The Message Tool is used to create the message-and-link files that constitute the content displayed in the NewsMaker.class Java applet.

Then save the work as NewsMaker.txt (or your filename if you did not use the default) in the same directory where you have the NewsMaker.class Java applet.  Send the file to your server.  The NewsMaker.class Java applet will then read its messages and links from that file.

The Message Tool can also be used to edit existing NewsMaker message-and-link files made previously with the Message Tool.  Open the existing file, make your changes, and again, save the file and send it to your server.

Overall, most users will quickly learn the use of the Message Tool with a just a few minutes of experimentation; however, detailed explanations of all features are provided below.

The link can be in one of two forms, relative or absolute (the NewsMaker Java applet supports both).

In the case of a relative link, enter only the page filename (and any path); for instance, the following three examples:

somepage.html
somedirectory/thatpage.html
../mainpage.html

In the case of an absolute link, enter the full path, including the http:// protocol prefix, like this:

http://www.somesite.com/somepage.html

If no link is required, simply leave the Message Link Url Box empty.

.....- Default [ none ]
.....- Same Frame [ _self ]
.....- Whole Page [ _top ]
.....- New Window [ _blank ]
.....- Parent Frame [ _parent ]

Additionally, if you wish to target a frame in a frameset layout, use the final option,

.....- Custom (type in)

and type in the name in the small textbox just to the right of the dropdown menu. Remember that targets within frameset layouts must be the exact name of the frame, as shown in the frameset tags.

Use of a target in, probably, the majority of designs is not need, so the Default [none] is the most usual selection.

See the next four items, New Message Button, Add Message Button, Replace Message Button, and Delete Message Button for details (all directly below).

Note that the Message List items cannot be directly edited.  They are in display-only mode. What the items on the list show is actually the specially formatted code needed by the Java applet (see the documentation for it) -- but by scrolling, you can easily see the individual messages and link and target information.

Clicking on an item (that is, selecting it) in the Message List box will cause the details of the message to show in the Message Box and the associated link and target boxes.

You can edit the selected message and details (see Replace Message Button, above), remove the message from the list (see the Delete Message Button, above), or change the position of the message on the list (see the next items, Move Up Button and Move Down Button).

The purpose of the Message Preview box is to always provide a current plain-text view of the messages and their order, that is much more easily read that the information in the Message List box. It updates immediately with any changes made.

Note that the Message Preview box does not reflect the layout that will appear in the Java applet's display; it is strictly an editorial convenience.

Important: If you have any work in the Message Tool, be sure to save it before importing a new file.

Use the Save File button to save your message-and-link file.  Again, take care to save to the appropriate filename and directory. Remember to save your work before you import any new file or close the application!

.......This is of little concern for most users, but noted for completeness: Use of just a few certain characters and character strings is blocked.  The NewsMaker tool will automatically protect you from entering these characters and character strings.  Use of these strings is forbidden: ###, @@@, ^^^.  Use of the pipe | sign is forbidden.  Use of the back \ slash is forbidden. These characters and strings are used internally by the applet.
.......The overall length of the Message Line is arbitrary, with no practical limits in general use (theoretically, it's 64K).  Messages are stored in dynamically allocated vector arrays in the applet, so practically speaking, again, there is no limit to the number of messages (theoretically, it's 256 messages). Do bear in mind, though, that very large files will take longer to load; so, as with anything on the Net, brevity is desirable.

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