web design question... [Archive]

Dangerdoll

01-06-2005, 6:02 PM

I'm using Frontpage2000.... there are hover buttons on the page. Each hover button has a menu of 3 or so different pages (links) to go to..... I need to add new button with a new menu and new text on the button. I've been searching high and low for a way to do this easily but am at my wit's end. Would I be able to copy one of the existing buttons and edit it with the changes I need? The problem is I came into this page late and the person who created it left the company..... I'm at the point where I'm thinking I have to recreate all new buttons to replace the existing ones just to add the new one...... which seems like an awful lot of work..... Is there an easier way? :confused:

Tyler718

01-06-2005, 6:04 PM

This sounds all to familar. A good friend of mine has this same exact problem, but I don't have clue. :)

Dangerdoll

01-06-2005, 6:05 PM

Thanks T, but it means the world of a difference that you would help if you could ;)

Copper

01-06-2005, 6:14 PM

OrionGirl

01-06-2005, 6:17 PM

And this is why I actually write out my code rather than using a package...Sorry, wish I could help. If you can edit the source code directly, you should be able to locate the lines of code the build the buttons, copy the code of one, add it into the group, then edit the links offered in the button...But I know most people don't like reading the code. :)

Dangerdoll

01-06-2005, 6:26 PM

By hover button and the three pages they go to, do you mean that the button offers a menu of three different links when you hover over it, or do the links define the different actions of the hover (such as normal, hover, and active)?
yes, I mean the hover offers 3 different pages.... you pass the cursor over the button and a menu with three different pages shows up.

And this is why I actually write out my code rather than using a package...Sorry, wish I could help. If you can edit the source code directly, you should be able to locate the lines of code the build the buttons, copy the code of one, add it into the group, then edit the links offered in the button...But I know most people don't like reading the code. :)
Thanks OG, just like with T, it's niced to see that you would if you could ;) I wish it was that easy too, I have no problem editing/copying the code and changing it that way but I can't seem to find where they are. The buttons weren't created as a Frontpage button though, they were created as .gif's. I mean I can find the on and off .gif's of each button but beyond that... I just don't know. The buttons are on a shared border if that helps any...

hmmmmmmmmmm..... I wonder if I could open the gif's in textpad......

OrionGirl

01-06-2005, 6:38 PM

The source code should reference the gif, and then assign the process--they likely are not listed within the image file. Might be worth checking though--I just haven't seen anything like that done.

Elmo

01-06-2005, 6:41 PM

Dangerdoll

01-06-2005, 6:42 PM

great.... I'll look into that tomorrow and let you know how it goes from there... you know what also.... I never even looked at the HTML part of the shared border.... which I'm sure is what you're talking about with the source code... see that OG, you were a big help after all ;)

FL Knifemaker

01-06-2005, 7:41 PM

Tyler718

01-06-2005, 8:10 PM

Dangerdoll,

That stuff drives me to drink and I don't really drink anymore :rant: Once you get it figured out, my website is about a year overdue for an update and new pictures. I have the pictures ready to go :D We need a winking smilie :p

You know, you could use me to your advantage for a small fee. I could possibly talk he into it for you. :D I could become her business manager. :laugh:

"T"

Walrus

01-06-2005, 8:52 PM

I've never used Frontpage, so I don't exactly know how it does things, but I would assume that the button rollovers and associated menus would be done in JavaScript. You should be able to view the code that Frontpage generates, and as OG suggested, do some copying and pasting to add another button onto the menu.

Elmo's right. Hover buttons in Frontpage use JavaScript to perform actions. If you dont know JavaScript i would recommend re-writting the menu buttons. If you do know JavaScript then you can select the gif image and then switch to code view in Frontpage. It should highlight the img tag, from there look for the onmouse or onmousedown event. That will point to the JavaScript function actually creating the menu and you should be able to figure the rest out from there!

HTH

FL Knifemaker

01-06-2005, 8:57 PM

You know, you could use me to your advantage for a small fee. I could possibly talk he into it for you. :D I could become her business manager. :laugh:

"T"

T,

Whatever works!! :o For the past month or so, I've had severe eyestrain from working long hours with my CAD/CAM software. There is no way I can sit in front of the computer doing the website now. I can do it myself, I just DREAD doing it. It's one of those things that by the time I work up the photo's, write the text, etc. I might just as well just do the whole darn thing. :mad: :)

Dangerdoll

01-07-2005, 8:54 AM

You know, you could use me to your advantage for a small fee. I could possibly talk he into it for you. :D I could become her business manager. :laugh:

"T"
you're hired!! ;):D;)

Dangerdoll

01-07-2005, 9:43 AM

ok, I pretty much know how to copy the button and functionalities of it..... now my question is, can I edit the text on a .gif....... ?

OrionGirl

01-07-2005, 10:02 AM

The text that's on there can be edited with an image editing software, like PaintShop or PhotoShop. You'll probably want to edit out all the existing text, then insert all the new text in one go--seems to work better and look better.

Dangerdoll

01-07-2005, 10:04 AM

ahhhhh...... thanks for following up with me OG :)

thanks so much!! so weird how some things can just wear you down, huh.....

OrionGirl

01-07-2005, 10:19 AM

;) Well, I maintain the webpage for our Division, and everything is initially created in frontpage, but all edits and such are easier to do through the source code, so I've gotten rather sneaky. :) The first time I looked at the source code though, I felt like I was going cross-eyed.

geoffgarcia

01-07-2005, 10:21 AM

front page and all other wysiwyg editors are teh suckage...wordpad ownz.

if you need any more assistance it would be easier if you just attached the source code.

Timmain42

01-07-2005, 10:33 AM

Doll, if you're going to be doing this on a regular basis, ditch Frontpage and try to find a program called Homesite. It's a text-only HTML editor, and will allow you to view your updated work via whatever browser you are using. It color-codes different types of machine code and HTML tags, which generally makes scripting a lot easier.

I'd have suggested WordPad, but it doesn't color-code. FrontPage is about the worst big-company editor out there (it throws in tons of extraneous code), but DreamWeaver from Macromedia is a WYSIWYG editor that is powerful, easy-to-understand, and isn't nearly as frustrating.

Dangerdoll

01-07-2005, 11:02 AM

thanks guys.... OG... same here.... but this one sorta threw me for a loop only because I'm trying to do something the same as someone else did whi is no longer in the company.... and it's got to be exact....

geoff, I know how to work with the source code, that's not the problem.... anymore at least... the problem is changing the text on the gif....
I can't exactly post any of the code here either, the company prohibits it.... anyhoo... I'm in GIFWorks now, playing with it..... and it seems to be helping ;)

Tim, I wish I could ditch it and have them follow my suggestions, unfortunately, the company isn't so willing to let it go since there are several dozens of groups with their own pages and the company is big on consistency and compliance..... a huge compliance issue is that everybody uses the same software.... so in order to change from the FP environment, I'd need to be president.... and no one voted for me this year ;) :D

I'm gonna look into Dreamweaver though, I've heard a lot about it.... enough to peak my interest and we'll see how far I can push it :) thanks again :)

geoffgarcia

01-07-2005, 11:12 AM

I can't exactly post any of the code here either, the company prohibits it...

I wish I could ditch it and have them follow my suggestions, unfortunately, the company isn't so willing to let it go since there are several dozens of groups with their own pages and the company is big on consistency and compliance..... a huge compliance issue is that everybody uses the same software.... so in order to change from the FP environment, I'd need to be president.... eeesh! talk about having your hands tied.
I've been a consultant programmer for the past 8 years w/ a bunch of fortune 100 companies and never experienced nor imagined any company would be that narrow minded!
good luck with that!

OrionGirl

01-07-2005, 11:35 AM

Lots of places are that way. Frontpage is the only software I can use as well--part and parcel of the 'Microsoft is best' issue. Want to hear narrow-minded? I'm not allowed to actually purchase anything for a computer myself. It all has to go through IT--from thumb drives to a mouse, all has to go through them. They just barely permit me to go buy my own blank CDR's--and they considered changing that as well. Contractors aren't held to the same restrictions though--just us employees too dumb to know any better. :)

Dangerdoll

01-07-2005, 11:55 AM

hehehe, it's the same way here OG...... we're lucky enough to be able to use headphones and music CDs in the PC..... and that's the only thing we could use.

FL Knifemaker

01-07-2005, 4:40 PM

DD, OG, Tim,

Here's a link to the website of the guy that built my site. I'm pretty sure he used Dreamweaver exclusively to build his and mine. I know the artwork is a little "different" but it will give you an idea what's possible with it. Each page apears to shift instead of the normal hyperling jump and there's is some animation on each page. I didn't want to spend the money to make my site do all that, I'm too cheap!!! :p

http://www.novembre.ws/

Timmain42

01-07-2005, 5:13 PM

Knife, my friend... it states right at the beginning of the site that it's composed with Flash.

Flash rocks, but it's not for beginners and has very little to do with HTML, other than using it as a frame or page display.

Having said that, there are some EFFED up images in that Gallery. I like. :)

geoffgarcia

01-07-2005, 5:15 PM

Want to hear narrow-minded? I'm not allowed to actually purchase anything for a computer myself. It all has to go through IT--from thumb drives to a mouse, all has to go through them.thats the norm everywhere I've worked, more because of unions and pricing than anything else...I dont think I've ever worked anywhere that I could move my monitor or unplug my own mouse let alone buy a new one:)
different strokes for different folks!

Flash rocksseriously? I think flash is the most annoying and useless thing in the world, your the first I've heard that thought it was good

FL Knifemaker

01-07-2005, 5:18 PM

Tim,

That shows you how much I know about it! I know that when he was here, working on my site, he used Dreamweaver. I thought he said he used it for everything including his site. I thought Flash was just the type of animation, not the software used to create it?? :confused: Maybe he uses Dreamweaver for everything but the animated stuff?? **** I don't know :o

Timmain42

01-07-2005, 5:23 PM

seriously? I think flash is the most annoying and useless thing in the world, your the first I've heard that thought it was goodI have been building web interfaces with Flash for almost 7 years now, and now that I can get database interactivity with it, it's the most agile and high-performance web vehicle in existance.

And, large companies have been using it for ecommerce and other functions for a few years now. ETrade used it exclusively for their real-time tickers since 2001.

Flash is MUCH more than just an animation vehicle. It is everything, literally, that you need to make incredible function and form for websites. Don't believe the haters.

Timmain42

01-07-2005, 5:24 PM

Sorry, Knife... I didn't mean to sound imperial. DW has it's uses, but it's limited when using it with Flash.

FL Knifemaker

01-07-2005, 5:33 PM

Sorry, Knife... I didn't mean to sound imperial. DW has it's uses, but it's limited when using it with Flash.

No Problem Tim!!

I'm the one that ASSumed!! I can do all I need to do with photos and text in Frontpage, I don't even want to go beyond that :)

As far as Flash, I think most people just hate because it's often annoying when used as an opening page. Most people scramble around looking for the "skip intro" button!!