[REBOL] MAPLETS: Rollovers, Matrices, Smart-Maps and Reblets [long newbie questi
From: jasonic::panix::com at: 6-Sep-2001 14:35
Greetings
I posted clumsily before without reply. Not sure which forum is best for
this kind of discussion. I been exploring REBOL for a few days only.. its
wonderful :-)
Q1: How do I do a simple mouse rollover [no clicking] to change the image
displayed to another image provided by a list/dictionary function. Is there
any sample code for handling UP OVER DOWN HIT type button parameters?
Q2: On Windows, Mac and Linux, how can I use Rebol closely with Flash?
Q3: Are there any examples where I can cut'n'paste images to/from an
external application via Rebol/View. Examples: Using some other tool to
browse and manipulate images and then paste one
Q4: I want to extend the features of 'make-spec' to make it easier to
include images. Users need to browse some images visually and then do a
copy and paste which will insert the filename+path into the targeted
make-spec text file. How to do this in Rebol/View ?
CONTEXT
I am trying to learn how to create generic rollover button effects. using
sequences of my images instead of just Rebol type or background gradient
effects. I have a lot of 160x120 jpegs which I want to develop in visual
matrix interface for several applications.
A version 1 website using some of these 'piconic' images is
www.koreanfoodnyc.com
The site has had very good response so far from most people. They all like
its simplicity. It's part a larger free cultural/non-commercial project
being developed by a Korean filmmaker.
Version 2 calls for more detailed client-side browsing. For example rollover
images and display text or other images before click on link. I know how to
do this in Flash5 and HTML/Javascript, but want to use distributed Reblets.
How?
I would like to end up with a very clean REBOL dialect extending the current
button syntax for sequential image-based button effects. I have not yet
found examples which point in this direction. Perhaps it should be handled
as a protocol.. I am not sure.
..suggestions welcome
NEXT
Now also preparing postcardscience.net, an open non-curricular
design.science site extending this matrix-visual approach. We want to arouse
natural curiosity as directly as possible, provoking unexpected mental
connections afforded by images, matrices and sequences of them. Scale,
comparison, similarity, rhythm etc. The site should balance text and image
equally. Rebol would seem to offer an excellent distributed platform. I had
been planning to do all this using XML+Flash+Zope, but now I am seriously
wondering...
Even on Rebol-based system, we would like to use Flash components. So what
are my options to use Flash with Rebol? Of course I can call a web page and
launch Flash via the system web browser.. But I am wondering on Flash player
platforms [Mac, Linux, Win32] is there any way to directly embed the SWF
Flash inside a Rebol/View applet? For example, Rebol/Command seems to be
able call DLLs.
I love Rebol's simplicity and design philosophy, especially its
dialect+protocol ideas. From my perspective, sophisticated vector animation
is emerging as a multimedia internet protocol. Currently the candidates are
spread across Flash, Shockwave, SMIL and SVG.
SMART-MAPS
GML [Geographic Markup Language] is a good example of an attempt to XML-ify
a huge application domain with an eye towards SVG [Scaleable Vector Graphic]
or similar.
http://opengis.net/gml/
I approach maps and map 'objects' as devices. In the future I want Rebol to
handle the message passing between geo-centric devices. Did I understand
correctly - is REBOL the platform designed for this kind of emerging
application?
An example of the kind of Library I would love to see added to Rebol is
Hipparchus:
www.geodessey.com
For tutorial http://www.geodyssey.com/tutorial.htm
and then see advanced details http://www.geodyssey.com/tc12.htm
Some links to web mapping work are
http://www.opengis.org/wwwmap/
http://www.geodan.nl/uk/dienst/webmapping/webmapping.htm
thanks for any opinions and advice
- Jason Cunliffe
NOMADICS, New York.
