- From: Warren P. Chi <warrenpchi@bansheeparadigm.com>
- Date: Thu, 19 Dec 1996 20:08:15 -0800
- To: www-html@w3.org
Dec. 19th, 1996 Hi all, Just in case everyone hasn't received this yet . . . - Warren P. Chi ____________________ FORWARD SEPARATOR ____________________ Site Builder Network wrote: *** Microsoft (R) Site Builder Network *** Site Builder Network: Download Script Debugger for IE 3.01 In this mailing: NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS * Download Script Debugger for IE 3.01 * Site Builder Tools CD * And Now, the Winners! NEWS FROM FALL INTERNET WORLD * Download Visual InterDev * IE 3.0 for Win 3.1 Released * Microsoft and PointCast Collaborate * ActiveX Control Creation Contest * IIS 3.0 Ships TIPS AND TRICKS * Special Effects with Marquees * Other Tip Topics * Browser Detection with JScript * Creating IE-Specific Links ** MICROSOFT SCRIPT DEBUGGER FOR INTERNET EXPLORER 3.01 ** Microsoft Script Debugger for Internet Explorer 3.01 is a debugging environment you can use to easily browse, edit and debug HTML pages containing Visual Basic, Scripting Edition (VBScript) and JScript (Microsoft's implementation of JavaScript). Use Microsoft Script Debugger to extend Internet Explorer 3.01 and you can dynamically view your entire Web page, move easily between VBScript and JScript, set break points anywhere in your script code and take advantage of many other features in Script Debugger for Internet Explorer. Over the holidays, download the beta of this add-in for Internet Explorer 3.01 and check it out. You can download the Microsoft Script Debugger beta for free (except for any connect charges) from the Microsoft Site Builder Workshop at http://www.microsoft.com/workshop/prog/scriptie/ You'll find more details about Microsoft Script Debugger, including all the cool features and a sample. ** NEW SITE BUILDER NETWORK TOOLS CD ** To help wish you easy and productive Web site building in the New Year, we've just created a special CD loaded with Site Builder Network tools and valuable information. The CD gives you all the software in the Site Builder Network "Members Only" download area - plus contents of the Site Builder Workshop and the upcoming Intranet Solutions Center Web sites. As a special bonus, you'll also get the Viewpoint Datashop for Microsoft DirectX ViV on CD. Viewpoint Datashop contains more than 2,000 3D models in DirectX file format, installable versions of DirectX, Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.01, the ActiveX Control needed to display the models in 3D, and the DirectX Multimedia SDK. Here's how to get the CD: Level 2 and Level 3 members, just sit back and relax. The CD is free for Level 2 and Level 3 members and will arrive automatically as soon as it's available (you can expect it during January 1997). If you need extra copies, you can order them for $49.95 (U.S. dollars) each, shipping and handling included, from the Site Builder Network Web site. Level 1 members, visit the Level 1 Members Lounge area on the Site Builder Network Web Site and you'll find instructions for ordering your CD for $49.95 (U.S. dollars) each, shipping and handling included. Or, if you upgrade your Level 1 membership to Level 2 or Level 3 now, you'll get a CD for free in January. Got Questions? Contact us at the email alias listed at the bottom of your membership page. ** ANNOUNCING THE "ACTIVATE THE INTERNET" 1996 CONTEST WINNERS ** More than 2,000 worthy sites were submitted by more that 1,400 Site Builder Network members to compete in this year's contest. Find out who walked away with the Grand Prize for "Best Technology," "Best Business Site" and "Best Entertainment Site." Also see the 47 finalists who made it into the final round of judging. To view the awards, head over to the Winner's Circle at http://www.microsoft.com/sitebuilder/winners/ Be sure to check out additional information about the finalists, the judges and what the winners have to say about how they created their Web sites. Hats off to all our winners. ========================================== NEWS FROM FALL INTERNET WORLD ** VISUAL INTERDEV (FORMERLY CODE-NAMED "INTERNET STUDIO") DEBUTS ** If you've been anxious to get your hands the product formerly known as "Internet Studio," you can download the beta of Microsoft Visual InterDev (the official name) from the Site Builder Network download area. Visual InterDev is an integrated Web application development tool and the newest member of the visual tools family. You can use Visual InterDev to build dynamic, database-driven Active Server Web applications for corporate intranets and the Internet. For a product overview, white paper and more information, visit the new Visual InterDev Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/vinterdev/ >From December 9, 1996 through December 31, 1996, you can download thebeta from the Site Builder Network download area as a Guest member. You must be a Guest member, or a level 1, 2, or 3 member to download the beta. ** INTERNET EXPLORER FOR WINDOWS 3.1 RELEASED ** Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 for the Windows 3.1 operating system fulfills the demand from developers, IS managers and end users for an easy to use, high performance Windows 3.1-based browser. Internet Explorer 3.0 for Windows 3.1 offers faster performance, smaller footprint, lower maintenance cost, enhanced security and access to a wide range of Web content. This version of Internet Explorer 3.0 includes support for HTML 2.0, frames, enhanced frames, enhanced tables, ActiveX Scripting (including Visual Basic Scripting Edition and JScript) and Netscape Plug-ins. Want to know more? Head over to the Internet Explorer Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/ie/ for all the details, and be sure to check out the "Make the Switch" giveaway promotion. ** MICROSOFT AND POINTCAST COLLABORATE ON INTERNET BROADCASTING ** Microsoft and PointCast Inc. have agreed to combine important technologies and products to broadcast high-quality, up-to-the-minute news and information directly to millions of computer users. As part of the agreement, Microsoft has chosen PointCast as a premier content provider for the Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 Active Desktop, due next year. In turn, PointCast has chosen the Microsoft Active Platform as its development and delivery platform, and will ship Internet Explorer as its preferred default browser, starting with PointCast Network 97, which is due in the second quarter of 1997. MSNBC, the online joint venture between Microsoft and NBC has agreed to be a key news and information provider on the PointCast Network and plans to independently offer its original content as part of the Active Desktop. To find out more, visit the Internet Explorer Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/ie/ and also check out Internet Explorer's Internet World 96 page at http://www.microsoft.com/ie/iworld/ ** SHOW US YOUR BEST -- ENTER THE ACTIVEX CONTROL CREATION CONTEST ** Microsoft and CMP Media Inc.'s TechWeb are co-sponsoring the first ActiveX Control Creation Contest. Take the challenge and show off your best ActiveX control produced using Microsoft Visual Basic 5.0 Control Creation Edition. More than 100,000 developers are already using this special version of Visual Basic, introduced in October at the Site Builder Conference. If you want to know more about Visual Basic 5.0 Control Creation Edition, go to the Visual Basic Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/vbasic Bill Gates will showcase the grand prize-winning contest entry at Microsoft Developer Days. Contestants can submit their control entries, created with Microsoft Visual Basic 5.0, Control Creation Edition, at TechWeb's ActiveXpress site for ActiveX users and developers at http://www.techweb.com/ativexpress/contest/challenge.html The contest will run from January 1 through February 12, 1997. Prizes will be awarded in several categories, including best business component, best vertical market component, best game, best Internet component and best Office 97 component. Judging will be based on criteria that include creativity, usefulness, technical implementation, ease of use and innovation. The grand prize winner will receive round-trip travel and accommodations for the Microsoft Developer Days conference in Redmond, Wash., where he or she will present the control to more than 30,000 developers. At Developer Days, the winner will also meet Microsoft Chairman and CEO Bill Gates, who will present the grand prize award. Other winning entries will receive Microsoft products, such as a Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Universal subscription (head over to http://www.microsoft.com/msdn/subscribe to learn more), and the soon-to-be-released Visual Basic 5.0, Enterprise Edition. All winning entries will be featured on CMP's TechWeb and Microsoft's Web site. ** INTERNET INFORMATION SERVER 3.0 SHIPPING ** The shipping version of Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS) version 3.0 is available for download. Windows NT Server 4.0 users can download IIS 3.0 for free (except for any connect charges). IIS is a standard feature of Windows NT Server 4.0. To find out more, go to the IIS Web site ( http://www.microsoft.com/iis ). ========================================== TIPS & TRICKS ** Special Effects with Marquees ** Q: How do I create a marquee that scrolls vertically? A: You need to use the ActiveX marquee control that is included with Internet Explorer 3.0. The CODEBASE parameters are not required because this control will always be installed with the browser. The page that is to display the marquee will include code similar to the following (see the next question for specifics on how to control the scrolling direction and other variations): <OBJECT ALIGN=CENTER CLASSID="clsid:1a4da620-6217-11cf-be62- 0080c72edd2d" WIDTH=100 HEIGHT=90 BORDER=0 HSPACE=0 ID=marquee> <PARAM NAME="ScrollStyleX" VALUE="Circular"> <PARAM NAME="ScrollStyleY" VALUE="Circular"> <PARAM NAME="szURL" VALUE="marqcont.htm"> <PARAM NAME="ScrollDelay" VALUE=60> <PARAM NAME="LoopsX" VALUE=-1> <PARAM NAME="LoopsY" VALUE=-1> <PARAM NAME="ScrollPixelsX" VALUE=0> <PARAM NAME="ScrollPixelsY" VALUE=-3> <PARAM NAME="DrawImmediately" VALUE=0> <PARAM NAME="Whitespace" VALUE=0> <PARAM NAME="PageFlippingOn" VALUE=0> <PARAM NAME="Zoom" VALUE=100> <PARAM NAME="WidthOfPage" VALUE=100> </OBJECT> The page that is the marquee (referred to marqcont.htm in the code above) will have code similar to the following: <TABLE BORDER=0> <TR> <TD WIDTH=100 HEIGHT=60 ALIGN=CENTER VALIGN=CENTER> <SPAN STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Arial; color: purple; font-weight: bold"> This site is enhanced for <BR> <IMG ALIGN=CENTER width=88 height=31 SRC="ie_stat.gif" border=0> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> Q: What other scrolling effects can I create with marquees? A: The ScrollPixelsX and ScrollPixelsY values control the direction of scrolling movement. X values control horizontal movement, and Y values control vertical movement. Positive values move to the right or bottom, negative values move to the left or top. Thus, X=0 and Y=-3 results in scrolling from bottom to top. If both the X and Y values are non-zero, the movements are combined, resulting in a slanted movement. The Zoom parameter can be used to cause an explosive effect by contracting and expanding the contents. Including the following lines in the OBJECT definition causes the contents of the marquee to switch between different contents when the user right-clicks the marquee. <PARAM NAME="szURL" VALUE="alphabet.htm"> <PARAM NAME="PageFlippingOn" VALUE="1"> <PARAM NAME="OtherURL0" VALUE="alphabet2.htm"> <PARAM NAME="OtherURL1" VALUE="alphabet3.htm"> ** Other Tip Topics ** Q: How do I redirect a user to a new URL? A: The following example will display a line of text for three seconds before automatically jumping to a new URL. Note that the quotes around the CONTENTS value must surround both the time delay and the target URL. The delay can be zero, but remember that the page will still be visible until the new page is downloaded. <HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>Old page</TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF TEXT=#000040> <META HTTP-EQUIV="REFRESH" CONTENT="3; URL=newpage.htm"> <FONT FACE="ARIAL" SIZE=3> <i>We've moved! I'll take you to our new page now...</i> <BR> </FONT> </BODY> </HTML> Q: How can I detect which browser is being used? A: Whenever possible, you should be testing for the capabilities of the browser (for example, VBScript support) rather than identifying the browser. This will automatically handle upgraded versions of browsers. If that's not practical, you must use scripting code such as the following. <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript"> var ver = navigator.appVersion; if (ver.indexOf("MSIE") != -1) <confirm("Thanks for using IE")> </SCRIPT> Q: How can I embed a sound for both Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator? A: Use the following code: <!-- * --> <!-- Sound for Netscape Navigator 3.0 and above with LiveAudio plug-in --> EMBED SRC="sound.au" height=2 width=2 autostart=true hidden=true> <!-- * --> <!-- Sound for Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.0 and above --> <!-- The NOEMBED tags are there so that Netscape Navigator ignores this --> <NOEMBED> <BGSOUND SRC="sound.au"> </NOEMBED> <!-- * --> Q: How can I resize a control when the window is resized? A: Place the control in a frame of the desired size, with WIDTH=100% and HEIGHT=100%. Q: How can I prevent the colors in my page from being dithered? A: You should only use the 216 colors in the standard palette supported by both Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator to ensure that your page will look good on systems running in 256-color mode. These colors include any combination of red, green, and blue components of 0, 51, 102, 153, 204, and 255. Want more detailed information? Visit the Authoring/Editing area of the Site Builder Workshop at http://www.microsoft.com/workshop/ and read the article on "Decreasing Download Time Through Effective Color Management." Q: How can I display small animations in my page? A: There are currently two ways to display animations: using AVI files and using animated GIFs. AVIs are movies that can include sound and more than 256 colors. AVI files can be compressed using a number of techniques. AVIs are currently only supported by Internet Explorer. Animated GIFs contain multiple images in 256-color GIF format with a specified interval to pause between images. They cannot contain sound. Animated GIFs are supported by many browsers. For more information, see http://www.yahoo.com/computers_and_internet/graphics/computer_animation/ animated_gifs/. Q: How can I create a blank cell in a table that displays its borders? A: Put a non-breaking space character in the cell using " ". Q: How can I display a watermark? A: Both Internet Explorer 2.0 and 3.0 support watermarks. Use the following code: <BODY BACKGROUND="myimage.gif" BGPROPERTIES=FIXED> ** BROWSER DETECTION WITH JSCRIPT ** To take advantage of Internet Explorer's special features, you may want to develop a page that uses Internet Explorer-specific tags. Unfortunately, the page doesn't always look good when viewed with Netscape Navigator. To accommodate both worlds, some developers are creating two distinct pages, one for Internet Explorer users and a second one for Navigator users. If you want to display two different pages each specific to a different browser, you can use the following script to detect the user's browser type: <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript"> <!--var name = navigator.appName; function is Browser> <if (name == "Microsoft Internet Explorer"> <location.href="EXPLORER.htm"> else <location.href="NAVIGATOR.htm"> is Browser () // --> </SCRIPT> <BODY> Content for those not using either browser. </BODY> You should place this script between the <HEAD> and <BODY> tags. This tip provided courtesy of Microsoft Web Builder. For more information or a free trial subscription, check out The Cobb Group or call The Cobb Group at 1-800-223-8720. For more tips like this one, try http://www.cobbtips.com/ ** CREATING INTERNET EXPLORER-SPECIFIC LINKS ** Microsoft Internet Explorer is currently the only browser that natively supports VBScript. You can take advantage of this feature to create links that only Internet Explorer users can see. For example, if you want Internet Explorer users to be able to click a link and visit an ActiveX feature page, but you don't want non-Internet Explorer users to see the link, you can use VBScript to hide the link from non-Internet Explorer browsers: <HTML> <BODY> ...... body of text <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="VBScript"> <!---- document.write("<a href=activexpage.htm> Click here to go to the ActiveX page </a>") --> </SCRIPT> </BODY> </HTML> This tip provided courtesy of Microsoft Web Builder. For more information or a free trial subscription, call The Cobb Group at 1-800-223-8720. For more tips like this one, try http://www.cobtips.com/ ____________________ FORWARD SEPARATOR ____________________ END OF MESSAGE
Received on Thursday, 19 December 1996 23:05:00 UTC