To access information about any HTML element, locate it via the Index (accesible from the drop down menu) and it's details and examples will be displayed in this window. If you are just browsing the information, then use the section headings on the 'Contents' page (accessible from the drop down menu) to go to overviews of HTML sections.
HTML Reference Library Conventions
In all of the reference pages, I have tried to make it easy to distinguish example code from the explanatory text, by displaying any example HTML code in a green font. Also, on a page detailing an element that has several attributes, the first time each attribute is mentioned, it will be in a Bold, Maroon font.
Within the HTMLHelp HTMLib, there are two types of hyperlinks. Internal hyperlinks are those that take you to a different topic inside the HTMLib. They appear like this. External links are links that take you to a remote Web site. You can return to the HTMLib, by pressing the back button in Internet Explorer. External links appear like this
Also, where a page uses examples that are completely browser dependant and no display workaround was possible, then a graphic for the particular browser required will be visible at the top of the page, surrounding the heading. I hope this doesn't cause too many problems.
What the HTMLib is and isn't
The HTMLib is the most comprehensive guide to currently useable HTML elements available. Where other reference material falls down is that it details (normally without examples) all HTML elements covered in various HTML specifications originating from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). While most of the elements in such specifications have been adopted by browsers, a lot haven't (particularly in the case of the ill-fated HTML 3.0 specification). There is no point in documenting such elements in a useable reference. So, the HTMLib covers only those elements that have been adopted by browsers and attempts to detail the level of support for those elements. It's secondary aim is to provide a single location for such documentation, to eliminate the need for expensive on-line checking of browser support for HTML elements.
The HTMLib isn't designed to replace any of the W3C specification documents, or documentation provided by browser vendors. This is particularly the case when considering the HTMLib Scripting reference. Scripting is largely the programming side of HTML and as such relies on the imagination and skill of the script author to produce almost limitless effects. While the author is still constrained by browser support for scripting capabilities, this gap is less than the cavernous gulf between the HTML capabilities of browsers. Where external links to other reference material are given, the reader is encouraged to check the documentation, as such links imply that the particular section of information in the HTMLib is condensed.
Contacting the Author
If you have any questions regarding the HTMLib please direct them to me at cmlehunt@swan.ac.uk. If you have any general HTML related questions, please try the HTMLibrd - a web based discussion group for the HTMLib.
Licensing terms
This version of the HTMLib (and LibPad) is currently beta software. The HTMLib (normally distributed as a .HLP file) will become officially HTML based when the HtmlHelp controls reach release versions. Due to this and the fact that it is not currently on general release, the HTMLib (including LibPad) MAY NOT be re-distributed in any way, shape or form, without the authors express permission. Currently it is only available to WinHelp developers (and other interested parties), as they are the main target audience of Microsofts HtmlHelp controls. It is expected that this HTML based HTMLib will change as the functionality of the HtmlHelp controls change and I will be maintaining a mailing list to provide information to anybody interested (the mailing list will be separate to the main HTMLib notification mailing list).
All comments, questions etc., should be directed to me at cmlehunt@swan.ac.uk. Also use that address if you wish to be placed on the mailing list for news about this beta HTMLib.
Acknowledgements
Here is the 'without whom...' section of the HTML Reference Library. People mentioned here (in no particular order) have made invaluable contributions to the HTML Reference Library over the course of it's life so far, and to them I am eternally grateful.
| Hayley, for enduring hours of inane HTMLib related babble. |
| Nick, for loads of advice. |
| Nona (huge thanks), Jeff and Gale at Microsoft, for loads of help, advice and top tips. |
| Hans, for producing a top quality mirror for downloading the HTMLib (and providing the space for this beta download). Also, for providing the HTMLibrd, a Web based conference for discussion about the HTMLib and HTML issues. Visit it at http://hjs.geol.uib.no/webstart.htm. |
| Steve at Sausage Software, Frank at FLFSoft, Adam at SoftQuad, Art at IST and Todd at American Cybernetics., Francis at Intelligent Environments Inc. |
| Mark West at Questar Microsystems. |
| Cub Lea, for valuable WinHelp related advice. |
| Mark at Sams.Net. |
| Steve Pruitt at RhoTech(Microsoft), for his tireless help on the WinHelp mailing list and particularly for advice about the Activated HTMLib portion of the HTMLib Web Site. |
| Christian, for his help/advice about the HTMLib Web Site. |
| Ben Weisner, of the Weisner Associates, for production of the Help Authors Resource Kit. |
| Brian, for help and advice about the HTMLib. Visit 'index dot HTML', for the nearest to a Web based HTMLib that there is. |
| Niall at InstallShield, for his help concerning the InstallShield software used for the HTMLib installation routine. |
| Jeff for mirroring the complete HTMLib Web site at http://www.terminalp.com/htmlib/. Also, Ken for the other US mirror. Visit it at http://www.arachne.net/htmlib/ |
| Nick Bradbury http://www.dexnet.com/homesite.html, author of the great HomeSite editor. |
| Lastly, but by no means leastly, Microsoft and Netscape for producing some of the most useful, powerful and feature-rich software applications that I've ever seen. |
Copyright and Trademarks
This HTML Reference Library and the names 'The HTML Reference Library', 'HTMLib', 'The HTMLib Colour Wizard' and 'The Activated Colour Wizard' and the Colour Wizard ActiveX control are all © 1995, 1996, Stephen Le Hunte (cmlehunt@swan.ac.uk)
Netscape is a registered trademark of Netscape Communications Corp. Updated information about any of the Netscape products mentioned in this reference (Netscape Navigator, JavaScript, Plug-in information etc.) can always be found at the Netscape Web site : http://www.netscape.com
Windows, Windows95, ActiveX, ActiveMovie, ActiveVRML, Visual Basic, Visual Basic Script (VBScript), JScript (Microsoft's JavaScript implementation), Internet Assistant, Internet Explorer and HTMLHelp are either registered trademarks or trademarks of the Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. More information about these products/technologies can be found at the Microsoft Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/. Portions of this reference are reprinted with permission granted by the Microsoft Corporation.
The Server Side Includes section of this document is taken from information kindly provided by Mark West of Questar Microsystems Inc. Updated SSI+ information can be obtained from http://www.questar.com/ssi/
Java and HotJava are trademarks of Sun Microsystems in the US and/or other countries. For more information about these products/technologies can be found at either http://java.sun.com/ or http://www.javasoft.com/.