Getting Started             

  1. Place the program files (Headliner.jar, Headliner.cab, ryHeadliner.class and ryHeadThread.class) in the directory containing the HTML document into which you want to insert the applet (or into a different directory, and add the correct CODEBASE= attribute to the applet tag given below).

  2. Add the following applet tag to your HTML document in the position you want Headliner to appear:
    <APPLET CODE="ryHeadliner" ARCHIVE="Headliner.jar" WIDTH=550 HEIGHT=19>
    <param name=CabBase value="Headliner.cab">
    <param name=Copyright value="Headliner (c) 1998 Cool Focus [www.coolfocus.com]">
    <param name=Name value="UniqueName">
    <param name=Satellites value="no">
    <param name=BgColor value="FFFFFF">
    <param name=BorderColor value="00FF00">
    <param name=FillColor value="000000">
    <param name=TextColor value="F0F0FF">
    <param name=FocusTextColor value="F07E00">
    <param name=PressTextColor value="808080">
    <param name=EntryFont value="Dialog,plain,12">
    <param name=UseHeading value="yes">
    <param name=Heading value="Latest News:">
    <param name=HeadingFont value="Dialog,bold,12">
    <param name=HeadingTextColor value="000000">
    <param name=HeadingFillColor value="00FF00">
    <param name=Hold value="2">
    <param name=CPS value="12">
    <param name=DefaultTarget value="mainframe">
    <param name=UseHandCursor value="no">
    <param name=Testmode value="no">

    <param name=ScriptFile value="script.txt">
    <param name=Update value="10">

    <param name=Entry1 value="Spytracking system released - read all about it!">
    <param name=Entry2 value="Compact remote headline display with Headliner">
    <param name=Entry3 value="Cool Focus releases HotStrip Professional with Spytracking">
    <param name=URL1 value="spyindex.htm">
    <param name=URL2 value="headliner.htm">
    <param name=URL3 value="hotstrippro.htm">
    <param name=Target1 value="_top">
    </APPLET>

  3. The first block of parameters contains aesthetic values such as fonts and colors used, animation speed ('CPS'), the length of time each Headline remains displayed ('Hold'), and whether to display a heading at the left side of the applet ('Heading'). Edit and experiment with these to find a look and behavior you like.

  4. The second block, containing two parameters, specifies an optional textfile containing a list of headlines to be displayed by the applet, along with the URLs and frame-targets that each should link to, and how often (in minutes) Headliner should re-read the textfile to check for changes.

  5. If the ScriptFile parameter is used, and the textfile exists and contains entries, the third block of parameters will be ignored. But if you prefer to enter the same details as HTML parameters instead, this third block is where you do it. If you don't expect to frequently update the entries displayed, it's preferable to use HTML parameters. Headliner will then be able to initialize and start faster through not having to make a second URL connection and read a second file.

  6. After setting things as you want them, set the Testmode parameter to 'yes', test the page in your browser and move the mouse over the applet. In the statusbar you'll see a Height and Minimum Width displayed. Set your applet tag's HEIGHT= attribute to match the suggested height. The Minimum Width is just that: if your entries are defined in HTML parameters you can set you applet tag's WIDTH= attribute to match the suggested width. If you use the Scriptfile option and expect the textfile to be regularly updated, however, you should set the WIDTH= attribute to whatever you think will be a sufficient width to display the longest line of text you're ever likely to enter, since this suggested width can only take into account the lines of text that are in your scriptfile right now! Finally, set the Testmode parameter back to 'no'.

  7. Details and explanations of each parameter are given in The Parameters Explained.