Hint Map v1.2 Demo

'Hint Map' allows image maps within web pages to display Win'95 style 'hint text'. The Image map can provide mulitple hot links to other web pages or internet services (eg mail), and is parameter driven from HTML. Move the mouse over the numbers on the left for a demo. Clicking, then releasing the mouse in a 'hot area' will result in a jump to the appropriate location. The tool bar at the bottom of this page is also implemented using a hint_map.

Features

Hint Map is implemented using Java, and consists of two classes, hot_area and hint_map. Here is the Java source code for both classes. The following features are supported:

Imagemap like functionality without server scripts. (Supports JPG & GIF)
Full support for Netscape Frames (optional frame parameter may be specified for each hotarea)
Background colour and image may be (optionally) configured to match rest of page
Supports transparent foreground and background images
Flicker free loading of images
Hot areas immediately active - no need to wait for full image load (though hint text will flicker if displayed whilst images still being retrieved)
Hot areas may be rectangular (specify top left/bottom right corners) or any other polygon (specify corners in cyclic order)
Applet may be located on different server to HTML & Images, thus allowing use even on platforms without long file name support (eg Compuserve)

Using Hint Map on your Web Pages
This demo is a fully functional implementation of hint_map, able to support up to 20 hot_areas. However, it is Shareware, and if you decide to use it on your web pages or site, a registration fee of $10 US would be appreciated. For this you will receive the latest version of hint_map, with full instructions for use & examples, together with twelve months of upgrades and bug releases. I also plan to make a configuration applet available to registered users, which will allow the hot areas to be configured by 'drawing onto' the image whilst authoring the web page. (ie, the applet will 'write' its own HTML tag)
You can register online via Compuserve (GO SWREG, Registration ID 10104 or search on HINTMAP), or if you don't have access to Compuserve email me and we'll sort something out.
You may be wondering why is the source code included? That's because I hope some of the techniques used will be of interest to others - feel free to use them, but please don't cheat - if a hint-map is what you want, why not register? If you've got any questions or comments, or suggestions for other useful applets, please mail me.
Example
The following is an example of the HTML used to configure a hint_map within a web page (it's actually the HTML used for the '1234' demo on this page. Look at TOOLBAR.HTM for another example):

<applet code="hint_map.class" width=220 height=136>
<param name=bgcolor value="#c0c0c0">
<param name=foreground value="1234.gif">
<param name=background value="witerock.jpg">
<param name=hot_area1 value="page1.htm, Page 1,10,1,45,57,MAIN">
<param name=hot_area2 value="page2.htm, Page 2,46,25,97,81,MAIN">
<param name=hot_area3 value="page3.htm, Page 3,100,50,149,107,MAIN">
<param name=hot_area4 value="page4.htm, Page 4,150,75,196,130,MAIN">
</applet>

Include hint_map.class as an Applet
Background Color
Foreground Image
Background Image
hot_area1 Definition
hot_area2 Definition
hot_area3 Definition
hot_area4 Definition
End Applet

Last updated 22-Mar-1996/SBH
Copyright © 1996 Steve Hill 100144.3120@compuserve.com

Hint Map v1.2 Demo

Features

Using Hint Map on your Web Pages

Example

Last updated 22-Mar-1996/SBH Copyright © 1996 Steve Hill 100144.3120@compuserve.com

Last updated 22-Mar-1996/SBH
Copyright © 1996 Steve Hill 100144.3120@compuserve.com