Q:
I am using Front Page to do a LIFE TEEN site. In the left bar, I
use java buttons generated by FP. Our youth minister has trouble
seeing these. I think she might be using Netscape or AOL. Is it
still acceptable for me to use these buttons if some browsers can't
see them? Or could she just be having a problem with her browser?
~ Nancy
She's not
having trouble with her browser, and it's not that Netscape and
AOL browsers are the problem or are lagging behind in developing
their code. The problem is that Microsoft created Front Page,
and therefore FP's special features, such as its marquee or any
JavaScripts, are designed to not work on anything but
MS's Internet Explorer. Phoeey on MS!
The solution,
for us web designers, is to use a JavaScript that works on all
browsers. Never use those provided by FP, for there are plenty
of free scripts available, which are compatible with everything
except WebTV, (and a few of the simple ones do work on WebTV,
though not this one -- To find out if a JavaScript will work on
WebTV, download the free WebTV Viewer from developer.webtv.net).
These scripts are not too hard to figure out how to use, and most
internet sources that provide them give good explanations about
how to make them work.
Try this one.
Move your mouse over and off of the button:

Below is the
simple "mouseover" script that accomplishes this. To
copy the code and make this sample work on your computer, copy
these two graphics that are used (one looks like the button is
up, the other looks like the button is pressed down) and put them
into the same directory where you'll put the webpage that uses
this code.

In the HTML
view of the webpage you will put this into, just above the </head>
tag, make a blank line and insert the the following Javascript
(copy from here and paste it in).
<script
LANGUAGE="JavaScript">
function ChangeImage (ImageName,FileName) {
document[ImageName].src = FileName;
}
</script>
Now go to
the spot on your webpage where you want to put your button. At
that place, put the following code. Where you see red text, you
will eventually replace this with your own information, when you're
ready to make your own mouseover buttons. An explanation of the
changes you will make are in the right side column.
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EXTRA TIPS

This
is just one sample of working with a JavaScript. Find the JavaScript
that does what you want your Web site to do by searching through
Web sites that give our free scripts.
Favorite
site for finding free JavaScripts, because it lets you know which
browsers show them correctly:
Dynamic
Drive
Other
sources of JavaScripts:
Javascripts
Freecode
Cross
Daily
Developer.com
Code
Generators
JavaScript
Source
WebMonkey
Web
Design Library
If
any of these links go bad, please report
it!
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<a HREF="http://gnwda.org"
onMouseover="ChangeImage
('gnwda','mouseover2.gif');
return true"
onMouseout="ChangeImage
('gnwda','mouseover1.gif');
return true">
<img name="gnwda"
src="mouseover1.gif" BORDER="0"
WIDTH="97" HEIGHT="27">
</a>
NOTE:
Both
button graphics must be the same size.
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Replace
my URL to the link you need there.
Replace
'gnwda' with any name you pick for this button. Each button must
have a different name, but make sure that onMouseover and onMouseout
and the image tag all have the same name.
Replace
'mouseover2.gif' and 'mouseover1.gif' with your two button graphics.
Note that there are two instances of mouseover1.gif
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