Layout Pane
Layer Pane

The Layer Pane is where you design your Java Applet. Each Layer within the Layer Pane equals a single, distinct animation. The layer order describes the animation's relative positioning within the Java applet, with the first layer in the Pane being the bottom-most layer in the Applet.

Each Layer has its own properties that can be modified in the Properties Pane. The Applet Layer contains properties for the entire Java Applet. One layer's properties do not carry over to other layers.


Properties Pane: General (Applet)
 General 	 Play Control 	 Background
 Border	 Advanced

This tab controls the size of the entire Java Applet. The options are:

 Width - Defines the width of the applet in pixels.

 Height - Defines the height of the applet in pixels.


Properties Pane: Play Control (Applet)
 General 	 Play Control 	 Background
 Border	 Advanced

This tab controls the frequency with which the Java Applet is played. The options are:

 lnfinite - Sets the Java Applet to play indefinitely within the browser window.

 Frequency - Sets the number of times the Java Applet plays.


Properties: Background (Applet)
 General 	 Play Control 	 Background
 Border	 Advanced

This tab defines the type of background the Java Applet contains; this background shows through in places that don't have an animated sprite. The options are:

 Fill Color - Makes the background a single color. Click the color box to open the Windows Color Picker and select the desired color for the applet background.

 Gradient Fill - Uses a blend of two or more colors for the background. Click the Gradient Fill button to select the type of gradient created as well as the colors used.

 Image File - Uses a GIF or JPG image as the applet background. You can either Tile the image within the applet (displaying it as many times as the dimensions of the Applet can fit it), or animate it by selecting the Rolling option. If you tile the image, you can shift its positioning using the X- and Y- offset options to move it a specific number of pixels horizontally and vertically.


Properties: Border (Applet)
 General 	 Play Control 	 Background
 Border	 Advanced

The tab adds a framing border to the Java applet using either a simple, colored line or an image file. The options are:

 Add Border - Activates, or deactivates, the applet border.

 Image File - Uses an image file rather than a colored frame as the applet border.

 Type - Defines the kind of border applied to the applet. The 4 border types vary by lighting direction. The Color Change option allows you to create a greater disparity between the lit areas of the border and the shaded areas.

 Width - Sets the width of the border.


Properties: Advanced (Applet)
 General 	 Play Control 	 Background
 Border	 Advanced

This tab contains miscellaneous options that affect the applet's behavior. The options are:

 X- & Y- Offset - Use the X- and Y- Offset to position the applet anywhere within the browser window, where X is the horizontal plane and Y is the vertical.

 Status Bar Text - Defines the text that appears in the web browser status bar when you mouse over the Java applet.


Workspace

The workspace is where you arrange your animated sprites within the Java applet. Each sprite can be resized by clicking and dragging on the bounding box handles on the sprite's edges when selected; sprites can also be repositioned by simply clicking and dragging on them.

 You can view and modify a sprite's properties by double-clicking on it. To add a new animated sprite to the applet, click the Sprites - Sprite type - Sprite name menu command.

 The Workspace can be viewed as a timeline by clicking the Timeline button on the standard toolbar. To move sprites either up or down, click the Edit - Move Sprite menu commands or use the corresponding buttons on the Layout toolbar.


Timeline

The Workspace Timeline can be used to modify the duration of an animated sprite, as well as where in the course of the entire animation the sprite begins playing as well as ends. You can switch to Timeline mode by clicking the Timeline button on the standard toolbar. In the Timeline, each sprite is represented by a horizontal line indicating its duration as well as its start and end times. Duration in the Timeline is measured in tenths of a second.

 To adjust a sprite's duration, use your mouse cursor and drag the left or right edge of the horizontal bar representing the sprite.

 To open a sprite's properties sheet, double click on either the horizontal bar or the sprite's name.

 To move a sprite within the overall applet timeline, click and drag it to its new position.


Standard Toolbar

The standard toolbar contains shortcuts to the most commonly used menu commands as well as quick preview buttons to view your work in progress. Click on a button below to find out what it does.


Layout Toolbar

The layout toolbar contains controls for manipulating the content of your Java animation. Click on a button below to find out what it does.


Standard Toolbar (FrontPage)

The standard toolbar contains shortcuts to the most commonly used menu commands as well as quick preview buttons to view your work in progress. Click on a button below to find out what it does.


Properties Pane: General (Sprite)
 General 	 Play Control 	 Background
 Border	 Margins

This tab controls the dimensions of the selected animated sprite. The options are:

 Title - The layer's title. This can be anything you like and it doesn't affect the appearance of the animation in the least. It's there to assist you in managing your sprite layers.

 X- & Y- Offset - Defines the sprite's position in relation to the dimensions of the Java applet.

 Width & Height - Defines the sprite's size. The sprite can be larger than the Java applet but all excess portions of it will be trimmed at the applet's edge.

 Change Cursor - Changes the user's mouse cursor to a hand when the sprite is moused over. This is especially useful for sprites that are linked to other web pages. Note: In some versions of Netscape Navigator, the cursor may change to a down arrow - this is a limitation of the Netscape Virtual Machine for Java. You can update your copy of Netscape Navigator at: http://www.netscape.com.


Properties Pane: Play Control (Sprite)
 General 	 Play Control 	 Background
 Border	 Margins

This tab controls how the animated sprite is played. The options are:

 Start - Specifies the point in the timeline where the animation begins playing.

 End - Specifies the point in the timeline where the animation stops playing.

 Frequency - Specifies the number of times the sprite should play before ceasing.


Properties: Background (Sprite)
 General 	 Play Control 	 Background
 Border	 Margins

This tab defines the type of background the animated sprite contains. The options are:

 Fill Color - Makes the background a single color. Click the color box to open the Windows Color Picker and select the desired color for the sprite background.

 Gradient Fill - Uses a blend of two or more colors for the background. Click the Gradient Fill button to select the type of gradient created as well as the colors used.

 Image File - Uses a GIF or JPG image as the sprite background. You can either Tile the image within the applet (displaying it as many times as the dimensions of the Applet can fit it), or animate it by selecting the Rolling option. If you tile the image, you can shift its positioning using the X- and Y- offset options to move it a specific number of pixels horizontally and vertically.


Properties: Border (Sprite)
 General 	 Play Control 	 Background
 Border	 Margins

The tab adds a framing border to the animated sprite using either a simple, colored line or an image file. The options are:

 Add Border - Activates, or deactivates, the applet border.

 Image File - Uses an image file rather than a colored frame as the sprite border.

 Type - Defines the kind of border applied to the sprite. The 4 border types vary by lighting direction. The Color Change option allows you to create a greater disparity between the lit areas of the border and the shaded areas.

 Width - Sets the width of the border.


Properties: Margin (Sprite)
Properties: Margins (Sprite)
 General 	 Play Control 	 Background
 Border	 Margins

This tab controls the margins within an animated sprite. The options are:

 Left - Sets the left margin in pixels.

 Right - Sets the right margin in pixels.

 Top - Sets the top margin in pixels.

 Bottom - Sets the bottom margin in pixels.


Program Map

Select a region from the program map below to find out more about it:

	A: Standard Toolbar B: Layout Pane C: Properties Pane D: Workspace/Timeline E: Layout Toolbar


New

Creates a new Java Applet.


Open

Opens an existing Java Applet project file.


Save

Saves the current Java Applet project using Animation.Applet's own *.uaa file format.

Note: This is not the Java applet itself, but rather the project file for outputting the Java applet classes. To render your applet into a format useable in web browsers, click the File: Output HTML menu command.


Save As

Saves the current Java Applet project using Animation.Applet's own *.uaa file format. Using Save As allows you to save the current project with a new name.

Note: This is not the Java applet itself, but rather the project file for outputting the Java applet classes. To render your applet into a format useable in web browsers, click the File: Output HTML menu command.


Output HTML

Generates all of the Java Applet classes for your project as well as the corresponding HTML code to embed the applet within your web page.


Preferences: New Applet

Opens the New Applet Preferences dialog box, allowing you to specify default parameters for each new applet created.


Preferences: New Sprite

Opens the New Sprite Preferences dialog box, allowing you to specify default parameters for each new sprite created.


History

Lists the most recent files opened in Animation.Applet.


Exit

Closes Ulead Animation Applet.


Cut

Cuts the selected sprite out of the applet.


Copy

Copies the selected sprite to the Windows clipboard.


Copy HTML

Generates the appropriate HTML for embedding the current applet project into a web page.


Paste

Pastes a cut or copied sprite from the Windows clipboard into the current applet project.


Delete

Deletes the selected sprite.


Move to Top

Moves the selected sprite up to the top of the sprite stack in the workspace.


Move to Bottom

Moves the selected sprite up to the bottom of the sprite stack in the workspace.


Move Up

Moves the selected sprite up one in sprite stack in the workspace.


Move Down

Moves the selected sprite down one in sprite stack in the workspace.


Next Sprite

Selects the next sprite in the sprite stack.


Previous Sprite

Selects the previous sprite in the sprite stack.


Actual View

Returns the workspace to 1:1 aspect ratio.


Zoom-In

Zooms in on the workspace.


Zoom-Out

Zooms out on the workspace.


Preview

Previews the Java Applet in your default web browser.


Preview in Browser

Opens the Preview in Browser dialog box, allowing you to select an alternate browser in which to preview the Java Applet.


Layout Pane
Workspace

Switches to the Workspace.


Timeline

Switches to the Timeline.


Properties

Opens the properties sheet for the selected sprite.


Standard Toolbar

Hides or displays the standard toolbar.


Layout Toolbar

Hides or displays the Layout Toolbar.


Status Bar

Hides or displays the Status Bar.


About Sprites

Opens the About Sprites help topic, describing what Animation.Applet sprites are and where to download new ones.


Order

Opens the purchase page at the WebUtilities web site for you upgrade to the full version of Ulead Animation.Applet.


Help

Opens the online help table of contents.


Getting Started

Opens the Getting Started topic in the online help.


WebUtilities Home

Opens the WebUtilities home page in your default web browser. Requires a live connection to the Internet.


About

Opens the About box from which you can record your Technical Support ID.


Gradient Fill

This dialog box allows you to create a gradient filled background for your applet or sprite. A Gradient Fill is where one color fades into a second. The options are:

 Fill Type - Determines how the gradient fill is applied to the background. There are eight different fill types, including four directional ones for simple gradients.

 Fill Colors - Sets the two colors used in the fill procedure. You can invert the colors by clicking the Color Polarity button between the color boxes.

 Color Ramp - Specifies the range of colors used to create the gradient. RGB has a smaller, more distinct color space than HSB, which is capable of creating more unique colors.


Background Rolling

This dialog box allows you to create a rolling background image for your applet or sprite. The options are:

 Speed - Sets the speed of the rolling animation, with 1 being the slowest and 10 the fastest.

 Direction - Sets the direction of the rolling animation. There are 8 different directions to choose from, each one corresponding to a point on a compass.


Tune Grid Size

This dialog box allows you to specify the properties of the Workspace grid. The options are:

 Snap to Grid - Makes the grid "magnetic" so that sprites automatically snap to the gridlines when moving them around. This makes it easier to align multiple sprites.

 Workspace Grid Size - Defines the distance between grid lines in terms of pixels.

 Timeline Grid Size - Defines the distance between time units in terms of pixels.


Preferences: Applet Size
Preferences: Applet
 Size 	 Background	 Border

Sets the default applet size for new projects. The options are:

 Width - Defines the width of the applet in pixels.

 Height - Defines the height of the applet in pixels.


Preferences: Applet Background
Preferences: Applet
 Size 	 Background	 Border

Sets the default applet background for new projects. The options are:

 Fill Color - Makes the background a single color. Click the color box to open the Windows Color Picker and select the desired color for the applet background.

 Gradient Fill - Uses a blend of two or more colors for the background. Click the Gradient Fill button to select the type of gradient created as well as the colors used.

 Image File - Uses a GIF or JPG image as the applet background. You can either Tile the image within the applet (displaying it as many times as the dimensions of the Applet can fit it), or animate it by selecting the Rolling option. If you tile the image, you can shift its positioning using the X- and Y- offset options to move it a specific number of pixels horizontally and vertically.


Preferences: Applet Border
Preferences: Applet
 Size 	 Background	 Border

Sets the default applet border for new projects. The options are:

 Add Border - Activates, or deactivates, the applet border.

 Image File - Uses an image file rather than a colored frame as the applet border.

 Type - Defines the kind of border applied to the applet. The 4 border types vary by lighting direction. The Color Change option allows you to create a greater disparity between the lit areas of the border and the shaded areas.

 Width - Sets the width of the border.


Preferences: Sprite Size
Preferences: Sprite
 Size 	 Duration	 Background
 Border	 Margin

Sets the default sprite size for new projects. The options are:

 Width & Height - Defines the sprite's size. The sprite can be larger than the Java applet but all excess portions of it will be trimmed at the applet's edge.


Preferences: Sprite Duration
Preferences: Sprite
 Size	 Duration	 Background
 Border	 Margin

Sets the default sprite duration for new projects. The options are:

 Start - Specifies the point in the timeline where the animation begins playing.

 End - Specifies the point in the timeline where the animation stops playing.

 Frequency - Specifies the number of times the sprite should play before ceasing.


Preferences: Sprite Background
Preferences: Sprite
 Size	 Duration	 Background
 Border	 Margin

Sets the default sprite background for new projects. The options are:

 Fill Color - Makes the background a single color. Click the color box to open the Windows Color Picker and select the desired color for the sprite background.

 Gradient Fill - Uses a blend of two or more colors for the background. Click the Gradient Fill button to select the type of gradient created as well as the colors used.

 Image File - Uses a GIF or JPG image as the sprite background. You can either Tile the image within the applet (displaying it as many times as the dimensions of the Applet can fit it), or animate it by selecting the Rolling option. If you tile the image, you can shift its positioning using the X- and Y- offset options to move it a specific number of pixels horizontally and vertically.


Preferences: Sprite Border
Preferences: Sprite
 Size	 Duration	 Background
 Border	 Margin

Sets the default sprite border for new projects. The options are:

 Add Border - Activates, or deactivates, the applet border.

 Image File - Uses an image file rather than a colored frame as the sprite border.

 Type - Defines the kind of border applied to the sprite. The 4 border types vary by lighting direction. The Color Change option allows you to create a greater disparity between the lit areas of the border and the shaded areas.

 Width - Sets the width of the border.


Preferences: Sprite Margins
Preferences: Sprite
 Size	 Duration	 Background
 Border	 Margin

Sets the default sprite margins for new projects. The options are:

 Left - Sets the left margin in pixels.

 Right - Sets the right margin in pixels.

 Top - Sets the top margin in pixels.

 Bottom - Sets the bottom margin in pixels.


Center Vertical

Centers the selected sprite along the y-axis.


Center Horizontal

Centers the selected sprite along the x-axis.


Move to Top

Moves the selected sprite to the top of the stack.


Move to Bottom

Moves the selected sprite to the bottom of the stack.


Toggle Grid

Turns the Workspace grid on and off.


Tune Grid Size

Opens the Tune Grid Size dialog box so you can customize the Workspace grid.


Getting Started

To get started with Animation.Applet:

1.	Click the New button to begin a new project. The first layer to appear in the Layer Pane is the Applet layer, which is the host environment for your animation.

2.	Select the Applet Layer, then in the Properties Pane click the General tab. Enter in the Applet's maximum width and height.

3.	Next, select the Play Control tab and, if you want, select the Infinite Loop option to enable the animation to play endlessly within a users browser window.

4.	On the Background tab, select to fill the applet with either a color, a gradient or an image. Because Java applets contain no transparency feature, your web page's background cannot display through the applet itself. Using this tab, however, you can make your applet background match your web page thereby blending the two together.

5.	Select the Border tab and set a border around your applet, if necessary. Next, click the Advanced tab and enter in the horizontal and vertical shifting you want to apply to it - this lets you position the applet anywhere within a web browser page without having to perform special formatting within the HTML itself. Finally, enter the Status Bar text that you want to appear whenever a user mouses over the applet.

6.	Select a Sprite from the Sprites menu. Each Sprite has its own unique parameters, so for details on how to use it please click that particular sprite's Help button. Once you finish setting up your sprite, click OK. The Sprite appears in the Workspace.

7.	On the Standard toolbar, click the Timeline button to switch from the Workspace to the Timeline. Now you can select the sprite and adjust its duration as well as its start and end point within the applet.

8.	After you've added all your Sprites, click the File: Output HTML menu command. This saves your work as an HTML file with all of the corresponding Java classes necessary for properly displaying it. To incorporate it into your web pages, simply open the HTML file in your favorite HTML editor and cut the code from it to the page in question and then save. Next, copy all of the Java classes output with the file to the same directory as your new web page. When your load your new web page, the Java animation should load.


WebUtilities Home

Visit the official Ulead WebUtilities web site for more great tools. Download trial versions of some of our hottest software, such as FX Razor, GIF Animator,and Button.Applet just to name a few. Be sure to visit us frequently and check out our online tutorials for Animation.Applet and other software. You can also download free goodies, such as GIF animations and Photo Viewer.

Point your browser to:  http://www.webutilities.com for more.


What is Animation Applet
What is Animation Applet?

Animation.Applet is the quick and easy solution to outputting custom Java for your web pages. With it, you can create wild text and image effects that you couldn't normally achieve with standard GIF animations or without using weighty AVI or MOVie files. The Java classes output for your Animation.Applet projects are small and fast-downloading, and require no proprietary plug-ins; the only thing people visiting your webs need are Java-enabled browsers.

Animations created with Animation Applet have two components: the Applet and the Sprites. The Applet is the host 'shell' or environment which contains your animations and effects, which are called Sprites. Because of Animation.Applet's extensible plug-in architecture, new Sprites can be easily loaded into the program for you to use. In the future, look for more Sprites from Ulead and other 3rd party developers to appear on the web, giving you that much more power over your creations.


About Sprites

Sprites are special animated components for each Animation.Applet. Each sprite has its own properties and effects associated with it. To add a new sprite to your animation, select one from the Sprites menu and then customize it. You add a sprite as many times as you want to an Animation.Applet with each instance keeping its properties distinct from the others. Within the Workspace and Timeline, you can move position and layer sprites however you want within the constraints of the Applet itself, as well as adjust its duration and start/end points.

Sprites can be plugged into Animation.Applet quite easily, so be sure to visit the Ulead WebUtilities web site often for new sprites.