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March 2004, Week 4

Applying an erase transition to icons erased with EraseIcon()

Calculation Icon Properties give extra information

March 2006, week 1

Use the right size scrolling text box to know where the lines are

Extra Xtras when using Flash Asset

February 2006, Week 4

Using the BuildDisplay function

Ctrl-Drag destination page to Navigate for Call/return

Get ready for AMGAC 2006 San Diego
March 22, 2006  March 2004, Week 4 
The Tip

If you don't subscribe to the Aware List, I strongly suggest you sign up. The list is a great way to learn from what others are doing. For example, Keith Renfield posted a great Tip just this week on the Aware list…

I have a technique for applying a transition to icons erased with the EraseIcon() function which has worked very well for me in the past. These are the basic steps:

  • Drag a new Erase Icon to the flow line.
  • In the Erase Icon properties, Uncheck Prevent Cross Fade.
  • Draw a graphic with a calculation and set this Erase Icon to erase it.
  • Select an erase transition to apply to the icons
  • Create a linear list of icons to erase (I call mine IconsToErase) that are erased in the Calculation Icon that we set up to be erased earlier

Drag a Calculation Icon to the flow line directly below the Erase Icon.

Now for the specifics. The calculation should be set up originally to draw a large box, like this:

SetFill(TRUE , RGB(0,0,0))
Box(1, 1, 100, 1, 100)

Next, we'll set up the Erase icon to erase this box.

Run your piece. When the flow reaches the empty Erase Icon, click the Box, then click OK.

Once that is done, you can replace the Box() code with the real code:

repeat with I := 1 to ListCount(IconsToErase)
EraseID := IconsToErase[i]
EraseIcon(EraseID)
end repeat

Now, because of the Cross Fade from the Erase Icon transition, whatever you erase with the EraseIcon function will also receive the transition. You can set up a Subroutine Framework to apply other transitions too.
Did You Know?

I was talking to a long-time Authorware developer, Dick Hewitt, on a case where we were both consulting. He shared a neat little tidbit with me I hadn't been aware of.

You can do more with a calculation from its icon properties window than just change it to being a script function. If you look carefully, you'll see that the Icon Properties window for a calculation contains two text boxes. The one on the left contains functions used in the calculation, which is nice, but so far I haven't found much use for the information. However, the one on the right contains variables, including icon variables, used in the calculation.

If you click on a variable, you can see its current value (unfortunately not the value it was when it passed through the icon). I've found this amazingly helpful in debugging, especially since I make a habit of using icon variables in script functions. If the function hasn't been called again since you had the problem, you can go right to the icon and it will contain the value of the variable when the problem occurred.

I find it a tremendous time saver that I don't always have to trace a value or go back to the variables window to see what the value is.
Important Milestone

Steve Howard, my husband, had an interview last week with the Department of Homeland Security office in our state. The notice we got had a long list of items he was supposed to bring, and "spouse" was one of those items, so that's what happened to the Tip of the Week last week.

We stressed for days ahead of time, and the interview was over in 15 minutes. The nice man made it very clear that what Steve was to be getting was not a green card. But it wasn't especially clear what Steve will be getting. Even the Department of Homeland Security website doesn't seem to be very informative on this subject, though it will tell you in detail what forms you have to fill out to get "it."
Country Life

Some subscribers may be aware that we moved out to the country about this time last year. I've been amazed at how living closer to nature has made me tremendously happy.

photo of pond on a foggy morning

Some cool things we've seen:

  • Waterfowl might be overwintering in the pond at the back of the property, inlcuding geese, cranes, and herons
  • Giant butterflies, even this early
  • The delicate blooms of wild (and domestic) blueberries, and of course, later there will be fruit
  • The "volunteer" tomatoes given to us because Katrina knocked a lot of fruit off last years' plants
  • Festoons of Wisteria like fragrant bunches of grapes
  • A tiny bird visited us briefly last month that was about the size of a chicken egg

The property was once owned by quite an avid gardener, so we are constantly seeing amazing things popping out of the ground, like the Amaryllis that is just about to bloom and the daffodils that just finished.