(R561) Simple Animated GIFs Using FrontPage

Animated GIFs are created using the Tools > Microsoft GIF Animator menu item in the FrontPage Explorer. Clicking it opens a GIF Animator window that has a toolbar along the top. While many of the animation controls are straight forward, some are rather confusing:

• You import the first GIF file by clicking on the 2nd icon in the toolbar (it looks like an open folder). This opens a menu that lets you select your GIF image from a variety of places, including your PC file system. The image is displayed in a small window that is highlighted with a purple boundary (that means that it is the active window).
• However, you can only insert GIF files above the current file rather than after the current one. You do this with an icon that contains a "+" sign. This means that you have to insert animation files in reverse order, or else the animation runs backwards. The trick to getting it to run forwards is this: drag the 1st image to the window below it with the mouse, so you now have 2 examples of the first image. Highlight that image and then use the "+" icon to insert the 2nd image. You keep doing this by highlighting the last image, and inserting the next GIF until you are done. Then delete the last image (use the icon marked with a large X).
• However, the most confusing aspect of the animator is that when you run the animation, all of the images overlay each other. The reason is that the "Undraw" method is undefined by default. In order to get true animation you need to invoke the image sub-menu and select the option "Restore Background". You need to do this for each individual image (but you can select a group of images by holding down the shift key and clicking on each one before you set the "Undraw" method).
• Also, the first time you save an animated GIF file be sure and use the "Save As.." icon, otherwise you will overwrite the first GIF image in the set.

Class Topics

Graphics Design Based on Edward Tufte's Principles

Using the Graphics Equipment in the Vislab

Clickable Image Maps

Scrollable Frames

Clickable Image Maps with Frames

Simple Animated GIFs Using MS FrontPage

Interactive Animation Using MS Liquid Motion

Exporting PowerPoint and Other Graphics to the Web

3D Animation Using VRML

Incorporating Plugins in Your Browser

Using and Adapting Java Applets

References:   R525: Introduction to Microsoft FrontPage   |   R526: Intermediate MicroSoft FrontPage

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