C O O L P A G E H E L P . C O M - The Official Help Website for Cool Page Users

What is Javascript?

Javascript is a scripting language developed by Netscape to enable web authors to design interactive sites. A script is a list of commands that can be executed without user interaction. A script language is a simple programming language used to write scripts.

Javascript is NOT Java. Java is a high-level programming language developed by Sun Microsystems, much more complex than Javascript, and can be used to write independant applications and programs. The Java programming language is used to write Java Applets, such as those that come with the Cool Page program, made by DSEffects.com.

DHTML, or Dynamic HTML, is a newer web technology. Things once considered unchangeable once the page has loaded, such as text, object position, etc, can now all be changed dynamically, thanks to DHTML.

It brings your web pages one step closer to how things look inside your television, where images appear and disappear, text flies in and out, and content moves around freely inside the screen.

Cool Page Webmaster has built in no programming needed DHTML. The scripts are created automatically by Cool Page. All you need to do is choose the desired effect such as move an object, hide an object, etc. A DHTML effect is called an Event. An Event is triggered by something the viewer does, such as click the mouse or move the mouse on top of an object on the page.

Example Javascript

Javascript Alert Box - An Alert is a small box that appears on the display screen to give you information. Alert boxes do not require any user input. However, you need to acknowledge the alert box by pressing the Enter key or clicking a mouse button to make it go away.

Click Here

Javascript Cautions

Just about any Javascript can be used on your Cool Page webpages.
However, not all Javascripts will work in all web browsers. Internet Explorer and Netscape handle Javascripts differently. If you want all possible web surfers to be able to view your webpages, then be sure to verify that the Javascripts you use are compatable with all browsers.

Javascripts are freely available all over the WWW at web design sites. Many of these Javascripts are very good and will greatly enhance your webpages.

Some Javascripts are written in such a way that they may ruin the webpage. They may not be written according to the rules and standards of the Javascript scripting language. Test your webpages with Javascripts in different web browsers.

For these reasons, we recommend using the DHTML Events feature of Cool Page Webmaster. The scripts that are created by Cool Page have been thoroughly tested, are standard, and will work in all browsers.

Put Javascript on Your Page

There are 3 methods of putting a Javascript on your page:

1. Small javascripts such as used for the Alert Box above may be typed directly into the Links Toolbar after highlighting some text or after selecting an image.

2. Use the HTML Object Tool to add the Javascript to the page.

3. The Events feature of Cool Page Webmaster has the capability to use a Javascript inside the DHTML Event.

Free Javascripts

See the Resources page for links to free Javascript websites.

Javascript in <HEAD>

Some Javascript instructions say, "Put this in the <HEAD> section of your webpage and put this in the <BODY>".

The reason is because it is best if the Javascript for the <HEAD> loads before the rest of the objects on the page. A web browser reads and interprets the HTML code of the page starting from the top down. The <HEAD> section of the code comes before the <BODY> section of the code.

When you make a page with Cool Page you are making the <BODY> of the page. In this case you can put the Javascript on your page with two HTML Objects, as long as the first HTML Object put on your page contains the Javascript that is supposed to go in the <HEAD>.

Troubleshooting Javascripts

Cool Page Customer Support will help you with the DHTML Events made with Cool Page Webmaster but will not debug or repair any Javascripts that you use on your pages which are not created by the Cool Page program itself.

Javascript programming can be complex, and a good programmer will charge upward to $150.00/hr or more for such work. This type of work is beyond the purposes of Customer Support.

Usual Causes of Broken Javascripts:

• Improper use of the HTML Object Tool click here
• Non-standard Javascript code
• Javascript code incorrectly used in Links Toolbar
• Javascript disabled in the browser
• 3rd party application disables/interferes with Javascripts