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Plugins & Splash!

Splash! uses plugins to help enhance web pages, which gives you more of that creative edge. If you get bored with the plugins that come with Splash!, it is a simple matter to add more. Splash! has a unique way of handling the plug-in's with it's wizard. You can control, step-by-step, each available option for each plugin. Such control gives you the ability to choose your own parameters and options. In each directory you will find a different plug-in. Each plug-in also has a corresponding .plg file. This is the file that defines how the wizard handles this plug-in. Javascript is treated slightly different to Java Applets, which will be discussed towards the bottom of this page.

Applet Details

Every plugin file must have this information, and the first 4 options listed below are required for the plugin to function. Although there is as much checking as possible within Splash! there is no guarantee what may happen if are not present.

    AppletName

    This is used to identify the applet to the wizard.

    ClassName

    This is the actual filename, which browsers know as classes. This tells the wizard what to store in Splash!, so that when previewed the right applet is loaded.

    Size

    The visual size of the applet can be fixed or variable. Some applets can be resized, while others may have unexpected results. If you are not sure, try both and experiment until you are satisfied with one.

    Desc

    This is a description of the plug-in. The wizard will display this information, so the user can see what this applet does before implementing it.

    File

    Being Applets and in particular, Java applets, they can have more than one file associated with them. The main file is set as the ClassName, however if a plugin requires more than one file, then these others will be specified here. Each seperate file requires it's own File statement.

    AppletAuthor

    As the name suggests, this is the person that created the Applet, and credit must be given were credit is due.

    PluginAuthor

    This is the name of the person who constructed this plugin, don't be afraid to experiment with 3rd party applets for your own use.

    AppletCopyright

    This is the name of the person or company, that holds the copyright for this Applet.

    AppletHomepage

    If more information is required for this applet, then this maybe found on the site it came from or the company that created it. This will give people a place to go if the plugin doesn't work, or if more information is required for the applet.

    AppletAuthorEmail

    As outline above, if the author of the Applet has an email address, this can be used so that feedback or information about the applet can be given.

Buttons

Buttons, although they are not what you see in the wizard, help Splash! to determine how the wizard behaves. For example, one of the applets may need a background color, so the button would contain information to help set this up and can even provide a default color to prevent the user having to select a color. A button is best described as a block of instructions.

    Parameter

    This option must appear within a block, and is the name of the parameter passed to the java applet.

    Description

    Describes in a little detail what this parameter is used for, in which it will provide users with an idea of what data is required to be entered. For example, if an applet parameter requires a color, then the reason why this color would be needed would be something like Select a color to be used for the applet background.

    Type

    Each block of code can have different ways to input the desired information. Therefore this option helps with having the correct information for the parameter passed to the applet.

    • Color - Allows the user to choose a color.
    • Image - Allows the user to choose an image.
    • String - Allows the user to enter a text string.
    • Number - Allows the user to choose a number.
    • Float - Allows the user to choose a floating point number.
    • File - Allows the user to select a file on their Hard drive.
    • Hidden - Allows a fixed variable.
    • Select - Let the user select from a list of values.

    For example Type=COLOR

    Default

    This will put in a default value for the block of code, to give the user a default they can start from. Default values are a good idea, as it allows for quick and easy placement of a plugin, that can be edited and adjusted later.

    Name

    This will name the page of the wizard. For example, when a user has to select a background color for the applet then the name could be Background. This gives the wizard's window the name 'background'.

Javascript

Javascript is not treated the same as a Java applet. Although it still uses the same plugin file, the script itself remains in the plug-in file as well. The difference in the Applet details for Javascript is that the ClassName must not be present.

    Head Block

    The code that appears in here will be the code that goes between the
    < HEAD> and the < /HEAD> section of the HTML document.

    Onload Block

    The code that appears here, will be the code that is called when the page is loaded.

    Main Block

    This is the code that is pasted into the location of the placed plugin.

Delete Plugins

Using this option, you can choose to delete a plugin. Use this feature with care, as this will permanently remove a plugin from Splash! You can obtain further plugins from our web-site.

Get New Plugins

This option will automatically connect to our web-site so that you can browse our selection of plug-ins. These can then be installed and used within Splash!