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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 7, 2006  March 2006, week 1 
The Tip

Originally published July, 2003

One thing that has always kept me away from using scrolling text boxes for simulating things like list boxes is that it seems like it would be impossible to predict where the baseline of a given line of text is when it is scrolling.

Andrew Duthie, a frequent poster to the Aware list, posted an example file that shows that if you get the height of the Authorware text box right, the text box will actually "snap" to the nearest line so that you never have part of a line of text cut off at the top or the bottom. So you can do things like placing a highlight behind a line of text without worrying where that line of text will be. Cool trick, Andrew!
Did You Know?

Originally published July, 2003

When you want to change the #pathname property of a Flash icon so that you can use it to show more than one animation, you need more than just the Flash Asset Xtra. You also need the InetURL Xtra and NetFile Xtra, because Flash acts like it is connected to the internet even if it isn't. You also need the MoaFile2 Xtra, because this Xtra allows the Asset Xtra to speak to the Authorware file and change the property of the icon.

Luckily, we have One Button Publishing now to take care of these little details for us. But if you find yourself packaging by hand for some reason, this is a good quirk to be aware of.
Dedication

This issue is dedicated to the memory of Jake Blankenship, cat of many colors.

Happy photo of Amy & Jake

1994-2006
Rebuilding

There's been a lot of coverage in recent months about the devastation left by Katrina, mostly focusing on New Orleans. I thought I'd focus on how things are in our neck of the woods.

We live 25 miles or so North of the beach. Aside from the trees down, it's difficult to tell here there is much out of the ordinary. And more and more of the Gulf Coast is like that. People are rebuilding apace.

But the farther you go South and East, the worse things are. Driving down Highway 90 is surreal, with huge oak limbs poking out of the water. Many street signs are down, and the landmarks locals are used to seeing have been flattened, so you have to count intersections to find your way.

I'm happy to report that all this devastation has resulted in a huge planning effort with the goal of making Mississippi as a whole and the Coast in particular better than it ever could have been had we not been flattened. I don't have space to cover the full scope of what has been done in the last six months, but if you're curious, check out the Governor's Commission Website.