So, You Want A Dynamic Page, Huh?
[A Few Assumptions]
Okay, okay, okay -- enough with the page changing thing. You may want to bookmark this page right now because if you log in to the main dynamic page you'll just go through all that page flipping, and we don't want that again.
Before we get started: This page uses things called "meta" commands. What you will learn here is only a small part of what they can do. Look here for a few more helpful uses.
Getting A Page To Change
This is a great effect. A few dynamic commands attached to your Web pages will offer some surprises to your readers. I've seen this used to take people on guided tours through buildings, tell jokes, and do just what I did -- almost talk to the viewer. You should be able to find a use for a dynamic page, so read on.
Here's the command I placed on my page to get the page-changing effect:
Here's what you are telling the computer to do:
- META HTTP-EQUIV tells the computer that after the page is loaded it is to do something.
- refresh tells the computer that the thing it's supposed to do is "refresh" the page.
- CONTENT is a strange name in this case. It denotes the number of seconds before the meta refresh is supposed to occur. I have this one set at 5. You can set it at whatever you want.
- URL is the address it's supposed to go to after the 5 seconds, or however many seconds you denote.
How To Get That "Ta Da" Sound
Now, most of you should have gotten a little Ta Da! when you logged in. That's another thing you can do with this meta command. I had it set up so that after the page loaded, your browser should have played a little .au file called "tada.au". (Clever name, eh?)Here's the command I wrote that did the job:
A Few Assumptions
There are a few assumptions you make using these dynamic commands. Be careful filling your pages with a bunch of these sound commands. Why?
- You are assuming the viewer has a browser level 1.1 or higher. If your viewer is using 1.0 or a browser with equal capabilities (yes, they do still exist contrary to the growth of the WWW), then the dynamic page that is supposed to change just sits there. Then the viewer waits... and waits... nothing happens. He or she swears at you and moves on.
- By using a sound file, you are assuming the viewer can play what you have offered. Tough call, as there are many different file names. I suggest .au first (my opinion).
- Finally -- and most annoyingly -- you are assuming people care to see the little page change or hear that "ta da!" every time they log in. A grand assumption indeed.
[How To Get That "Ta Da" Sound]
[A Few Assumptions]
Enjoy!