Scripting Language...

[ohanafamily]

I have been trying to come up with some fun text scripts (like flashing colors and blinking), I found a book with some scripts in it, but they don't work. what kind of script language do I use (XML, VBSCRIT?) from countdown timer I know they are not disabled, is there a way to create functions and use them???

I promise to test things out before posting.....

 

[Caskbill]

The countdown timer is written in javascript.

The tech people will probably answer shortly. I had similar questions a over a year or so ago as I wanted to create a count-UP timer. (see my signature below)

Basically the following rules were established:

1. Permission must be granted to use Javascript and it will be by exception and not as a general rule.

2. The author must be thoroughly familiar with the language and how to program with it. To simply copy code out of a book and not know explicitly how the code worked is not allowed.

3. The code must be thoroughly tested on the tech board before being allowed to be used on the general boards.

4. If permission is granted, the user may not pass the code on to others for their use. Others must qualify on their own behalf if they want to use special codes (scripts).

5. The tech people will not offer support to anyone for any scripting code in any way. Either to the original poster or any others who may follow up after seeing a post which utilized special scripts.

6. The DIS maintained the right to disable any code or delete any posts if the code interferred with the normal operation of the DIS boards themselves.

All of the above makes sense and I'm sure you're aware that bad scripting could interfere with normal board operations, and thus a set of rules is necessary.

In my case I was asking to modify the countdown script orginally created by Psiklops and the only other requirement I had was that Psiklops review and approve my modified code before I used it. He did and the code has been in my signature ever since.

The tech people may have updated the rules and if so I'm sure they will respond.

 

[ohanafamily]

Thanks, I was trying to do some fun text functions, I tried the VB code out of a book for Blinking (flashing and cycling through colors are my ultimate goal) but the scripts are formatted and they are written procedurally. I tried disecting the countdown timer and got frustrated trying to figure out why the scripts I was testing didn't work. I was curious if the script editor used a special kind of scripth...

On one of the threads I frequent we have an explosion of color, and I would like to automate some shifty colors...

 

[Caskbill]

Aside from javascript, I don't know if the DIS boards accept any other scripting language.

If you know javascript, or learn it, you should do all your testing at home first. Simply create an HTML document with the appropriate javascript encoded, then test it by running your browser.

I would not recommend using the DIS board as your testing ground.

Once you have it working correctly then you could check with the tech people and get an OK to test it on the Tech forum.

If you had trouble disecting the countdown timer code, then you may need to get a better understanding of javascript before you go any further.

I am not familiar with VBscript (Although I'm quite familiar with VB itself), so don't know if it's meant to run under the javascript header or not. That is to run between the lines <u>Script language='Javascript'</u> and <u>/Script</u>.

The countdown timer as originally written by Jim V. is pretty straightforward. He uses a random number generator so each instance of the code by individual posters doesn't interfer with other countdown timers on the same page. He also uses some date/time manipulation to adjust for local time zones. The code to actually display the timer itself is straightforward.

 

[LisaTx]

If you have any questions about this please direct them to Mr. J. Cricket.

 

[ohanafamily]

Thanks Lisa, I will.

Caskbill, I had no trouble understanding what the countdown timer was doing, I just seem to have a mental block on how to make a function run without procedures in it. The code I found in my book is even more straightforward than the countdown timer (I will put it at the end of the message), but it is a function. I tested it at home (got it working) but couldn't get the Dis to recognize it in the runtime mode. I was hoping for a simple trick.

I also found an easy way to test the code on the Dis without actually posting... use the preview reply feature. I have used scripts before, I actually use them all of the time, but I am having a block on the runtime versions...

Thank you for your reply...
-------------------------------------------------------
Here is the blink function copied directly out of the book...it is really simple, but, again, I am blanking on how to make it work runtime... I will talk to J. Cricket and find out about how these functions effect the boards bandwidth...there are about 7 or 8 text fuctions I would like to use (again if I can get permission)

< style>
< !--
blink
-->
< script language="JavaScript">
< !--
function doBlink()
{ var blink=document.all.tags("BLINK")
for (var i=0; i<blink.length;i++)
blink.style.visibility = blink.style.visibility == "" ? "hidden" : ""}

function startBlink()
{ if (document.all)
setinterval("doBlink()",1000)}

window.onload=startBlink;

//-->
< /script>

Ideally, I would like to write a function that will go through a string and vary the color of each letter individually in a random manner. I roughed out the code for it, but if I can't even get the simple blink function to work...I feel so useless....This book I have has the code for cycling through colors for an entire line of text through a loop of however many colors you want, that will be my next project...

once again, thanks for your help and listening to me rant...

 

[jfulcer]

I can give you an easy answer as to why your script does not work (I think), but I agree with Caskbill in what he was saying that you need to get approval before you put anything live on the boards. I use (and had approved) script for my sig, and am working on something new getting approval right now too. I too had to promise that I wouldn't give it to anyone else, and if it caused a problem I'd have to remove it. This includes people complaining about bandwidth problems having to download your scripts on all your posts.

I think the board uses filters inside of posts to disable people trying to post scripts. JC may be able to give you a better answer, but that's what I think it is (although really there are a few other major issues for using script in a post). IMHO, if you can understand how to debug what is wrong with the code in the posts, then there should be no problem with getting an approval. But if you can't they may not be willing to allow you to work with it.

Not to mention some browsers may not play the script so you could very well be crashing the boards for those people.

 

[WebmasterCricket]

I'm trying to word this carefully.

Just about everything you see that fits in the category of "eye candy" for lack of a better term was originally made by someone "goofing around" at one point in time. I learned how to do many of the things I do by doing just that, "goofing around" just to see if I could do it.

I have a full programming background and some systems background but somehow I'm better at making graphic "toys" than I ever was at programming.

I am NOT a Java programmer but I can decipher most JScripts and determine what they do and how they will or will not work here.

With that said, I also have some responsibility here to make sure there is nothing too far off-base that would allow the board's software to "mess up" the basic experience most visitors should have here. Scripting can easily cause trouble, and has before.

The countdown timer for example is as straight forward as Caskbill has already mentioned, but what he may or may not know is the amount of time and effort that went into getting it to where it is now (99% of that effort was Jim's BTW )

So it comes down to this:

If you are not SURE, don't do it.

If you can't "Hello World" or even if you don't know what that is, then you need to back up and really take a look at what you are trying to do.

 

[jfulcer]

Originally posted by Mr. J. Cricket
If you can't "Hello World" or even if you don't know what that is, then you need to back up and really take a look at what you are trying to do.

Ok, by invoking Hello World, you do realize the geek level you are admitting???

 

[Dan Murphy]

Hello World!!!!!

 

[ohanafamily]

I understand what you are saying, my background is a BA degree in Computer Science from The University (of Texas) and I am fairly good at prgramming in the older languages. I think the problem I am having is the sample code I was using is designed as a function and not a runtime statement. I am having a mental block on converting it over (mostly because I work retail in addition to my network administration role and don't have the time to play.) Most of the code I write now is either a low level conversion program, an Excel macro, and an occasional C program, or SQL Database utilities.

The code I was wanting to get to eventually is something that would be cloned by at least one person in my Tagliarchy thread, so I guess I will rethink the effort... I will still play with some of the functions and will either PM or e-mail, or post on this thread a code sample (your choice oh Mr. Cricket...oh concience of all would be programmers)

Thanks

BTW, I hope this is OK...I am not sure of the code in all of the books, but I am fairly sure this is what you are referring to...

<Script language='Javascript'>document.writeln("Hello World");</Script>

I liked the stuff with LISP better...

 

[WebmasterCricket]

Originally posted by jfulcer
Ok, by invoking Hello World, you do realize the geek level you are admitting???

Yes, I unfortunately do

It does tend to be a demark for what language I can use in future posts regarding the issue at hand.

E.g. Dan's "HW" compared to Ohana's

Big difference

JC

{} {t}

 

[ohanafamily]

I agree...I was trying to demonstrate I am not a complete newbie to programming...

I used to love lisp programming.. FOO@BAR etc...

Actually APL is another fun language.

What I want to get to is something that would actually be easiest written in SNOBOL. I want to have colors sliding up and back on the text (sort of like a marquise) I think it might be a little processor intensive, but hey...

I also think DAN MURPHEY knows the difference in "HW"

 

[WebmasterCricket]

Like a rainbow effect?

How much text?

<OBJECT><EMBED src="http://66.139.241.190/images/rainbow.swf" loop=false quality=medium bgcolor=#F1F1F1 WIDTH="350" HEIGHT="50" NAME="rainbow" ALIGN="" TYPE="application/x-shockwave-flash" PLUGINSPAGE="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></EMBED></OBJECT>

 

[WebmasterCricket]

&#123
&#111
&#110

 

[ohanafamily]

OK, I guess I should learn Flash instead of Javascript.

Is it ok to put the plug in like you embedded Flash Image command?

I also found a real neat image someone used...I'll have to find it...

 

[WebmasterCricket]

First I'll tell you what the deal is with the first J-script.

Jeff realized earlier on that the left squiggly bracket (his words not mine ) will not pass through the filters as a left squiggly bracket. It parses as ASCII alt.

Even if you could get past that, the "window.onload" also has the same issue with the "on". The boards just won't have it.

Now to the Flash thing:

Yes and no.

I have MX and in this case I didn't bother to revert the .swf file to earlier versions (I think it's up to #7 now???)

If you can functionaly revert it, I would so you don't have to include the player download in the post. This was a very simple tween of a rainbow with a text mask. It took about 5 minutes to make. People tend to freak out when the player upgrade download pops-up in a post.

It's not transparent either, I cheated

I'm good like that

JC

 

[ohanafamily]

AAAAHHHHH that is why it kept blowing up.....

My darling bride has been doing animated gifs with some software she has, I can use that instead of Flash. I think the Gifs require a lot more processing power.
(check out our artifacts on the Tagliarchy color wheel)
http://www.vpsecure.com/color.htm


I think I have flash 6, but have never used it...other than 20 minutes when the box came in. I guess I will go buy a book on it; any recomendations?

 

[WebmasterCricket]

I think it went Flash 5 then Flash MX(6) so I might have the same version if you have some specific questions (I have both).

Skip the book for now and go to the tutorials included with the product. Oddly, they are not all that bad like other tutorials that come with other products that will remain nameless _{cough _Microsoft cough}.

After that, go to www.flashkit.com and look at some of the sample open source movies posted there that are related to what you are doing. Be careful because some math based action scripting can really choke up a processor lickety-split-quick.

I will gladly give you tips and logic advice as to how to get where you are going. Many things are so different with the Macromedia suite particularly Flash, that you may try too hard to do something that is by default really easy.

There are a couple of others that have Flash 5 or MX here that can help out too.

You should have a fairly decent vector based drawing app. too to compliment it if you get into some advanced graphics stuff.

JC

 

[WebmasterCricket]

You will be amazed how simple that spinning wheel will be with Flash.

I can give you a quick tutorial on how to do it if you want and send you the .fla file if you find out for sure which version you have.

JC