[Xerte] Change the global look custom look example files

Mon Aug 2 13:27:40 BST 2010

1.       I'm not sure, so you might have to mess about, and see what
level things are getting loaded into in the engine, and then maybe use
swap depths to layer tings properly;

2.       Refer to the XMLEngine.fla.

3.       If you want to use the default controls, then you can do
rootIcon.clear() and then redraw the interface as you'd like. You can
add new graphics / logos using rootIcon.blahMC.removeMovieClip() to hide
things you don't want and rootIcon.createEmptyMovieClip('item', level);
to create new clips you can then load graphics into.

I'm sorry that sounds a bit obtuse, but as I'm not sure what people
would want to achieve with this, I think it needs to be handled on a
case by case basis, and there is a tension between having things
templated and having total freedom. At the end of the day you have the
same info I have to draw on: XMLEngine.fla.

J

From: xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
[mailto:xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk] On Behalf Of Ron Mitchell
Sent: 02 August 2010 10:46
To: 'Xerte discussion list'
Subject: RE: [Xerte] Change the global look custom look example files

Hi Julian

thanks for the reply. As I mentioned I wanted an example for some
support material (video tutorials) covering XOT not Xerte, but for now
I've just indicated that this would be a topic for a future tutorial.
However I'd be keen to understand how to get a custom interface to work
with XOT via the optional property. I know this can be done with Xerte
but I'm trying to work out how this can be done with XOT with the
standard XOT template. Three questions/issues in particular...

1. If I import a swf based on an adapted version of framework.fla I can
get the navigation and TOC buttons to work but as soon as I import a
custom interface the background of the LO is either gray (if the swf
doesn't have a background) or is whatever the swf contains but obscuring
any XOT content. How is this meant to work is there a line of code to
make the inteface swf the lowest/root level?

2. framework.swf obviously contains the actionscript to enable the 3
buttons in framework.fla to work but where can we also access the code
to replicate the other interface items e.g. colour scheme, display mode
etc

3. I know you're happy with the built-in interface which is great
especially with all the accessibility features. But clearly some people
are looking to create and use custom interfaces to match styles/branding
etc beyond what can be done with css and it would be a real shame if
those customisations lost all the accessibility features. It would be
great to have a custom_interface.fla with buttons and controls similar
to those in the default interface and also notes on how that could be
used with XOT. I know this is sort of blurring the boundaries between
Xerte and XOT but I think there are lots of colleges and universities
that are very happy with XOT and the templates available and would like
to tweak the interface without having to use or create a separate
template.

Cheers

Ron

From: xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
[mailto:xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk] On Behalf Of Julian Tenney
Sent: 30 July 2010 22:18
To: Xerte discussion list
Subject: RE: [Xerte] Change the global look custom look example files

I don't have a custom interface, because I like the built in one.

One of the problems is 'what do you mean by custom?'

You want to tweak the existing one?

Or build a whole new one? To do what?

So I'm not sure there is a generic 'custom' interface.

I can show people how to do what they want - I've done that in the past
with a few custom interfaces, but you need to know what you want first. 

You will have to write some code.

________________________________

From: xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk on behalf of Ron Mitchell
Sent: Fri 30/07/2010 17:01
To: 'Xerte discussion list'
Subject: RE: [Xerte] Change the global look custom look example files

Hi Julian

do you have an example of a custom interface swf that works with
toolkits you can share? Or does anyone else?

I agree the last thing we want to lose is the accessibility features so
it would be great to see a custom example which retains those features
or at least the main ones.

I'm creating some support material at the moment (aimed at teachers not
developers) and for example creating one on the different learning
object properties so it would be good to be able to include the custom
interface optional property.

Cheers

Ron

From: xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
[mailto:xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk] On Behalf Of Julian Tenney
Sent: 30 July 2010 16:03
To: Xerte discussion list
Subject: RE: [Xerte] Change the global look custom look example files

You're going to have to re-work a lot of functionality that the
interface provides, or do without it. Most of it is about accessibility,
so you ought to think carefully before throwing it all away.

Use framework template.swf and create a .swf that provides the
navigation and look and feel you want. Framework template will show you
how to call the actual navigation functions in the engine, and then you
can override the default interface with your own.

<https://email.nottingham.ac.uk/Exchange/cczjrt/Drafts/RE:%20%5bXerte%5d
%20Change%20the%20global%20look%20custom%20look%20example%20files.EML/1_
multipart/image002.png> 

From: xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
[mailto:xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk] On Behalf Of J. Patrick
Moran
Sent: 30 July 2010 15:56
To: Xerte discussion list
Subject: Re: [Xerte] Change the global look custom look example files

Thanks for the quick response,

So if I understand you correctly, I can create the new interface in the
Xerte application by starting with the framework template? or is there a
specific fla file I need to copy from the framework template, then
modify and then upload into Xerte? I basically need to apply global
artwork to the interface that sits behind the functioning application to
make it look like our powerpoint slides.

P

On Jul 30, 2010, at 8:40 AM, Julian Tenney wrote:

It's easier to make your own interface in a separate .swf file and then
load that up using the .swf property on the learning object icon. If you
download the windows version of Xerte it's much easier to play around
with - in the templates folder use the Framework  template to create the
swf,

J

From: xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
[mailto:xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk] On Behalf Of J. Patrick
Moran
Sent: 30 July 2010 15:38
To: xerte at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
Subject: [Xerte] Change the global look custom look example files

I am very new to Xerte. 1 day into it

I have installed it on my testing server successfully and now want to
edit the visual structure of the base interface to match our powerpoint
look and feel. Could someone point me to the right file or directory to
start modifying.  I have been working my way through the fla files, but
can't seem to find the ones that controls the overall look and feel of
the base presentation interface particularly the header footer and body
structure.

Thanks,

Patrick Morna

________________________________

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J. P. MORAN DESIGN, INC.

J. Patrick Moran

1112 Oakridge Drive

Suite 104, PMB 259

Ft. Collins, CO 80525

Ph: (970) 481-8489

Fx: (970) 207-9889

patrick at jpmdi.com

www.jpmdi.com <http://www.jpmdi.com/> 

<ATT00001..c>

________________________________

<https://email.nottingham.ac.uk/Exchange/cczjrt/Drafts/RE:%20%5bXerte%5d
%20Change%20the%20global%20look%20custom%20look%20example%20files.EML/1_
multipart/image003.gif> 

J. P. MORAN DESIGN, INC.

J. Patrick Moran

1112 Oakridge Drive

Suite 104, PMB 259

Ft. Collins, CO 80525

Ph: (970) 481-8489

Fx: (970) 207-9889

patrick at jpmdi.com

www.jpmdi.com <http://www.jpmdi.com/> 

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