[Xerte] Change the global look custom look example files

Mon Aug 2 10:46:15 BST 2010

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%20C
hange%20the%20global%20look%20custom%20look%20example%20files.EML/1_multipar
t/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

  _____  

<image001.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/> 

<ATT00001..c>

  _____  

<https://email.nottingham.ac.uk/Exchange/cczjrt/Drafts/RE:%20%5bXerte%5d%20C
hange%20the%20global%20look%20custom%20look%20example%20files.EML/1_multipar
t/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/> 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.nottingham.ac.uk/pipermail/xerte/attachments/20100802/fd6417e7/attachment.html