Highlighted Image Links Java Applet

The above sample uses the "hb&w" tag to render the highlighted images in gray scale. This applet gives you the ability to custom define any highlight filter color, gray scale mode, filter dark in any color, and filter light in any color. Any number of images may be placed anywhere in the applet space and a custom Urn link and frame location to load the URL may also be defined. See below for a complete description of each parameter.

Back to Sample Implementation One

How to use the applet tags:

The applet tag identifies the location, class file name, and size of a Java applet. Below is a small sample applet tag (or view the source for this document to see the applet tag for the above implementation of Highlighted Image Links). The first part of the tag code="HIL.class" identifies the name of the Java program. The second part codebase="java/" identifies the relative location of the file (leave codebase blank if the class file is located in the same directory as the HTML document).

The third and fourth part of the applet tag identifies the width and height of the applet (usually measured in screen pixels).

The parameters are defined below the applet start tag with the parameter name first, followed by the value of the parameter. (see below for the complete Highlighted Image Links parameter list). You may add as many parameters as the applet allows for, with Highlighted Image Links it is unlimited. (If a parameter is not working, first double check that its spelling and case are typed correctly.)

The last part works like all other HTML tags and defines the end of the applet tag </applet>.

The Parameters and how to define them:

Parameter 1 must be included in the applet tag in order for the applet to work. Most of the parameters will default if you fail to define them, however we suggest you include all the parameters so the applet is ensured to give the desired look. Usually the easiest thing to do is cut and paste the applet tag info used in the sample and modify it to fit your web page.

Color Definition: This applet uses a simple RGB color scheme. To define a color in one of the color parameters use a value between 0 & 255 for the red, green, and blue components separated by commas and typed out in the correct r,g,b order. Below is a sample of how a color parameter should look, the example specifies several different sample colors for the "bgcolor" parameter.

WHITE: <param name="bgcolor" value="255,255,255">
GREEN: <param name="bgcolor" value="0,255,0">
BLACK: <param name="bgcolor" value="0,0,0">
YELLOW: <param name="bgcolor" value="255,255,0">
OFF WHITE: <param name="bgcolor" value="240,239,234">

The best way to choose the exact color you are looking for without having to guess the numbers is to access your systems Color Picker. Color Pickers usually allow you to drag the mouse over a rainbow type color grid to select a color, and show you the appropriate RGB values. In windows the Color Picker is accessible through MS Paint as well as a majority of the popular Imaging and HTML Authoring Software.

The origin of the applets coordinate system is located at the upper left corner of the applet. The x (horizontal) coordinate starts at the left border with 0 and goes as far to the right as the applet is wide (defined with the width tag - see above). The y (vertical) coordinate starts at the top of the applet with 0 and goes down as far as the applet is high (defined with the height tag - see above).

The Applet

Parameter 1
Attribute: Copyright notice.
param name="Notice"
value="Highlighted Image Links, Copyright (c) 1997 OpenCube Technologies, Registered 1184"
Note: This must be included for the applet to work.

Parameter 2
Attribute: Applet Background Color
param name = "bgcolor"
Value = R,G,B, Where R,G,B are the red, green, and blue components of the applets background color.

The Images

Parameter 3
Attribute: Image File Location and Name
param name = "imagefile0" - "imagefileN"
Value = X. Where X is the relative location and name of the image file to be displayed in the applet area. This must be defined relative to the location of the MenuMsg.class file. (e.g. the class file is in a folder called Java and your images are located in a folder called images which is located in the Java folder. The image file tag would read "images/myimage.gif")

Parameter 4
Attribute: Image x (horizontal) location
param name = "picx0" - "picxN"
Value = X. Where X is the horizontal location of the left border of the image relative to the left margin of the applet. If your applet width is defined as 100, picx="50" would place the left border of the image horizontally dead center.

Parameter 5
Attribute: Image y (vertical) location
param name = "picy0" - "picyN"
Value = X. Where X is the vertical location of the top border of the image relative to the top of the applet.

The Highlighted Image

Parameter 6
Attribute: Image Highlight Border Color
param name = "hcolor"
Value = R,G,B. Where R,G,B defines the red, green, and blue components of an images highlight color

Parameter 7
Attribute: Image Highlight Border Distance from Image Border
param name = "hdist"
Value = X, Where X is the distance from the image borders of the highlight square.

Parameter 8
Attribute: Render Gray Scale Highlight of Image
param name = "hb&w"
Value = true or false, true = yes use gray scale highlight, false = no gray scale highlight

Parameter 9
Attribute: Highlight Image Filter Color
param name = "himagecolor"
Value = r,g,b Where r,g,b is the red, green, and blue components of the highlight filter color. To highlight your image using a bright blue filter use 0,0,255, to highlight with a green filter use 0,255,0, or highlight with any color, a grey color will darken or lighten the image colors uniformly.

Parameter 10
Attribute: Use Lighter Highlight
param name = "hlighten"
Value = true or false, true = yes use lightened highlight, false = no, use darkened highlight. Note: the color to highlight is defined using the "himagecolor" tag defined above.

The Mouse

Parameter 11
Attribute: Mouse Delay
param name = "mousedelay"
Value = X, Where X is the delay in milliseconds for mouse coordinate checks as the mouse moves around the applet. This feature is useful when running multiple applets on the same page or when you want a delay time between when the mouse moves over an image and the image highlight appears.

URL Links

Parameter 12
Attribute: Default URL Link
param name = "desturl"
value=X, where X is the link for all images. Fully qualify all URL's (e.g. "http://www.opencube.com")

Parameter 13
Attribute: Specific Image URL Link
param name = "desturl0" - "desturN"
value=X, where X is the specific link for a image. Fully qualify all URL's (e.g. "http://www.opencube.com")

Parameter 14
Attribute: Default Load Destination URL Where?
param name="loadwhere"
The "loadwhere" tag specifies where the document specified in the "desturl"
tag should be loaded. The default is "_self"

"_self" show in the current frame
"_parent" show in the parent frame
"_top" show in the top-most frame
"_blank" show in a new unnamed top-level window
"name" show in a new top-level window named name

Parameter 15
Attribute: Specific Load Destination URL Where?
param name="loadwhere0" - "loadwhereN"
The "loadwhere" tag specifies where the document specified in the "desturlN"
tag should be loaded. The default is "_self"

"_self" show in the current frame
"_parent" show in the parent frame
"_top" show in the top-most frame
"_blank" show in a new unnamed top-level window
"name" show in a new top-level window named name

Highlighted Image Links, � 1996, OpenCube Technologies