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Obsolete - Version 1!

The current version of this framework is at: Netscape Presentation Framework: Mini Slide-Show

JavaScript Presentation Framework: Mini Slide-Show

I've made up a framework for doing presentations using JavaScript. The mini-application works with Netscape 3 (Mac/Win) and NS 4. It may work under IE 4.0 (not fully tested). IE 3.0/Win (but not Mac) supports most of the functions, except dynamically building the slide selection list. You can edit out those functions and the drop down list if you wish to use it with IE 3.0/Win.

You can view a simple demo at: Slides Frameset (see end for a complex demo)

The simplest way to download the files one at a time is to browse this folder and download the key files (see below) one at a time. To see the files click on:

http://www.faughnan.com/slides/v1/

There are four key files, in addition to your "slides" or whatever you choose to link to:

• fmain.html: defines the frameset, you could rename this index.html. The frameset has a large display area, with controls beneath. There's a hidden frame to the right (if you're careful you can drag it out and see it) that holds your slide play list. Note, at the moment your first slide must be named title.html. You can edit fmain.html to change this.
• slidelist.html: this document is just a list of the links you want to traverse (the slides). It's normally hidden from view. The sequence of the links determines the sequence of the "slides". Note, at the moment your first slide must be named title.html. You can edit fmain.html to change this.
• controls.html: has the prior slide, current slide and next slide buttons. A select list allows one to set a new current slide from a list of all HTML files. Unfortunately JavaScript does not allow one to extract the text of a link, so I have to put the file names into this drop down list.
• enterCapture.html: holds a form with a single text field. Like the slidelist.html document, it's within a hidden frameset. I use this text field to capture the enter key, and trigger a 'next slide' action.

Constructing your slide show

1. make a list of your "slides" and call it slidelist.html (or paste into current slidelist.html)
2. fire up fmain.html.

• You can go forward by hitting ENTER or clicking 'next slide'. Prior slide goes back. Current Slide returns you to your slide if you start wandering around to other places on the web.
• If you click on other links the ENTER key won't take you forward any more (it loses focus). You can restore its function by clicking on any of the 'next slide', 'prior slide', 'current slide' links.
• You can make any of the slides the new current slide by choosing it from the select box drop down list. NOTE: There is a bug in Netscape 3 and 4 for Win 95, but not NS 3.0 for Macintosh, that causes the drop down list to display incorrectly. If you reload the page (Ctrl-R) it should display correctly.

For a more complex demo, check out my developing Introduction to the Internet tutorial. Another tutorial uses a version simplified to work with IE 3.0: Internet Medical Records