Using javascript to control the browser

Question

Hi all,
One of the most requested features on our first Breeze
project was a "quit" button. The easiest way to do so in an HTML
environment is to use the command
javascript: window.close();
Type this into the address bar on your browser, and hit
return. Isn't that neat?
Okay, the scripting language in Flash (Actionscript) can
simulate typing something in the address bar with the command
getURL ("javascript: window.close();");
...all we have to do is add that actionscript to the
onRelease event handler for a button in Flash. Then, add the button
to your PowerPoint before you use Presenter, and when the student
clicks it... voila!
This same trick can be used to replace that MacroDobe©
logo in the Breeze player. This time, when the user clicks the
button, we'll use javascript to pop up an alert box with a clever
message:
getURL ("javascript: alert('Aren't we clever?');";
This button has to be small, around 50 x 29 pixels, to
properly replace the logo. To actually replace it, you need to
publish your presentation to the hard drive like normal. Next, find
the folder you published to, and place a copy of your "button.swf"
file in the "data" subfolder. Then, edit (don't "open") the
vconfig.xml file in the same subfolder using notepad. Near the top,
you'll find an entry that says:
<uireplace name="logo" value= "" />
place the name of your button file between the quotation
marks and save:
<uireplace name="logo" value= "button.swf" />
When you load up the training next time, the logo will have
changed to your button.
You'll have to do this every time you publish the training,
as Presenter deletes & recreates all those subfolders each time
you do. BTW, MacroDobe© does offer a small applet to parse
this xml file for you... but they want 5 grand per copy. I'm
thinking notepad works just as well :)
cheers!
Marc B

Answer 1

The biggest difficulty with a Swing Applet is that it needs the latest version of the JVM to run and many people don't have this installed on their PC. You can set the Aplet tags to download the plug-in but it can discourage users and may not always work. I would only use a Swing Applet for webapps with a limited client base.