value = X. Where X is the vertical location, y coordinate of the messages top border using the coordinate system described above. This parameter difines the final vertical resting location of the message.

Parameter 32
Attribute: Message Width
param name = "showwidth"
Value = X. Where X is the width of the message area.

Parameter 33
Attribute: Message Height
param name = "showheight"
Value = X. Where X is the height of the message area.

Defining the Animations

Parameter 34
Attribute: Default Animation Heading for Messages
param name = "heading"
Value = 0 or 1 or 2 or 3 or 4. Where 0=No Animation: 1= Start at Top: 2= Start Right: 3=Start Bottom: 4=Start Left. Note: Watch that the messages do not transition over the images or they will be erased.

Parameter 35
Attribute: Specific Animation Heading for Messages
param name = "heading0" - "headingN"
Value = 0 or 1 or 2 or 3 or 4. Where 0=No Animation: 1= Start at Top: 2= Start Right: 3=Start Bottom: 4=Start Left. Note: Watch that the messages do not transition over the images or they will be erased.

Parameter 36
Attribute: Animation Delay
param name = "animationdelay"
Value = X, Where X is the delay time in milliseconds for all animations. (1000 = 1 Second)
DEFAULT: 0

Parameter 37
Attribute: Animation Jump Size
param name = "jump"
Value = X, Where X is the jump size in pixels for the animation. A value of 1 yields a slow smooth animation, the larger the value the faster the animation however the chopier the effect.
DEFAULT: 3

URL Links

Parameter 38
Attribute: Default Message URL Link
param name = "desturl"
value=X, where X is the link for the default message, It is possible to link from the default message if the user moves the mouse into the applet without touching a button. URL's can be defined relative to the HTML document containing the applet or fully qualified. (NOTE: Linking to an absolute URL located outside of you domain may cause a Java security violation)

Parameter 39
Attribute: Image URL LInks
param name = "desturl0" - "desturlN"
value=X, Where X is the URL to load when the a specific image and its optional associated message are displayed. (Note: the link is active from anywhere in the applet for the current highlighted image). URL's can be defined relative to the HTML document containing the applet or fully qualified. (NOTE: Linking to an absolute URL located outside of you domain may cause a Java security violation)

Parameter 40
Attribute: Default Load Destination URL Where?
param name="loadwhere"
The "loadwhere" tag specifies where the document specified in the "URL" value should be loaded. The default is "_self". A value equal to the name (case sensitive) of a frame will load the document in that frame.

"_self" show in the current frame
"_parent" show in the parent frame
"_top" show in the top-most frame
"_blank" show in a new unnamed top-level window
"name" show in a new top-level window named name
"frame name" show in the frame named frame name

Note: When targeting a frame location with the name of the frame make certain that the case and names are typed identically. If the applet cannot find the frame the document will be loaded in a new window.

Parameter 41
Attribute: Specific Load Destination URL Where?
param name="loadwhere0" - "loadwhereN"
The "loadwhere" tag specifies where the document specified in the "URL" value should be loaded. The default is "_self". A value equal to the name (case sensitive) of a frame will load the document in that frame.

"_self" show in the current frame
"_parent" show in the parent frame
"_top" show in the top-most frame
"_blank" show in a new unnamed top-level window
"name" show in a new top-level window named name
"frame name" show in the frame named frame name