Copyright: © Sausage Software 1997
Citation: Extract from AFKAL Help File © Sausage Software 1997


Welcome to AFKAL

Welcome to AFKAL, Sausage Software’s new fun security product which allows you to add a layer of protection to your web page.
Sick and tired of forgetting the old passwords you have to connect to some sites? Always forgetting your credit card’s PIN (Personal Identification Number)? Well, did you know that the human brain has the ability to recognise a face almost instantaneously (i.e., in about 20 milliseconds)?

Well, when we found that out we thought, “hey, why don’t we build a Java -based, client-side security product based on a user’s recognition of faces”. So, that’s what we did. However, you don’t have to use pictures of people. You can use any image that you put on the web at the moment.

Important: AFKAL has been written in such a way that you can test, preview and fine-tune your applet whilst it is on your local machine. It will not, however, run on a WWW server until such time that it has been registered. But hey, it’s only $25 to register….

Related Topics

  How does AFKAL work?

  What can AFKAL be used for?

  Setting up an AFKAL security page - in 10 easy stages

  AFKAL - Overview

  Contacting Sausage Software

  Troubleshooting Guide

  Uninstalling AFKAL


How does AFKAL work?

AFKAL is an application that asks you to supply a number of graphic images, assign an order that a user must select them, and provide the URL ’s of the pages that the user should be sent to should they succeed or fail. It will then generate a Java applet that you can embed on a ‘gateway’ web page that you can set up.

If the user gets the Image PIN correct they are sent to the secret ‘Successful URL’. If they get it wrong they get sent to the ‘Unsuccessful URL’. If the unsuccessful user goes back to the page and tries again, they will find that AFKAL has ‘juggled’ or rearranged the images into a different order just so as to make it even more complex to attempt to guess the Image Pin button order.

Related Topics

  What can AFKAL be used for?

  Setting up a AFKAL security page - in 10 easy stages

  How secure is AFKAL?


What can AFKAL be used for?

AFKAL has a number of uses, limited only by your imagination.

•	As a simple security measure for your web page

•	As a fun, pick the odd-one-out type games generator

•	if you made 26 buttons (one for each letter in the alphabet) you could use it for spelling-competitions!

Related Topics

  Setting up a AFKAL security page - in 10 easy stages


How secure is AFKAL?

I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “yeah sure it’s secure. I bet you could view the document source and see both the order and the successful URL without having to go through all this sequence rubbish”. Well try it for yourself. What you’ll see is a bunch of garbled characters. Why? Because we’ve encrypted both the Image PIN (the image selection sequence) and the successful URL so that people can’t use that backdoor method to get around our Java security measure.

However, whilst we think that AFKAL makes your secret page pretty secure, we suggest you don’t put absolute faith in it’s ability to keep hackers out. No client-based security measure is totally secure and if you want a total security measure to keep National Secrets or the like safe, we suggest you go out and buy a server-based security measure.

The other problem with client-side security measures is that whilst we can hide your page using our Java applet, once one person gets through and unscrupulously publishes the URL address, it is no longer a secret anymore and users could go straight to that page. Therefore, if you want to make it more secure, only give your Image-PIN to people you know you can trust.

That being said about the inherent problems with client-side security, we think that you’d have to be both a Java guru and a cryptology expert in order to get past AFKAL and, when you think about it, they make up only a small percentage of our population. So if you just want to keep out that annoying guy who keeps stealing your graphics and only let a select few through to your page, then AFKAL is the product for you.

Related Topics

  What can AFKAL be used for?

  Setting up an AFKAL security page - in 10 easy stages


The AFKAL Interface

The AFKAL interface is made up of five main components: the Toolbar, the Image Selection tab, the Layout tab, the Click Order tab and Destination tab.

Click on the image below to view further information regarding that component.

  Back to Main AFKAL Help Screen


The AFKAL Toolbar

Aaah, the Snaglet Toolbar. If only everything in life was as simple as this little gem. It is the ‘Mission Control’ of all our Snaglets. It is here where you control most of the functionality of the program.

If you want to learn about any particular button on our snaglet, click on it on the image above to get more information.

Related Topics

  The AFKAL Interface


 Toolbar - Preview

The Preview Button will allow you to view the results of your work by passing the Java applet through to an Internet  browser.
Please note: you cannot use the preview function:

•	if no images have yet been selected for use

•	if there is not at least one image in the click order

•	if there is no successful URL

•	if there is no unsuccessful URL

The first time you use the Preview function you will get a “set-up browser dialog box” presented to you. This is where you tell AFKAL the location of your Internet WWW browser on your hard disk.

Related Topics

  How to change the WWW browser used for Preview
  How to Preview your AFKAL applet


 Toolbar - New

This will allow you to start making your AFKAL applet afresh, ie to start building your AFKAL page from scratch. It will also clear-out any work you have already done on setting up a AFKAL. Therefore, if you have not yet saved your AFKAL settings away to file, you wish to do so before clicking on the New button.

Related Topics

  How to reset AFKAL and start from scratch

  How to save your AFKAL settings to file


 Toolbar - Open

This Open button will allow you to open a AFKAL file that contains a previously created AFKAL gateway applet. On selecting this button, the user will be presented with a standard File .. Open dialog box.  When the file is selected and opened it will load this file into AFKAL.

Important: When the saved file is loaded, it will overwrite the current settings in the AFKAL program. For this reason we suggest that you save any work that you require to be kept before opening up a saved file.

Related Topics

  How to open a AFKAL file

  How to save your AFKAL settings to file


Toolbar - Save

This button allows you to save away the current settings in AFKAL to a file that can be retrieved, re-used and altered at a later point in time. When selected, this button will present you with the standard File .. Save dialog box.

Related Topics

  How to save your AFKAL settings to file

  How to open a AFKAL file

  How to change the default save directory for your AFKAL data files


Toolbar - HTML Compile

This option allows you to compile the applet code. The applet code is then ready to be inserted onto your gateway (HTML ) page. Once finished compiling, AFKAL will then automatically copy the applet code from AFKAL into the Windows Clipboard, where you can then paste it into your favourite HTML editor.

Important: The HTML Compile will present you with an error message if:

•	no images have yet been selected for use

•	no button layout has been selected

•	less than one image is in the click order

•	no successful URL has been specified

•	no unsuccessful URL has been specified

Related Topics

  How to compile the HTML code for your applet

  Constructing your Gateway web page


Toolbar - Options

The Option button allows you to set a number of preferences that will help you in the way that you use AFKAL.  The Options dialog box contains details of which directory should be the opened automatically and scanned for images upon start-up of AFKAL. It will also contain details of which directory you wish AFKAL to default to in the Save dialog box when storing the AFKAL data files (ie .PIN files). It also stores the location of your WWW browser on your hard disk so that you can see a preview of your applet when you hit the Preview button.

Click on any of the controls on the image above for more information.

Related Topics

  How to change the default open directory for your images

  How to change the default save directory for your Lockout files

  How to change the WWW browser used for Preview


Options - Open Directory

This control allows you to tell AFKAL your preferences as to which directory it should look to first when trying to find images for use in AFKAL.

There are two options:

Open in last used Directory - uses the last used directory as the basis for the opening read on the hard disk. This means that AFKAL will remember the last directory you used and will present that directory

Open in (specified) default directory - Always uses the directory that you specify when doing the initial read on the hard disk to find images to use.


Options - Save Directory

By choosing this option you are telling AFKAL to default to this directory every time a AFKAL  file (i.e. files with an extension of .PIN) is saved to disk. To use this option you have to supply the directory by either typing it in directly into the text box provided or by using the Browse Directory icon.


Options - Browser

This control tells AFKAL the location on your disk of your Internet WWW browser program. It needs to know this in order to Preview your AFKAL applet.


Toolbar - Quit

The Quit button allows you to exit from the AFKAL program when you are finished creating your AFKAL applets. Be sure to save any work before exiting the AFKAL program.

Related Topics

  How to Quit out of the AFKAL program

  How to save your AFKAL settings to file


Toolbar - Help

This button displays the Help files. If you would like context-sensitive help for a particular control or item on the screen, make it the ‘focus’ ie click on it and press F1. You will then see a description of the control and how it is meant to be used.

Related Topics

  How to use Help


Tab 1  - Image Selection

The left hand-side of the Image Selection Tab will display to you a list of all of the images available for use in their AFKAL security page. The right-hand side will show a list of all the images selected thus far as well as a preview image box so that you know what the image looks like in case you forgot what the image was or in the case of badly-named image files.

To get more information on any element on this tab, click on relevant part of the image above.

  Related Topics


File selection Box

This list box displays a list of image files for you  to select and “Add” to your AFKAL application. It displays all of the files in the drive and directory listed in the Drive drop-down box and Drive List box.

To look at image files in a different directory, you will need to change the directory in the directory list box.

To look at files on a different drive, you will need to change the drive in the Drive drop-down combo box.

To select files for use in your AFKAL application either double-click on a file in this list box or click on the image file once and press the ‘Add >>’ button.


Directory List Box

This list box allows you to navigate to the directory that contains the files you wish to use.

It will default to either the last directory used or to a default directory you have nominated, depending on how you have set up your options.

  How to change the default open directory for your images


Drive Combo Box

This drop-down combo box allows you to select the drive from which to select files for use in your AFKAL application.

It will default to either the last drive used or to a default drive you have nominated, depending on how you have set up your options.

  How to change the default open directory for your images


"Add >>" Button

Clicking on this button after a image file has been selected from the File Selection Box will insert the image file into the Selected Files List Box.

Important: you cannot select the same image twice for a AFKAL applet.


"<< Remove" Button

Clicking on this button after an image file has been selected from the Selected Files List Box will remove it from the Selected Files List Box.


"Remove All" Button

Clicking on this button will remove all image files from the Selected Files List Box.


Selected Files List Box

The Selected Files List box will display to you the image files you have selected thus far to be used in your AFKAL applet.


Image Preview

This control will show you a thumbnail preview of the image that is currently selected with the mouse. This is so you can see whether it really is the image you want to include in your AFKAL applet.


Tab 2  - Layout

This screen allows you to define the layout of your images and gives you a representation of how the applet will set-out the buttons on your gateway page. It allows you to see (graphically) how your images will be laid-out (ie rows x columns), to set parameters regarding border width around the image and the horizontal and vertical separation of the images from each other. The overall size of the applet window is also configurable from this screen.

To get more information on any element on this tab, click on relevant part of the image above.

  Related Topics


Rows x Columns Drop Down Box

This drop down box allows you to select the row x column combination that you wish your images to be displayed in on the applet.


Border Width

This spinner allows you to select the border width (in pixels) that the applet puts around each image. This border will apply to all the images in this particular applet. The border is like the frame around the images. The bigger the border, the bigger the frame.


Horizontal Separation

This spinner allows you  to select the horizontal separation (in pixels) of the images ie. the space to the left and right of each image in relation to each other. This is the space from the edge of the left and right-hand-sides of the image’s border.


Vertical Separation

This spinner allows you to select the vertical separation (in pixels) of the images ie. the space to the top and bottom of each image in relation to each other.


Applet Width

This spinner allows you control the overall width of the entire Java applet (in pixels) as it would appear on your HTML gateway page.


Applet Height

This spinner allows you to select the overall height of the Java applet that will encase all of the images on your gateway page.


Row x Column Representation

This frame shows you a visual representation of how your Row x Column button selection will look.


Tab 3 - Click Order

This tab allows you to nominate the click order that a person accessing your gateway page must click the image buttons,  in order to go to the “Successful URL” nominated in the “Successful URL” text box (on Tab 4).

To get more information on any element on this tab, click on relevant part of the image above.

  Related Topics


Available Images List Box

This List Box shows all of the images that were selected on Tab 1 as being the images you wish to appear on the buttons of your PinFace gateway page.  You can select a file by clicking on it once. You then add it to the click sequence by clicking the “Add>>” button. Alternately you can double-click on the image file in this box and it will automatically “Add” the image to the next position on the click order.


"Add >>" Button

Clicking on this button after an image file has been selected from the Available Images (above) will insert image file into the Click Order List Box. Be aware that you can select the same image file twice for inclusion in the Click Order ie. so the user can click on the same image twice as part of your Image PIN.


"<< Remove" Button

Clicking on this button after an image file has been selected from the Click Order List Box will remove this instance of it from the Click Order List Box.


"Remove All" Button

Clicking on this button will remove all image files from the Click Order List Box.


Click Order List Box

This displays the image buttons in the order that they must be clicked by the person trying to access through your gateway page. Not all image files must be in the click order ie it is possible to have the click order to be only two images from a possible 9 - you do not have to put all 9 images in the click order.


Tab 4 - Destination

The Tab allows you to enter the successful and unsuccessful URL to send the person accessing your page. It also allows you to select a background colour for your applet in case you don’t like that awful grey that normal Java applets default to.

To get more information on any element on this tab, click on relevant part of the image above.

  Related Topics


Successful URL Text Box

This is where you put in the destination URL of the page that you want people who manage to successfully supply the correct Image-PIN to go to once they have hit the OK button.


Successful Target Frame

For those of you who use Frames on your HTML pages, and will be doing so on your gateway page, you can nominate the Target frame that you wish to load the Successful URL into.


Unsuccessful URL Text Box

This is where you put in the destination URL of the page that you want people who don’t manage to successfully supply the correct Image-PIN to go to once they have hit the OK button.


Unsuccessful Target Frame

For those of you who use Frames on your HTML pages, and will be doing so on your gateway page, you can nominate the Target frame that you wish to load the Unsuccessful URL into.


Applet Backgroud Colour Selector
Applet Background Colour Selector

This control shows you the currently selected colour for the background of your applet. Next to it is the Background Colour Modify icon:


Setting up an AFKAL security page - In 10 easy stages

  Select the Images for your buttons

  Design your AFKAL Applet Layout

  Select the Click Order (PIN) of your Images

  Correct PIN? Where to now?

  Incorrect PIN? Where to now?

  Saving your AFKAL settings file

  Previewing your AFKAL applet

  Compile the HTML code for your applet

  Embedding your applet into your gateway page

  Putting your files on your WWW server


Stage 1 - Select the images you wish to use for your AFKAL gateway page

The first step in creating a AFKAL applet for your gateway page is to select all the images you wish to be on your gateway page. How many images should you use?

To select your images, follow these steps:

1.	Click on the Image Selection tab

2.	Using the Drive and Directory controls, navigate to directory that contains the image files that you wish to use

3.	To add an image file to be used in this application, select the file in the list of available files and press the “Add>>” button (alternately you could double-click on the file and it would do the same thing).

4.	The file should then be moved from the Available Files List Box (on the left-hand-side of the screen) to the Selected Files List Box (right-hand-side of the screen).

5.	Repeat Steps 2 to 4 as necessary for all the image files you wish to include in your AFKAL applet.

How to remove images from your Selected Files list

 Next Stage


Stage 2 - Design the screen layout of your images within the applet

This is where you get to use your artistic flair in design as you customise the way your AFKAL applet looks. This tab has two main parts, one that deals with the layout of the buttons whilst the other controls the overall size of the applet window that your AFKAL applet will appear in on your AFKAL gateway web page.

To lay out our buttons, follow these steps:

1.	Click on the Layout tab

2.	Using the ‘Rows x Columns’ drop-down list box select the row by column layout that you require. The drop-down box will display all your available options. As you select an item on the list you will notice that the elements in the frame to the right will update.

3.	The other controls on the Layout tab let you further customise your applet, and you can change them at a later time when you want to fine-tune your applet layout settings to your own tastes. . Leave them with their default values for now.

 Previous Stage

 Next Stage


Stage 3 - Select the order that the images should be clicked (the PIN order)

This is the part where you tell AFKAL two things:

a) 	How many images you want the user to click on.

b) 	In which order the images should be clicked.

The two combined make up what we call the AFKAL PIN. To assign the PIN to your AFKAL applet:

1.	Click on the Click Order tab

2.	Click on one of the image files in the ‘Available Images’ list box

3.	Click on the ‘Add>>’ button.

4.	Repeat Steps 1 to 3 for each image you wish to be included in the AFKAL PIN.

Note: make sure you do this in the order you want to the buttons to be clicked.

How to remove image files from the Click Order list box

How to change the PIN order without removing images from the click order

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Stage 4 - Give AFKAL details of where you want the user to go if they get the AFKAL PIN correct

The whole idea of your gateway page is that if a person goes to this page and is confronted by your AFKAL applet, the applet then can direct them in one of two directions:

a) 	If they get the PIN correct they will be sent to the page you are trying to protect or hide

b) 	If they get the PIN incorrect they will be sent elsewhere, possibly to a “loser’s” page where they are told of their woes.

The Successful URL is the http address of the WWW page you are trying to protect. To instruct AFKAL the address of this page:

1.	Click on the Destination  tab

2.	Click anywhere within the ‘Successful URL’ text box

3.	Type in the http address of the web page you wish to send the user to if they pick the correct number of images in the right sequence.

4.	If you are using frames on your gateway page, then insert the target frame in the box alongside the Successful URL.

Note: Care must be taken when inserting the http address, as one spelling mistake could mean that no-one will be able to get through to your protected web page.

 Previous Stage

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Stage 5 - Give AFKAL details of where you want the user to go if they get the AFKAL PIN incorrect

As stated in Stage 4, the whole idea of your gateway page is that if a person goes to this page and is confronted by your AFKAL applet, the applet then can direct them in one of two directions:

a) 	If they get the PIN correct they will be sent to the page you are trying to protect or hide

b) 	If they get the PIN incorrect they will be sent elsewhere, possibly to a “loser’s” page where they are told of their woes.

The Unsuccessful URL is the http address of the WWW page you are going to send anybody who didn’t press the correct number or sequence of images. To instruct AFKAL the address of this page:

1.	Click on the Destination tab

2.	Click anywhere within the ‘Unsuccessful URL’ text box

3.	Type in the http address of the web page you wish to send the user to if they pick the correct number of images in the right sequence.

4.	If you are using frames on your gateway page, then insert the target frame in the box alongside the Unsuccessful URL.

Note: Care must be taken when inserting the http address, as one spelling mistake could mean that people are directed to a “File not Found” error or the like.

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Stage 6 - Save your AFKAL applet settings to file

At this point it is probably a good idea to save your work thus far (remember - save often, backup regularly).

To save your AFKAL settings to file:

1.	Click on the ‘Save’ button on the toolbar

2.	Ensure that the file is saving to the directory you want it to

3.	Supply a file name for this AFKAL applet

4.	Click the OK button to save.

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Stage 7 - Preview how your AFKAL applet will look

To see how your applet will look, you can preview it within your WWW browser. To do this follow these steps:

1.	Click the Preview button on the toolbar
Note: The first time you do this you may need to tell AFKAL the location of  your WWW browser on your hard disk. Click on the following link for a list of the typical file locations for the more common browsers .

This is a good time to fine-tune your applet layout settings to your own tastes. .

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Stage 8 - Compile the HTML code ready for inclusion on your web page

AFKAL creates the HTML code to be able to run your applet on your gateway page. To compile the HTML code to embed in your gateway page:

1.	Click on the ‘HTML Compile’ from the Toolbar

AFKAL will then compile the HTML code for your applet and will copy the code to the Windows Clipboard automatically for you.

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Stage 9 - Paste the HTML code into your web page

This is the point where we leave the realms of AFKAL and switch to your favourite HTML editor to complete your gateway page.

1.	Open your favourite HTML Editor

2.	Paste the AFKAL applet code into your gateway page (this normally entails using the Edit .. Paste option from the menus).

3.	Remember to save your HTML file in your favourite HTML editor

For more tips on how to set-up your gateway page, see Constructing your Gateway web page

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Stage 10 - Upload the files to your WWW server

All right, so you’ve created your gateway page with the AFKAL applet embedded within it, you’re happy with the layout, borders, everything. Great! Now all you need to do is ‘publish’ your page, ie. put it up on your server or your Internet Service Provider’s (ISP) server.

To do this:

1.	Load up your favourite FTP program, in readiness for sending all the necessary files to your, or your ISP’s server

2.	Using your FTP program, make sure you put all the following files on to your server in the same directory:

•	the html file that contains your gateway page

•	all of the image files you used in the creation of your AFKAL applet

•	all of the AFKAL Java Class Files ie

•	encoder.class

•	hasher.class

•	imagebut.class

•	afkal.class

•	mdigest.class

•	if you want an audible “click” to sound when someone presses your buttons (optional):

•	click.au sound file

Important: all of the above files (including your HTML gateway page) must be in the same directory with the names exactly as they are above. It is especially important to ensure that the Java class files are put in exactly as above as they are case-sensitive, and if you upload them as all (say) upper-case the AFKAL applet will not work.

 Previous Stage

  Back to Main Contents Page


What graphic files can I use?

Only GIF and JPEG format images can be used for AFKAL images. If you have any other graphic format files and you would like to use them in your AFKAL gateway page, you will have to convert them using a product like Paintshop Pro or any of the other graphics packages that are capable of doing graphics file conversions.

The size of the graphic or image file is not important (except of course bandwidth considerations) as AFKAL is smart enough to make the buttons automatically resize the images to fit within the button dimensions.

As AFKAL is a Java applet, and Java does not support animated GIF image files, any GIF file will display on your AFKAL applet, but it will only display animated GIF’s as static images. If they are transparent, they will display as transparent GIFs, but I repeat, they will not animate.

  Related Topics

  Troubleshooting Guide


How many images should you use in an AFKAL gateway page?

Generally, the more images you use, the more secure your gateway page will be. We suggest that your AFKAL applet should contain at least 9 images and your click order (your Image PIN) should have at least 4 images in the sequence. That gives the user up to 254,016 possible combinations they would have to try to get through the AFKAL applet.

Having 9 images also gives you a great looking applet using the 3x3  row x column layout.

Using a lesser number of images or a lesser number of Image files in the Click Order sequence (Image PIN) increases the chances of the user guessing the sequence.

Having said that, we also suggest that you use less than 30 images as a guideline. Any more and the applet either (a) resizes the images below that which is recognisable or (b) the applet pushes the ‘OK’ and ‘Reset’ button right off the bottom of your gateway page, forcing the user to scroll down in order to click on them.

  Related Topics


Files you will need to upload to your Internet Service Provider's Server

All of the following files must be uploaded to your server in the same directory:

•	the html file that contains your gateway page

•	all of the image files you used in the creation of your AFKAL applet

•	all of the AFKAL Java Class Files ie

•	encoder.class

•	hasher.class

•	imagebut.class

•	afkal.class

•	mdigest.class

•	if you want an audible “click” to sound when someone presses your buttons (optional):

•	click.au sound file

Important: all of the above files (including your HTML gateway page) must be in the same directory with the names exactly as they are above. It is especially important to ensure that the Java class files are put in exactly as above as they are case-sensitive, and if you upload them as all lower-case or all upper-case the AFKAL applet will not work.


Fine-tuning your AFKAL applet layout settings to your own tastes

We’ve found that, if you have 800 x 600 resolution or better (and even if you don’t), the best way to fine-tune your AFKAL applet is to do the following:

1.	Have your AFKAL applet all set-up within AFKAL and ready to go

2.	Click the Preview button on the toolbar
This will launch your WWW browser and display a preview of the image

3.	Using your taskbar at the bottom of the page (or by ALT-TAB’ing) go back to the AFKAL program

4.	Move AFKAL so that it is to the side of your applet (ie so both are visible)

5.	Click on the Step 2 - Applet Layout tab

6.	Change the layout settings, one at time, and then hit Preview again.

7.	Keep changing the settings until you’re happy with the layout, borders, spacing and overall applet size. After each change, press the Preview button again to see what effect your change has had.

You will see your changes take effect immediately as AFKAL will sit nicely over the top of your browser which will update in the background. Cool eh?


 Constructing your Gateway web page

The Java applet that AFKAL creates will need to live in amongst the HTML on a WWW web page. Whilst I won’t go into the intimate details of HTML (there are plenty of other, and better, references on the subject that anything I could do within the confines of this Help file), I will give you some clues on how to make your gateway page easier to understand and therefore a greater success.

Your web page needs only the basic HTML elements, and if you use HotDog Professional HTML editor your job will be that much easier (excuse the plug - but we use it, and we like it,  so we’re going to plug it!).

The steps to do this are:

1.	Create a new HTML page in your HTML editor

2.	Put in a heading for your gateway page. Put in something along the lines of:
 “Michael’s Secret Gateway Page”

3.	Put in some explanatory text that will explain to the person viewing the page what exactly they have to do when they load your page up. This might go something like this (depending on how you decide to set-up your AFKAL applet):
“Select only 4 images from the following twenty that represent members of Michael Blewett’s direct family, in order of age (oldest to youngest)”.

4.	Save your web page in your HTML editor.

  Go Back


 Frame Name Special Targets Explained

Netscape has reserved four target names for special redirection actions.

They are:

 _blank

Netscape always loads target=_blank” linked document into a newly opened, unnamed window.

_self

This target value is the default for all <a> tags that do not specify a target, causing the target document to be loaded and displayed in the same frame or window as the source document.

_parent

The _parent target causes the document to be loaded into the parent window or frameset containing the frame containing the hypertext reference. If the reference is in a window or top-level frame, it is equivalent to the target _self.

_top

This target causes the document to be loaded into the window containing the hypertext link, replacing any frames currently displayed in the window.


How to select an image file for use in AFKAL

To select an image file for use in AFKAL:

1.	Click on the Image Selection Tab

2.	Using the Drive and Directory controls, navigate to the directory that contains the image(s) you wish to include
The image files should now appear in the File Selection List Box (above the directory list box)

3.	Select the file you wish to include in your AFKAL applet by clicking on it in the File selection List Box
A preview image will appear on the right-hand-side of the tab.

4.	If this is the file you wish to include then press the ‘Add>>’ button

5.	Repeat Steps 1 to 4 for all the images you wish to include

  Related Topics


How to remove a file from the Selected Files list

To remove an image file from the Selected Files List:

1.	Click on the ‘Image Selection’ tab

2.	Click once on the file in the Selected Files list box to select it

3.	Press the ‘<< Remove’ button.
You should see the image file disappear from the Selected Files list and re-appear in the Available images list.

  Related Topics


How to remove all files from the 'Selected Files' list

To remove all files from the ‘Selected Files’ list:

1.	Click on the ‘Image Selection’ tab

2.	Press the ‘<< Remove’ button.
You should see all of the image files disappear from the Selected Files list and re-appear in the Available images list.

Note: This option only available if one or more image files have already been selected for use in a AFKAL applet ie if no images have yet been selected then this function is not available for use.

  Related Topics


How to change the Row x Column layout

The Row x Column setting determines how your n number of buttons will displayed on the applet ie how many rows, how many columns etc. Before you can change this setting you obviously have to of already selected the image files you wish to use for your buttons on Tab 1.

To change the Row x Column layout:

1.	Click on the Layout tab
The first control on the left-hand-side of the tab is the Row x Column drop-down box. It will contain all of your possible combinations for the number of images you have chosen.

2.	Select the row x column configuration from the drop-down box
You will notice that the images on the right of the tab will reflect your choice.


How to change the size of the button borders

To change the size of button borders:

1.	Click on the Layout tab
The second control on the left-hand-side of the tab is the Border Width spinner.

2.	Use your mouse to adjust the spinners (the up and down controls) to alter the value or click within the entry box and type the value you require directly in.

Note: The value for this control must be zero or greater (I mean let’s face it - you can’t have a negative border can you?)


How to change the horizontal gap between buttons

To change the horizontal gap between buttons:

1.	Click on the Layout tab
The third control on the left-hand-side of the tab is the Horizontal Separation spinner.

2.	Use your mouse to adjust the spinners (the up and down controls) to alter the value or click within the entry box and type the value you require directly in.

Note: The value for this control must be zero or greater  (I mean let’s face it - you can’t have a negative horizontal gap between buttons, can you?)


How to change the vertical gap between buttons

To change the horizontal gap between buttons:

1.	Click on the Layout tab
The fourth control on the left-hand-side of the tab is the Vertical Separation spinner.

2.	Use your mouse to adjust the spinners (the up and down controls) to alter the value or click within the entry box and type the value you require directly in.

Note: The value for this control must be zero or greater (I mean let’s face it - you can’t have a negative vertical gap between buttons, can you?)


How to change the width of the applet

The width of the applet determines how wide the overall applet will appear on your gateway page. To change the applet width:

1.	Click on the Layout tab
The Applet Sizing controls are down the bottom of the tab on the left-hand-side.

2.	Use your mouse to adjust the Applet Width spinners (the up and down controls) to alter the value or click within the entry box and type the value you require directly in.

Note: The value for this control must be greater than zero (I mean let’s face it - you can’t have a applet with a zero or negative width, can you?)


How to change the applet height

The width of the applet determines how wide the overall applet will appear on your gateway page. To change the applet width:

1.	Click on the Layout tab
The Applet Sizing controls are down the bottom of the tab on the left-hand-side.

2.	Use your mouse to adjust the Applet Height spinners (the up and down controls) to alter the value or click within the entry box and type the value you require directly in.

Note: The value for this control must be greater than zero (I mean let’s face it - you can’t have a applet with a zero or negative height, can you?)


How to add an image file to the Click Order

To add an image file to the click order:

1.	Click on the Click Order tab

2.	Click on one of the image files in the ‘Available Images’ list box

3.	Click on the ‘Add>>’ button.
You should notice that the image file you selected will have now appeared in the ‘Click Order’ list box.
Note: It is possible to include an image file more than once in the click order.

4.	Repeat Steps 1 and 2 for each image you wish to be included in the AFKAL PIN.

Note: Make sure you do this in the order you want to the buttons to be clicked.


How to remove image files from the Click Order list box

To remove an image file from the Click Order List Box:

1.	Click on the Click Order tab

2.	Select the image file you wish to delete

3.	Press the ‘<< Remove’ button
The file will now be moved from the Click Order List Box to the Available Images List Box.

How to remove all the image files from the Click Order list box


How to remove all the image files from the Click Order list box

To remove all image files from the Click Order List Box:

1.	Click on the Click Order tab

2.	Press the ‘<< Remove All’ button


How to change the PIN order without removing images from the click order

You might decide that you don’t like the sequence or order that makes up your Image PIN (ie the order someone has to click your images in order to get past your AFKAL applet). You could de-select all of the files and start again from scratch. But that’s a real hassle. So, our development team, in their infinite wisdom, put in a cool feature that allows you to change the order without removing them from the click order.

To change the PIN order (click order) without removing the images from the click order:

1.	Click on the Click Order tab

2.	Within the Click Order list, click and hold down the mouse button on the image you wish to move

3.	Move the mouse to the location in the list your require the file to be.

4.	Release the mouse button when happy with the location within the list of the image file.
You will notice that the order of the list will automatically re-shuffle to accommodate the new sequence.


How to insert a Successful Target URL

The Successful Target URL is the URL of the web page that you wish people to see should they get your Image PIN (click order) correct.

To insert a Successful Target URL:

1.	Click on the Destination tab
The Successful Target URL is the first control on the left-hand-side of the tab

2.	Click anywhere inside the Successful URL entry box

3.	Type the full http address (URL) of the web page you want as the Successful Target URL

4.	If you are using Frames on your gateway page, insert a target Frame name in the box alongside the Successful Target URL.


How to insert an Unsuccessful URL

The Unsuccessful Target URL is the URL of the web page that you wish people to see should they get your Image PIN (click order) incorrect.

To insert a Unsuccessful Target URL:

1.	Click on the Destination tab
The Unsuccessful Target URL is the second control on the left-hand-side of the tab

2.	Click anywhere inside the Unsuccessful URL entry box

3.	Type the full http address (URL) of the web page you want as the Unsuccessful Target URL

4.	If you are using Frames on your gateway page, insert a target Frame name in the box alongside the Unsuccessful Target URL.


How to use AFKAL with Frames

AFKAL is frame aware. This means that if you use frames in the design of your web pages, then AFKAL will work perfectly right along with your HTML pages. To incorporate your AFKAL applet into your frame-designed web pages you will need to supply target frame names alongside the Successful and Unsuccessful target URL’s on the Destination tab.

To insert a target frame name for a Successful or Unsuccessful Target URL:

1.	Click on the Destination tab

2.	Click on, or tab to the Successful and Unsuccessful Target Frame controls

3.	Type in your frame name or select one of the Netscape’s four reserved target frame names from the drop down combo box.


How to change the default background colour of your applet

Sick of that tired old grey background for your applet? Is your applet clashing with your bright pink background of the HTML gateway page that it resides upon? Well, don’t fret because help is at hand.

To change the default background colour of your AFKAL applet:

1.	Click on the Destinations tab
At the bottom of this tab is Applet Background Colour group. It shows the present colour of the applet and also has a background Colour Selector icon next to it

2.	Click on the Background Colour Selector icon

3.	You will then be presented with a colour picker from which you can select a colour of your choice.

4.	When happy with a selection, press OK to return to the Destination tab.


How to save your AFKAL settings to file

To save your AFKAL settings to file (remember save often - backup regularly):

1.	Press the ‘Save’ button on the toolbar

2.	Navigate to the directory you wish to save the file into

3.	Type in a name for your file

4.	Click the save button

Related Topics

  How to open a AFKAL file


How to Preview your AFKAL applet

You preview how your applet will look using your WWW browser (e.g. Netscape or Internet Explorer etc.). You must ensure that you have input all of the necessary elements before you can preview how your applet will look (if all elements are not there you will receive an error message telling you what is missing).

Note: The first time you use the Preview function you will need to tell AFKAL the location of your WWW browser on your hard disk.

To preview your AFKAL applet:

1.	Ensure that all the settings have been input on all tabs in the AFKAL program

2.	Click on the Preview button on the toolbar.


How to open a AFKAL file

To open a AFKAL file that contains the settings of a AFKAL applet created previously:

1.	Make sure you have saved any current settings that you may want to keep (opening a previously-saved file will erase any current settings).

2.	Click on the Open button on the Toolbar

3.	Navigate to the directory that contains your AFKAL file

4.	Select the file by clicking on it in the File List

5.	Click the Open button


How to reset the current AFKAL settings and start from scratch

To reset the current AFKAL settings and start from the beginning:

1.	Make sure you have saved any current settings that you may want to keep (this action will erase any current settings).

2.	Click on the New button on the Toolbar


 How to compile the HTML code for your applet

To compile the HTML code for your applet:

1.	Make sure you have entered all of the required settings on all tabs (pressing Preview before you have done this will give you an error message telling you which elements have yet to have been provided).

2.	Press the HTML Compile button on the Toolbar

3.	All of the HTML code for your applet will then be compiled and the system will inform you that this has been done and that the code has been copied to the Windows Clipboard.
The code is then  ready for pasting into your favourite HTML editor (HotDog of course!) when you are creating your gateway page.


How to Quit-out of the AFKAL program

To Quit or exit the AFKAL program:

1.	Press the Quit button on the Toolbar


How to view the AFKAL Help File

To view the AFKAL Help file (hey you’re already doing that - why are you reading this???):

1.	Press the Help button on the Toolbar


 How to change the WWW browser used for Preview

To change the Internet WWW browser that you use to preview your AFKAL applets, or to tell AFKAL the new location of your browser (if you happened to move it):

1.	Press the Options button on the Toolbar
You will be presented with the Options dialog box

2.	In the control marked ‘Browser’, either type in the drive/directory path/filename.exe for your browser or press the Browse Directory Icon and select it from the directory list.

3.	Press OK when satisfied that everything is correct


 How to change the default open directory for your images

To change the default open directory for your images:

1.	Press the Options button from the Toolbar
You will be presented with the Options dialog box. In the top left-hand-corner of the dialog box are the Open Directory options

2.	Choose the option which reflects the way you want the Open dialog box to respond when you use it by selecting the corresponding radio button

3.	If you select ‘Open in Default Directory’, either type in a drive and directory path or use the open directory icon to navigate to it manually. If you select ‘Open in Last Directory Used’ go to Step 4

4.	Press OK to update your Option settings.


How to change the default save directory for your AFKAL data files

To change the default save directory for your AFKAL files:

1.	Press the Options button from the Toolbar
You will be presented with the Options dialog box. In the bottom left-hand-corner of the dialog box is the Save Directory control

2.	Either type in a drive and directory path or use the open directory icon to navigate to it manually.

3.	Press OK to update your Option settings.


Uninstalling AFKAL

I don’t know why you’d want to uninstall AFKAL, seeing as it’s such a cool product and all, but if you do want to, here’s how to do it:

1.	In the directory you installed AFKAL into, find the file called “UNINSTALL.exe”.

2.	Run UNINSTALL.exe and follow the instructions given to you by the Uninstall program


 Troubleshooting Guide

Having trouble trying to get your AFKAL applet to work on your page? We hope not. But if you are, you should find the answer to your problems in our Troubleshooting Guide. If you Netscape Navigator, we highly recommend you look at the Java console in your WWW browser (Options..Show Java Console) along with the status line error messages to determine your problem. Click the button next to the description that best describes your problem.

  	"Applet can't start: class afkal not found"

  	"load: class afkal not found”

  	"Not enough image file names passed to AFKAL applet"

  	"Bad successful URL passed to AFKAL applet"

  	"Bad unsuccessful URL passed to AFKAL applet"

  	"Invalid number of buttons passed to AFKAL applet"

  	"Invalid number of rows passed to AFKAL applet"

  	"Invalid number of columns passed to AFKAL applet"

  	"Number of rows and columns are not suitable for this number of buttons"

  	"Missing successful URL passed to AFKAL applet"

  	"No pass sequence passed to AFKAL applet"

  	"AFKAL has not been registered and will only run locally"

  	"AFKAL applet's serial ID is invalid. "
  	My animated GIF image files will not animate in the AFKAL applet
  	My applet appears with blank buttons
  	"Applet can't start: class afkal got a security violation:method verfication error"


 Troubleshooting-Problem 1

Problem:	“Applet can’t start: class AFKAL not found”

Meaning:	The Java class file AFKAL.class is not in the same directory as the HTML directory.

Usual Cause: 	User has not uploaded all required class files on to the server, or is trying to preview a HTML file (with AFKAL applet) in a directory on their hard drive that does not contain the class file.

To remedy:	Upload the file AFKAL.class file so that it is in same directory as HTML file or ensure that all class files are in same directory as HTML file on local drive.

  Back to Troubleshooting Guide

Related Topics

  Files you will need to upload to your Internet Service Provider's Server


 Troubleshooting-Problem 2

Problem:  	"Not enough image file names passed to AFKAL applet"

Meaning: 	The user specified that there should be x number of buttons but did not specify enough images in the HTML file.

Usual Cause: 	Usually means that you have altered one or more of the parameters directly in the HTML instead of using the AFKAL front-end and re-compiling.

To remedy: 	Recompile applet in AFKAL and regenerate the HTML code and re-paste back into the gateway page

  Back to Troubleshooting Guide


Troubleshooting-Problem 3

Problem:	"Bad successful URL passed to AFKAL applet"

Meaning:	The successful URL passed to the applet is not in the correct URL format

Usual Cause:	You have supplied an incorrect successful URL to AFKAL (ie it is not in the correct format e.g.  “http://www.sausage.com.au”)

To remedy: 	Re-generate the AFKAL applet using AFKAL program and supply a correct ‘Successful URL’.

  Back to Troubleshooting Guide


Troubleshooting-Problem 4

Problem:	"Bad unsuccessful URL passed to AFKAL applet"

Meaning:	The unsuccessful URL passed to the applet is not in the correct URL format

Usual Cause:	You have supplied an incorrect unsuccessful URL to AFKAL (ie it is not in the correct format e.g.  “http://www.sausage.com.au”)

To remedy: 	Re-generate the AFKAL applet using AFKAL program and supply a correct ‘Unsuccessful URL’.

  Back to Troubleshooting Guide


Troubleshooting-Problem 5

Problem:	“Invalid number of buttons passed to AFKAL applet"

Meaning:	The numbers of buttons was not passed to the applet or was not a valid number i.e. it was decimal or string.

Usual Cause: 	Usually means that you have altered one or more of the parameters directly in the HTML instead of using the AFKAL front-end and re-compiling.

To remedy: 	Recompile applet in AFKAL and regenerate the HTML code and re-paste back into your gateway page.

  Back to Troubleshooting Guide


Troubleshooting-Problem 6

Problem: 	"Invalid number of rows passed to AFKAL applet"

Meaning:	The numbers of rows was not passed to the applet or was not a valid number i.e. it was decimal or string (if you used the front end this should never happen)

Usual Cause: 	Usually means that you have altered one or more of the parameters directly in the HTML instead of using the AFKAL front-end and re-compiling.

To remedy: 	Recompile applet in AFKAL and regenerate the HTML code and re-paste back into the gateway page

  Back to Troubleshooting Guide


Troubleshooting-Problem 7

Problem:	"Invalid number of columns passed to AFKAL applet"

Meaning:	The numbers of columns was not passed to the applet or was not a valid number i.e. it was decimal or string.

Usual Cause: 	Usually means that you have altered one or more of the parameters directly in the HTML instead of using the AFKAL front-end and re-compiling.

To remedy: 	Recompile applet in AFKAL and regenerate the HTML code and re-paste back into your gateway page.

  Back to Troubleshooting Guide


Troubleshooting-Problem 8

Problem:	"Number of rows and columns are not suitable for this number of buttons"

Meaning:	The chosen layout is not suitable for the number of buttons as it will not show all the buttons or it will show too many buttons.

Usual Cause: 	Usually means that you have altered one or more of the parameters directly in the HTML instead of using the AFKAL front-end and re-compiling.

To remedy: 	Recompile applet in AFKAL and regenerate the HTML code and re-paste back into the gateway page

  Back to Troubleshooting Guide


Troubleshooting-Problem 9

Problem:	"Missing successful URL passed to AFKAL applet"

Meaning:	The user did not pass a successful URL to the applet.

Usual Cause: 	Usually means that you have altered one or more of the parameters directly in the HTML instead of using the AFKAL front-end and re-compiling.

To remedy: 	Recompile applet in AFKAL and regenerate the HTML code and re-paste back into the gateway page

  Back to Troubleshooting Guide


Troubleshooting-Problem 10

Problem:	"No pass sequence passed to AFKAL applet"

Meaning:	The user did not pass a ‘pass sequence’ to the applet.

Usual Cause: 	Usually means that you have altered one or more of the parameters directly in the HTML instead of using the AFKAL front-end and re-compiling.

To remedy: 	Recompile applet in AFKAL and regenerate the HTML code and re-paste back into the gateway page

  Back to Troubleshooting Guide


Troubleshooting-Problem 11

Problem:	"AFKAL has not been registered and will only run locally"

Meaning:	The AFKAL front-end has not been registered and as such can only be run off a local/networked hard disk, and not off a WWW server

Usual Cause:	You are trying to put AFKAL applet on a WWW server but you have not yet registered (paid for) the product.

To remedy:	Register product, re-compile HTML code and re-paste into web gateway page

  Back to Troubleshooting Guide


Troubleshooting-Problem 12

Problem: 	"AFKAL apple’s serial ID is invalid. Rerun the Windows front-end to generate a new serial ID"

Meaning:	One or more of the parameters to the applet has been changed without using the AFKAL front-end program.

Usual Cause: 	Usually means that you have altered one or more of the parameters directly in the HTML instead of using the AFKAL front-end and re-compiling.

To remedy: 	Recompile applet in AFKAL and regenerate the HTML code and re-paste back into the gateway page

  Back to Troubleshooting Guide


Troubleshooting-Problem 13

Problem:	My animated GIF image files will not animate in the AFKAL applet

Meaning:	Animated GIF files will not animate

Usual Cause:	Java limitation

To remedy:	No remedy. Unfortunately Java cannot handle animated GIFs at this point in time. They will appear as static images on the applet button-face.

  Back to Troubleshooting Guide

Related Topics

  What graphics files can I use?


Troubleshooting-Problem 14

Problem:	My applet appears with blank buttons

Meaning:	Applet is unable to find the image files associated with the applet

Usual Cause:	User has not uploaded the image files into the same directory as the HTML file and the class files

To remedy:	Upload the image files into the same directory as the HTML file and the class files

  Back to Troubleshooting Guide


Troubleshooting-Problem 15

Problem:	"Picture download was interrupted”"

Meaning:	The transmission of one of the images for a button was interrupted.

Usual Cause:	Transmission error

To remedy:	Hit the Reload button on WWW browser. If this doesn’t work, image file may be corrupted.

  Back to Troubleshooting Guide


Troubleshooting-Problem 16

Problem:	“Applet can't start: class afkal got a security violation:method verfication error”

Meaning:	One or more of the class files is missing or mis-named

Usual Cause:	One or more of the class files is missing or mis-named

To remedy:	Ensure all the Java class files are on the server, in the same directory as the HTML gateway page and are spelt correctly (Java class files are case-sensitive).

  Back to Troubleshooting Guide

Related Topics

  Files you will need to upload to your Internet Service Provider's Server


Typical file locations for common WWW browsers

Typically, the most common WWW browsers (Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer) can be found in the following directory on your hard disk:

Netscape Navigator

C:\Program Files\Netscape\Navigator\Program\netscape.exe

Microsoft Internet Explorer

c:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe

Warning: If you, or whoever installed your WWW browser, changed the default install directory for these program files, then the above directories may not be correct.


Sound Files in AFKAL

At present there is only one sound effect for the pressing of buttons in AFKAL. It is a file called click.au and if you want to have the sound then you must ensure it is uploaded to the server with all the rest of the files.

If you want to have a different sound when the user clicks one of your buttons, the only way to do it is:

1.	Create (or find) a new sound in .au format. This is most important. It must be in .au format.

The AU format is one of the most common sound formats on the net. You can convert sound formats with many cool shareware programs, such as Goldwave or Cool Edit.

The fuller specs of the AU format are: 8 bit, mlaw mono, sampled at 8000 Hz. Nearly all AU files are already in this format. Wave files (.wav) will not work.
We will call this new file ‘sample.au’.

2.	Change the name of ‘sample.au’ to ‘click.au’

3.	Upload the file to the server with the rest of the files.

Related Topics

  Files you will need to upload to your WWW server


Why is it called AFKAL?

Why on earth would you call a Java Enabled Site Security application AFKAL? Well it used to be called LockOut, but apparently somebody else had already trademarked that name and held all rights to it. So we put out the word amongst staff that we needed a new name  - and fast!

We came up with Weblock, Lock-It! Etc but the one that made us laugh the most was AFKAL - Application Formerly Known as LockOut. Hey if Prince (the musician) can do it why can’t we?

One of the guys wanted to call it simply ‘Love Symbol’ but we thought that was going a bit too far.

  Back to Main Contents Page


Glossary

A

Applet

B

Bandwidth

C

D

E

F

Frames

FTP

G

GIF

H

HTML

I

Internet

Internet Browser

J

JAVA

JPEG

K

L

LAN

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

URL

V

W

WAN

WWW

X

Y

Z


Applet

Applets are small applications that are included in Web pages and are downloaded on demand  to be executed by the client browser.


Bandwidth

The amount of stretch in a network connection-it’s maximum carrying capacity for data traffic.


Frames

Frames are a Netscape extension that was introduced in Navigator 2.0. Using frames, authors are able to partition the screen into multiple rectangular sections. Each section independant of all others, an a different URL is loaded into each frame.


FTP

(File Transfer Protocol) The Internet service that transfers files from one computer to another.


GIF

(Graphics Interchange Format) A commonly used method of encoding images that contain up to 256 colors. A subset of this format, GIF89a is a standard whereby multiple images can be embedded within the one graphic file and be used to create an animation effect by showing one image after the other.


HTML

(HyperText Markup Language). The standard language for describing the contents and structure of pages on the World Wide Web.


Internet

The global computer network, composed of thousands of Wide Area Networks (WANs) and Local Area Networks (LANs), that uses TCP\IP to provide world-wide communications across the globe. The World Wide Web runs on the Internet.


Internet Browser

A computer program that allows you to view pages, images and multimedia available on the World Wide Web (WWW). The two most popular are Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer.


JAVA

A general-purpose programming language created by Sun Microsystems. Java can be used to create Java applets. A Java program is downloaded from the Web server and interpreted by a program running on the machine containing the Web browser.


JPEG

(Joint Photographic Expert Group) A color image format with excellent compression for most kinds of images. JPEG is commonly used on the World Wide Web for 24-bit color images.


LAN

(Local Area Network) A computer network technology that is designed to connect computers that are separated by a short distance. A LAN can be connected to the Internet and can also be configured as an intranet.


URL

(Uniform Resource Locator) The address system used on the web. Each URL is unique, identifying a particular file or point on the internet. It consists of a string that supplies the Internet address of a resource on the World Wide Web, along with the protocol by which the resource is accessed. The most common URL type is "http," which gives the Internet address of a World Wide Web page. Some other URL types are "gopher," which gives the Internet address of a Gopher directory, and "ftp," which gives the address of an FTP resource.


WAN

(Wide Area Network) A computer network that spans a long distance and that uses specialized computers to connect smaller networks.


WWW

The graphical Internet hypertext service that uses the HTTP protocol to retrieve World Wide Web pages and other data from World Wide Web servers. Pages on the World Wide Web usually contain hyperlinks to other pages or to multimedia files.