Sizzler adds animation to the static text and graphics of HTML. Sizzler is an application that creates Sprite files which are optimized for the Web. QuickTime movies and/or PICS files can be dropped on the Sizzler application and the result is a highly compressed interactive animation Sprite file. The Sizzler Plug-in allows Netscape Navigator 2.0 to display Sprite files.
Some Terminology
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Files on the Internet are referenced through a URL (Uniform Resource Locator). A URL contains three parts, the protocol to use, the host, and the path to the file. Here is an example:
http://www.totallyhip.com/Tools/logo.sprite
In this case, the protocol is "http" which stands for "HyperText Transport Protocol". This is the standard protocol used on the Web to transmit HTML (HyperText Markup Language) documents from the server to your browser. The host is "www.totallyhip.com" and the path is "/Tools/logo.sprite" where "logo.sprite" is the sprite file of interest.
When a server receives a request like the one above, the server responds by sending the contents of the file indicated along with a MIME type. The MIME type indicates the kind of data that the server is sending in response to a request for a certain URL. The server determines the MIME type to send based on the file name extension. The MIME type for Sprite files is "application/x-sprite".
Configuring a Server
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In order to publish Sprite files on a Web server you must configure the server to recognize Sprite files. Once configured, the server will recognize the "sprite" or "spr" file name extension and translate this into a MIME type of "application/x-sprite". If you are a System Administrator you can do this yourself, otherwise you will need to contact your System Administrator or WebMaster and supply the information shown below.
Configuring most UNIX Servers
Here is the information that is needed to add an entry to the mime types file. This file is usually located in the "conf" or "config" directory.
MIME Type: application
SubType: x-sprite
Extensions: sprite, spr
Configuring CERN HTTPD Servers
Add the following entries to the configuration file in "server_root/config":
AddType .SPRITE application/x-sprite 8bit 1.0
AddType .SPR application/x-sprite 8bit 1.0
Configuring NCSA HTTPD Servers
Add the following entries to the file "ServerRoot/conf/mime.types":
application/x-sprite sprite
application/x-sprite spr
Configuring Mac HTTP Servers
Add the following entries to the "MacHTTP.config" file:
BINARY .SPRITE TEXT * application/x-sprite
BINARY .SPR TEXT * application/x-sprite
Configuring WebSTAR Servers
1. Run the WebSTAR Admin application.
2. Choose your server in the Pick a Server window.
3. From the Configure Menu choose Suffix Mapping. Use the following information:
Action: BINARY
File Suffix: .SPRITE
File Type: TEXT
Creator: *
MIME Type: application/x-sprite
4. Repeat the above but with a File Suffix of ".SPR".
Legal & Contact Info
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Sizzler and Sizzler Plug-in For Macintosh
Copyright (c) 1996 Totally Hip Software. All Rights Reserved.
Sizzler and Sizzler Plug-in are the property of Totally Hip Software and may not be altered, reproduced or copied in any way, shape or form without prior written consent from Totally Hip Software.
