Getting Started             

  1. Place the program files (NewsAgent.jar, NewsAgent.cab and ryNewsAgent.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 NewsAgent to appear:

    <APPLET CODE="ryNewsAgent.class" ARCHIVE="NewsAgent.jar" WIDTH=350 HEIGHT=227>
    <param name=CabBase value="NewsAgent.cab">
    <param name=Copyright value="NewsAgent (c) 1997 Cool Focus [www.coolfocus.com]">
    <param name=BgColor value="8080FF">
    <param name=BgImage value="bluepaper.jpg">
    <param name=3DBorder value="raised">
    <param name=ScriptFile value="params.txt">
    <param name=DefaultText value="NewsAgent...|A new applet from Cool Focus">
    <param name=Font value="Dialog,plain,14">
    <param name=TextColor value="F0F0FF">
    <param name=TextFocusColor value="FFFF00">
    <param name=TextPressColor value="00FF00">
    <param name=MarginWidth value="40">
    <param name=CharacterDelay value="20">
    <param name=ParagraphDelay value="500">
    <param name=RepeatDelay value="500">
    <param name=Loop value="infinite">
    <param name=Update value="10">
    <param name=Sound value="no">
    <param name=OnClick value="hold">
    <param name=URL value="http://www.coolfocus.com">
    <param name=Target value="_top">
    <param name=LinkMessage value="Visit Cool Focus online!">
    <param name=UseTooltips value="yes">
    <param name=TooltipColor value="F0F0FF">
    <param name=TooltipBgColor value="000080">
    </APPLET>

  3. Adjust the height and width of the applet to be aesthetically pleasing (or, perhaps, to match the dimensions of your background image if you choose to use one).

  4. Specify the text to be displayed, either by entering it into the DefaultText parameter, or by giving the name (and optionally the location) of a plain text file in the ScriptFile parameter.

  5. Choose whether the applet should 'hold' or 'link' via the OnClick parameter, and adjust the URL/Target parameters for a linking applet.

  6. Adjust the presentation aspects of the applet such as colors and fonts, along with the speed, loop and delay times required. For detailed explanations of all parameters, refer to The Parameters Explained.