h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I noticed your rather nice page, and decided to type a short note. I also read your query regarding how to use/manipulate .gif image files on a web page. If you are runnning IExploder, (I mean IExplorer), you can view the source code for any page the browser is currently displaying. In the case of your friend jamie's page, if you examine the source code you will see he used Macromedia Fireworks to set up the table of 'sliced' .gif images.
The same thing can be done with hand coding HTML and javascript, but it is a tedious process. Other similar applications, like Adobe ImageReady (I think!), can do the job, or you can use graphical HTML editors such as Macromedia Dreamweaver.

I suggest you exercise discretion when using images for navigation, and in particular when using javascript. There are a lot of abuse possibilities! One thing to remember is, no matter how cool it may look to you, or to your pals, an obscure navigation format can be frustrating to less sophisticated types who 'just want to get to the information, please!' Avoid 'mystery meat' navigation!

If you have any questions, drop me a line or three! There is just the remotest chance I may be able to help

Hello there,

Thank you so much!

You are most kind. Basically, I have had multifarious web pages for awhile, and wouldn;t mind having a sophisticated look for one or two of them. And the concept of .gif manipulation appleals to me.

What do you think would be the easiest way to go about doing it? Or do you think I should, perhaps, abandon the whole idea?

Best Regards,
Rhys

PS - How did you find me?

Multifarious! Wow! I wouldn't have the guts to use a word like that! Does roll nicely, though. Multifarious.

Lessons inclined to be serious
More often than not simply weary us
More fun to make art
To place at the start
Of web sites that are multifarious

Sorry!

Definitly Do Not Abandon the Whole Idea! If I offered such negative advice I would be drummed out of the Guild! Sophisticated web pages: Good Idea!

Using animated .gifs is very easy, and there is a ton of information on the Web available, as well as quite good free and shareware applications for creating and editing animated .gifs. The H2G2 s are .gif images, not animated though.

Animated .gifs are placed in the HTML document just like still .gifs. Buttons that change due to mouse events rely on javascript, however, and plain old HTML won't do... That is one of the reasons to have clear and simple navigation... as well as the sophisticated stuff. Place the cool animated buttons on the page, but have text only hyperlinks as well. Paraniod cybersurfers often disable scripting to enhance security.

Website designers have to make pages accessible to those users who choose not to have javascript enabled. But that doesn't mean that javascript should be abandoned, just used appropriately

I can't remember how I found my way to your page.

BTW, your handle, 'Titus'.. is that because this is a forum?

Thanks for the advice, it is much appreciated.

Best Regards,
Rhys

PS - The name is from Shakespeare. nice suggestion.