For over two years now, I have been recommending and
using FrontLook applets for FrontPage websites. Once in a while I have to
use a non-FrontPage web editor for various reasons, but then I couldn't use the
FrontLook applets that I had become so accustomed to when making FrontPage
web sites. So I came up with the solution which takes
a few steps and some time to accomplish, but the extra work is worth it to to
able to use the applets in these non-FrontPage web sites.
The following steps will require the use of FrontPage, FrontLook
and the ability to copy a folder from one web to another using Windows
Explorer, FTP or your non-FrontPage web editor.
Step 1: Locate the place you would like to insert the
FrontLook applet in your Non-FrontPage editor.
Bring up the web and the page in the
non-FrontPage editor that you wish to add the FrontLook applet to. You
will need to bring up the HTML mode of your editor so you can insert the
FrontLook applet HTML. Place your cursor where you would like to insert
the applet HTML.
Step 2: Create a FrontPage web to setup and store
your FrontLook Applets for use on Non-FrontPage web sites.
In order to use a FrontLook applet, you
must edit a valid FrontPage web. Open up a FrontPage web using the
FrontPage Editor. I maintain a small FrontPage web site just to store
applets for non-FP sites. I place an applet on each page in this web for
each non-FP applet that I use on other webs. To do the same, simply create
a small demo site using one of the FP Wizard Templates as illustrated
below:
New Web Dialog
Step 3: Make a new folder and page to hold your
FrontLook Applet HTML and _frontlook folder.
Now that you have a FrontPage web to work
with, create a new folder and name it something that will denote the name
of the non-FrontPage web you will be creating the FrontLook applet for.
Make a new page in this folder and save
it (before you attempt to insert the FrontLook applet on it). Pick a blank
area on the page to add the FrontLook applet and place your cursor there.
This page will contain the FrontLook applet HTML and then folder will
contain the _frontlook folder required in a later step.
Step 4: Bring up a FrontLook applet and make it ready
for the non-FrontPage web page.
Add the applet by going to the FrontLook
menu on the FrontPage menu bar. If you have one or all three series of
FrontLook then you have a wide variety of applets to choose from. Select
the applet from the FrontLook menu and once the FrontLook user interface
appears, customize the applet to your needs. Once you have a finished the
applet to your likings, press the OK button. Then save the page using the
File->Save menu item.
FrontLook Series 3 - Scroller Applet User Interface
Step 5: Select the FrontLook applet, switch to the
HTML mode and copy the applet HTML to the clip board.
Select the DPA Applet with one click and
then switch to the HTML View by pressing the HTML tab at the bottom of the
editor window. You will see a large amount of HTML already selected. Copy
the applet HTML by pressing the control-c key sequence on your keyboard.
DPA Applet Logo
Step 6: Paste the applet HTML on the Non-FrontPage
editor page.
Now go to your non-FrontPage editor and
paste the HTML onto the page and save the page.
Note: If you are experienced in editing HTML, you can
remove the <--! webot .... preamble and post amble comment tags leaving
only the <applet ....> ... </applet> tag remaining.
Step 7: Copy the _frontlook folder from the FrontPage
web to the non-FrontPage web. Place it in the same folder as the page
where the applet HTML was pasted.
Now you will need to go to the physical
location or root folder of the FrontPage web that you are working with on
your hard drive. Look for the folder called _frontlook. This folder
contains all the applet material that you will need to support the applet.
Copy this folder and all its contents to the same folder as the page you
placed the applet HTML on.
Note: It may be possible to copy the folder
from the FrontPage editor to the non-FrontPage editor directly via a
drag-and-drop operation. If you cannot see the _frontlook folder in your
FrontPage Folders List, then go to the Tools Menu and select Web Settings... Then
press the Advanced tab and check the "Show hidden Folders" checkbox. Press OK and you will asked if you would like to refresh your
web.
Step 8: Preview and clean up.
Preview the new applet in your non-FrontPage editor to make sure
everything is working. You may notice HTML comments before and after the
applet in your non-FrontPage page editor. You can delete these if you wish
as they will not effect the operation of the FrontLook applet.
Re-editing your FrontLook applet.
If you would like to edit the applet, just go back to the FrontPage
editor, edit the FrontLook applet using the FrontLook user interface and
then repeat steps 5 and 6.
Note: If you add any new images, sound effects
or change image effects in the Image effects applet, you will need to
repeat step 7 to update the _frontlook folder with the new image data.
And That's It!
The procedure may seem a little complicated at first, but with some
practice you should be able to master the process in short order. It's
great to be able use FrontLook applets on those web sites you find
yourself editing with a non-FrontPage editor.
