Hi there! Welcome to the fAni developer's package!
What is this? Basically, it's a compilation of all the tools I used to create the fAni (findAnimation) sequences which I uploaded to America Online. In other words, I already did the grunt work once, so why should you have to?
This does not contain the fAni template or the example fAnis I created. These are in a separate file on America Online. Just use the Quickfinder to search for "fAni". Also on AOL is a whole set of ResEdit TMPLs for System 7 resources, including fmnnu! You really oughta get 'em and thank the guy that wrote 'em!
Here's the basic setup for how I went about this. First, I created the individual frames (pictures) in my paint program. However, I couldn't just copy these into ResEdit because my wimpy paint program makes white space transparent instead of opaque, which is necessary for animation. So I copied all the pictures into HyperCard and used its Opaque command under the Paint menu (you have to choose a paint tool to bring up the Paint menu).
Then, in ResEdit, I used the New PICT macro to create PICT resources which I would eventually fill in with the pictures I wanted. With a PICT window open for each frame I would want, I went back to HyperCard, selected the LAST frame with the selecton box, and triggered the Copy to ResEdit macro. I then repeated the process for each frame, going from last to first. This copied all the PICTs into ResEdit.
I then realized that it would be a good idea to give each PICT a name which would reveal the animation sequence it belonged to, its frame number, and the total number of frames. So I got info on the first frame, typed in "Eat 1", then triggered the "Add Name" macro. For the rest of the PICTs, all you have to type in is the frame number, then trigger the macro again.
You might want to print each of the Read Me files so you can consult the instructions regarding each macro.
TECH NOTES
I recommend NOT having more than one fAni resource in a running Finder. The results are, as far as I know, unpredictable: when I had multiple fAnis in my Finder, sometimes one of the animations would come up, sometimes neither. I never had a crash or any other serious problem, but it's best to be on the safe side here.
Also, it's possible to open the Finder in ResEdit so you can make changes directly to the running Finder, but only if you quit the Finder first. There are shareware packages around to let you quit the Finder. Again, use them at your own risk.
COMPATIBILITY PROBLEMS
Assuming you make all the changes correctly, there should be no reason for any problems to arise. That is, all you're doing is rerouting the Finder's "normal" referencing of resources to similar resources, so this isn't a "hack" which might cause problems elsewhere. In addition, fAnis are only used in the Finder and only for this specific purpose, so nothing else relies on this resource as being "fixed" or "normal."
Good luck making your own animation sequences! And if you come up with a really cool one, please send it to me at:
AOL: B Wooster
Internet mail: bwooster@aol.com
Snail Mail: Jeremy Monat
9011 Butternut Ct.
Indianapolis, IN 46260-1526
NOTE: The highly observant among you may have noticed that it would be quicker to combine the "New PICT" and "Add name" macro into one single macro, since both work in the Info window. I chose not to do this because it might confuse people to have to type in, for ex, a 0 for the ID number and a 1 for the frame number - and the whole point of macros is not to have to think about what you're doing, right? :) Feel free to combine the 2 macros if you wish!
