WebAnime

Overview

The WebAnime CGI program let you have a document that contains an image which is getting updated by the HTTPD server on a regular basis. It uses the "multipart/x-mixed-replace" mime to push a series of images to the client. Only NETSCAPE V.1.1 and above, presently support the server push functionality. You don't need any CGI programming skills to make animations on your HTML pages. Just use the WebAmine utility with appropriate options and it will make the animation for you. All you have to do is to let your imagination working.

Installation

The following files are included in the archive:

WEBANIME.EXE - The CGI executable for Windows 3.1x
WEBANI11.INI - The WebAnime initialisation .INI file.
WEBANIME.HTM - This file. HTML format.
WEBANIME.TXT - This file. Text format.
WEBANIME.DIZ - Description file.
REGISTER.TXT - Registration form
LOGO-1.GIF   - WebAnime logo image file demonstration.
LOGO-2.GIF   - WebAnime logo image file demonstration.
. . .
LOGO-15.GIF  - WebAnime logo image file demonstration.

You will need the Visual Basic runtime library VBRUN300.DLL in your windows\system directory. VBRUN300.DLL can be found on almost any BBS or FTP sites that carries windows programs.

To install the software, copy the WEBANI11.INI file to the WINDOWS directory. Place the WEBANIME.EXE program in your HTTPD CGI directory. This directory is usually \HTTPD\CGI-WIN.

Create a directory called WEBANIME under your HTTPD ServerRoot directory. This is usually \HTTPD\. Move all WebAnime files in this directory. You will keep all your animation image files in this directory.

Edit the WEBANI11.INI initialisation file in the WINDOWS directory, fill in the reference to DIRECTORY field. This reference must point to the fully qualified directory where you will keep all your animation image files. For example, you will have DIRECTORY=C:\HTTPD\WEBANIME. Save the .INI file.

After the installation, a short version of this help is also available by calling WebAnime with a "/Help" Path Info. (http://your.server.addr/your-cgi-alias/webanime.exe/Help)

That's it for the installation.

Creating your animation

Insert animation in your HTML documents

WebAnime Query Parameters

With WebAnime you can use the following query parameters:
IMGNAME: Mandatory.
This parameter is used to specify the common image base name of your images filename. For the WebAnime logo animation, I use 15 images with filename logo-x.gif. So we will take IMGNAME=logo for that animation.

SEQUENCE: Mandatory.
This parameter specifies the total number of images that will be used for the animation. For the WebAnime logo animation I use logo-1.gif, logo-2.gif ... logo-15.gif, I will then take SEQUENCE=15.

FORMAT: Optional.
Use this parameter to specify the format of your animation image file. WebAnime support the GIF, JPEG and TIFF format. If used, the FORMAT parameter must be set to the image filename extension. For example, if you are using JPEG image format, you will use FORMAT=JPG.
If not specified, WebAnime will use FORMAT=GIF by default.

LOOP: Optional.
Use the LOOP option to make your animation start over automatically LOOP's time. For example, use LOOP=3 to make your animation looping three times.
If not specified, WebAnime will use LOOP=1 by default.

ROLLBACK: Optional.
The ROLLBACK parameter can be used to make the animation rolling back to the image sequence 1. You enable this feature by using ROLLBACK=TRUE on the query string. For the logo demonstration, if ROLLBACK=TRUE, WebAnime will display the following sequence: logo-1.gif, logo-2.gif, ..., logo-14.gif, logo-15.gif, logo-14.gif, ..., logo-2.gif, logo-1.gif.
If not specified, WebAnime will use ROLLBACK=FALSE by default.

DELAY: Optional.
You can use this parameter to specify a delay between each image of your animation. Due to a various network speed, you will probably need to make your animation slower or faster. But take in consideration that clients will load your animation at different network speed. Animation that seems too fast for you can run slowly for a client.
If not specified, WebAnime will use DELAY=0 by default.

PATH: Optional.
By defaut, WebAnime uses the GetPrivateProfileString API to extract from the WEBANI11.INI initialisation file the location directory of your animation image files. You can bypass this by specifying a PATH option on the Query String. For example, you can use PATH=C:\HTTPD\HTDOCS\IMAGES to force WebAnime to point to the C:\HTTPD\HTDOCS\IMAGES directory.

DEBUG: Optional.
You can use this argument to ask WebAnime to generate a debug output that can be use to solved animation problems. This option must be use only from the browser command line and not within a <IMG SRC> HTLM tag. To enable this feature, use DEBUG=TRUE on the Query String.
By default, WebAnime always assumed DEBUG=FALSE .Example:


http://your.server.addr/cgi-win/webanime.exe?IMGNAME=logo&SEQUENCE=15&DEBUG=TRUE

Troubleshooting

Here's some things you can do if you cannot run WebAnime properly:
• Can you run another Visual Basic CGI program that comes with the server? Try for example to run the cgitest.exe CGI sample.

• Have you look to your HTTPD error.log file for a pertinent information?

• Have you try to run WebAnime with the DEBUG query parameter?

• Is the WEBANI11.INI file have been properly copied to the windows directory and the DIRECTORY point to your animation image directory?

• Use the PATH parameter to make WebAnime point directly to the animation image directory.

• Do you have a "TEMP" dos environment variable set? (Reboot your PC with a 'SET TEMP=\ADIRECTORY' in your AUTOEXEC.BAT. Be sure that \ADIRECTORY exist!)

• Try to run WebAnime from the browser command line with a URL like: http://your.server.addr/your-cgi-alias/webanime.exe?IMGNAME=logo&SEQUENCE=1
  If it works, increase SEQUENCE one by one...

Registration

This program is Shareware, you may evaluate it for a period of no more than 30 days. After this time you must either register (read REGISTER.TXT) or remove it from your system. Failure to comply with this condition is a violation of the law. As you are aware, authors spend numerous hours to create such programs, and this, to reach your requirements. Therefore, they need all your support. Please register if you use this program for longer than the trial period.

Registration is $12 (US) or $15 (Canadian). To register, please send your name, address, a check or money order to:

Sylvain Senechal
284 Coulonge Street, Apt.6
Longueuil, Quebec (Canada)
J4G 1V4

Phone: (514) 646-7710

WebAnime is supplied as is. The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may result from the use of WebAnime.