Copyright: Applet Button Factory Help


Overview

Applet Button Factory

Overview:

What this program does...

The Applet Button Factory creates java applet buttons for without the user needing to write any java or HTML code.

Applets require three things to run:

1) The file "button.class" To avoid any problems always put it in this file in the same directory as the HTML file with the applet.

2) An HTML page with the code for the applet. This code is what the Applet Button Factory creates- it creates it in a HTML file and HTML on the "HTML" tab of the main Applet Button Factory window. You can either copy this code or build your web page around the HTML file generated by this program.

3) All images must also be in the same directory as the HTML file and "button.class". When creating an applet you should copy all of the images you will use into the same directory as the Applet Button Factory or they will not show up when you test an applet.

Contents:

Overview and contents

Settings for the "General" tab

Settings for the "Text" tab

Settings for the "Html" tab

Misc Controls

Common Errors

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General
Overview of the "General" Tab:

The following are definitions for the settings on the "General" tab of the Applet Button Factory.

Button Width

This specifies the width of the buttons used in the applet in pixels.

Button Height

This specifies the height of the buttons used in the applet.

Page Title

This program creates a HTML file whenever an applet is created.This is the name the HTML file is saved as.

Align Applet

This will align the applet either left, right or center on  the HTML page.

Border Thickness

Every button can have a border. This field specifies the width of the border in pixels.

Border Color Change

This changes how much lighter each border layer will be than the last. The border becomes lighter as it is gets closer to the center of the button. The border color is changed by pressing the "Color"  button. This also changes the main color for the button.

Button Down When Clicked

Clicking this makes the button only go into the pressed position when the mouse is clicked over it.

Button Down When Mouse Moves

This makes the button go into the pressed position whenever the mouse moves over it but will not link to a site until the button is clicked.

Spacing

This changes the spacing between the button border, images, and text displayed. Example- Setting this to 1 will make the image and text displayed on a button appear very close together... Setting it to 4 will spread the image and text out further over the width of the button.

Color

This changes the main color of the button. The border color is also changed with this button.

Number of Buttons

This specifies the number of buttons the applet will have.

Button Alignment

Setting this to vertical aligns all of the buttons vertically. Setting it to horizontal aligns them left to right.


Text
Overview of the "Text" Tab:

The following are definitions for the controls on the "Text" tab of the Applet Button Factory.

Font

This sets the font for the buttons.

Font Size

This sets the size of the font used in the buttons.

Plain, Bold or Italic

These specifies the style of the font.

Font Color

This sets the color of the font used for the button.

Font Click color

This is the color the font changes to when the mouse moves over it or the button is clicked.

Align Text and Image

This sets where on the button the text and image will appear. Setting this to left will make the image appear far left on the button and the  text to the right of it. Setting it to right makes the image appear on the far right and the text to left of it. Setting it to center makes both the text and image appear in the center of the button.

"Last" and "Next" buttons

 If you are making an applet with more than one button these buttons will change which buttons' "link", "label" and "button image" are displayed in the text fields below.

Button Link

This specifies the URL the button will link to when clicked.

Target Frame

This specifies which frame the button will display the page in when clicked. Leave it blank if you aren't using frames.

Button Label

This specifies the text displayed in the button.

Button image

This specifies the path to the image used in the applet. When you put the applet on the net all of the images must be on the same server as the applet.

If you don't want the background of an image to show up use a .gif image and set the transparent color to the color you don't want to show.


HTML
Overview of the "HTML" Tab

The following are definitions for the controls on the "HTML" tab of the Applet Button Factory.

Copy HTML Button

This button copies the HTML onto the clipboard.

Save HTML Button

This button will save the HTML as an HTML file.


Misc
Overview of Misc. Buttons and Windows

Make HTML Button

 When you press this button the Button Factory creates the HTML in file on your hard drive and text in the "HTML" tab of this program. The file it creates is located in the same folder as the Applet Button Factory.

Test Applet Button

This Button Factory creates the HTML then launches the HTML file in the web browser specified in the 'Browser" window.

IF YOU EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS AFTER PRESSING "TEST APPLET" TRY THIS: THE FIRST TIME YOU RUN AN APPLET PRESS "TEST APPLET" AFTER THAT WHEN YOU WANT TO TEST AN APPLET DON'T PRESS "TEST APPLET" PRESS "MAKE HTML" AND THEN "RELOAD" ON YOUR WEB BROWSER.

Reset All Button

When you press "Reset All" it clears all of the values you have entered and sets them to default values.

Browser Window

In this window you can specify which web browser is used to test applets. Clicking "Use Default Browser" will tell the Button Factory to use the windows default browser.


Common Errors

Error Messages Displayed in a Browser

These error messages are displayed in the status bar of your web browser. Usually you need to move the mouse over the applet to see these messages.

Error: Load: class Button not found

Occurs in: Internet Explorer

This means that the file "button.class" is not in the proper directory. The code generated by the Button Factory expects "button.class" to be in the same directory as the HTML file.

Error: Applet can't start: class button not found

Occurs in: Netscape

This means that the file "button.class" is not in the proper directory. The code generated by the Button Factory expects "button.class" to be in the same directory as the HTML file.

Error: com.ms.applet.AppletSecurityException:

Occurs in: Internet Explorer 3.02 and 4.0 beta

There is a problem with running applets from your hard drive in these builds of Internet Explorer. Microsoft has addressed this problem by providing a patch for the Java VM. As of May 5, 1997 this can be downloaded at:

http://www.microsoft.com/java/dl_vmsp2.htm

or

http://www.microsoft.com/java/vmdownload.htm

General Help Question and Answers

This is a list of common mistakes and problems people have.

Problem: When I click a button nothing happens.

Either:

A) You never typed in a internet address for the button to link when clicked.

B) You entered the incorrect internet address.

Problem: When I press "Test Applet" all I see is a gray box in my web browser.

This usually means that the web browser can't find the file "button.class" which is required for this applet to run. Make sure it is in the same directory as "Applet Button Factory.exe"

Problem: When I press "Test Applet" nothing happens.

This means you do not have a browser selected to test applets. Click on the "Options" menu and select "Browser". From there all you have to do is specify the path to a web browser.

Problem: The images don't show up.

You probably entered the incorrect path to the image.

Problem: When I try my button on the internet it doesn't work.

You are probably using the unregistered version which doesn't work on the internet... sorry.

Problem: The images and text are overlapping the buttons.

You will have to use smaller images and shorter button labels. I didn't provide a fix for this because it would slow down the buttons and look pretty pathetic.


Button.class
"Button.class"

This is an important file. It is the Java program and your applet won't work without it.

Applet Button Factory expects "button.class" to be in the same directory as the HTML file.

If your web browser can't find it you will get one of the following error messages:

Error: Load: class Button not found

Occurs in: Internet Explorer

Error: Applet can't start: class button not found

Occurs in: Netscape


HTML Page

The Applet Button Factory creates the HTML which is required for the applet to work. It creates both an HTML file on your hard drive and text on the "HTML" tab of the program.

Applets also require the file "button.class" to work.