Marquee Parameters
Click an item in the list to the left to find out more about it.
Width & Height
The width and height of the applet are set in the HTML code you add to the web page. Be sure to change the dimensions in the <object> and the <embed> tags.
Marquee's width can be whatever you like -- as wide as the page, or very narrow. Its height must be sufficient for the size of font you're using. YOu can use the Testmode parameter to determine the correct size for the applet.
Parameters
The parameters below should be added to your datafile in the form NAME=VALUE (for instance, BgColor=FF0000). Each parameter should be on a separate line. You can leave blank lines in the list to organize the parameters into groups if you want to. The parameter names are not case-sensitive, and neither are the values, so BgColor=FF0000 is the same as bgcolor=ff0000. You can add the parameters to your file in any order. Most parameters have a default value which we show in bold text below: if you don't include the parameter in your datafile, the default value will be used automatically.
BgColor
Sets the background color of the applet. The default value is FFFFFF (white). (Note that Marquee can only change the background color after it has loaded. To have the same background color shown before the browser starts loading the applet, change the BgColor setting in the HTML code too.)
Font
Sets the name, size and style of font to use for the text, with each part separated by commas. The default is Sans,8,plain.
- Name: You can include any number of font names, separated by pipe symbols (|), and the applet will use the first font available on the user's system. To ensure compatibility, finish with one of these generic names: Sans, Serif or Typewriter.
- Size: The size of the font in points.
- Style: The style can be plain, bold, italic or bold-italic.
An example font parameter would be: Comic Sans MS|Verdana|Arial|Sans,9,bold.
MaskWidth
If ShowMasks is set to 'yes', this sets the width of the semi-transparent 'masks' at both sides of the applet.
ScrollAmount
Sets the amount (in pixels) by which the text will move with each timed step of its animation. Using this and the parameter below you can fine-tune the animation for speed and smoothness. The default scroll amount is 1 pixel.
ScrollDelay
Sets the pause between animation steps, in milliseconds. The default delay time is 10. Decrease this figure to make the animation faster.
ShowMasks
The 'masks' are semi-transparent blocks at both sides of the applet. They have the same color as your chosen BgColor and blur the edges of the applet, making the text appear to fade in and out at either end of the applet. Set this parameter to yes (the default) to display the masks, or no to hide them. (If the masks are displayed, you can change their width using the MaskWidth parameter.)
ShowVersion
A yes or no value. This parameter is included in all Cool Focus Flash applets, and its default is no. If set to 'yes', the version number of the applet (and other details) will be shown when the applet starts. This is included only for troubleshooting purposes, to help you determine which version of an applet you're using. It should be set to 'no' (or removed from your datafile) before you publish your page.
Testmode
A yes or no value, with a default of 'no'. This parameter helps you to determine the best height for the applet after entering text and setting the font. Set this parameter to 'yes', then view the applet in your browser and move the mouse over it. You'll see the suggested height displayed in the browser's status bar (in compatible browsers), and you can copy this value into the HEIGHT setting in the page's HTML code. When you're done, remember to set the Testmode parameter back to 'no' or delete it from your datafile. Note: If you've specified a list of font names in the applet's font parameters, it's a good idea to check that the applet will be tall enough whichever of those fonts is used: with Testmode set to 'yes', move each font name to the beginning of the list and refresh the page to see if Testmode reports that larger dimensions are needed.
Target
Sets the name of the frame or window into which Marquee's URL will open when clicked. You can use the default HTML names (_self, _top, _parent, _blank) or any frame name defined in your pages. The default if this parameter is missing is _self. (This parameter is ignored if no URL parameter is included.)
Text
This vital parameter specifies the text to be displayed by Marquee. The text can be as long or as short as you like.
TextColor
Sets the basic color of the text, with a default of 000000 (black).
TextFocusColor
Sets the color of the text when the mouse moves over it, if the text acts as a link. The default color is 0000FF (blue). (This parameter is ignored if the URL parameter is empty.)
TextPressColor
Sets the color of the text when clicked, if the text acts as a link. The default color is FF0000 (red). (This parameter is ignored if the URL parameter is empty.)
TextFocusUnderline
A choice of 'yes' or 'no' according to whether the linking text should gain an HTML-style underline when the mouse moves over it. The default is yes. (This parameter is ignored if the URL parameter is empty.)
Transparent
A choice of 'yes' or 'no' to whether the applet should be transparent in compatible browsers, replacing the BgColor with the content or background of the page behind the applet. Note that in incompatible browsers, the BgColor will still be visible. Note also that using transparency can have a large impact on the speed and smoothness of animation in any animated applet. The default is no. If you do choose to set this parameter to 'yes', you must also alter the HTML code to support transparency (see Step 3 for this simple change).
URL
If you want Marquee to act as a link when clicked, use this parameter to specify any absolute or relative URL it should link to. If this parameter is used, a hand-cursor will be shown when the mouse moves over the applet, and the TextFocusColor, TextPressColor, TextFocusUnderline and Target parameters become active.
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