Buttons on a web page

[ILEllis]

I have run into a problem that I can not solve after referencing my html manuals or the Alpha manuals.

I'm trying to put two separate buttons side by side (horizontally) under a picture (the site logo picture) on the index.a5w page...

1st button: "New Users Click Here", 2nd button: "Members Click Here"

...both buttons need to pass the user on to separate .a5w pages (the new user button will link to an introduction page and the members button will link to the login page).

Now this sounds simple but maybe not. I CAN put simple generic buttons on the page BUT I can not format them (such as font and background color, font type with bold font) or in certain situations (such as when using a form to make the button) get them side by side (I know this is a problem because a form will cause a line break). I've tried various syntax trying to get various coding to work.

I'm trying to do this as described so as to make the buttons match the page that I have background colors set on to match the site picture I used. If I use the generic plain white buttons it spoils the look of my page. I don't wish to use the navigation bars (that display HOME, CONTACT US, ect...) until the member is logged in on the home page. Just simple page navigation up to the login page.

After reading much documentation and examples I haven't found or figured out "how to" by using either standard html coding or through the Alpha genies and achieve this.

Can anyone help with a snippet that'll work in this manner or point me to a working example? TIA!

[ILEllis]

Re: Buttons on a web page

Attached is a screenshot of the page in progress...

[ILEllis]

Re: Buttons on a web page

I have found one simple solution...I created my own buttons using a graphics program and saved them in a .jpg format (I might try another format if it would help load times?) and then placed both buttons on the page using the href command as follows:

<p align=center><a href="introduction.a5w"><img src="new user button.jpg" border=0></a><a href="loginpage.a5w"><img src="members button.jpg" border=0></a></p>

This worked and by making my own graphic I could control the look of the buttons. I have attached the simple button I made.

I would still like to know if there is a way to do this in the Alpha genies? I might be able to better control other properties of the button such as the borders or effects (such as being raised or sunken). Sorry if I have overlooked it but I just don't see a way to design this simple button configuration? Thanks!

[Rich Hartnett]

Re: Buttons on a web page

Iven I ran into this problem some time back, and Steve Woods put me in a direction that worked for me. It's not actually creating buttons, per se, but they look and act like buttons.

At the bottom of the screen you insert a table with one row and two columns.

Set the position to "center," and use the table "handles" to size it to look like two square buttons.

Then use the cell editing tools to set the background color of each button, and place text in the middle. On one type in NEW USERS, and on the other, MEMBERS. (Or whatever you want them to say.)

Then use the hyperlink button at the top of the screen to link the text of each "button" to the page you want to take the user to.

It works good and you can make it look any way you like.

(See attached screenshot.)

Hope this helps.

[ILEllis]

Re: Buttons on a web page

Howdy Rich,

I hadn't thought of using a table like that but I'll sure experiment with it, sounds like a simple solution. Creating the buttons was not a major hassle but I also wanted things to be uniform in look. The table would make that happen well. Thanks! :)

[Rich Hartnett]

Re: Buttons on a web page

Well my problem was the same as your's, in that I couldn't get them to say next to each other. This solution from Steve was quick and easy to do, and worked fine.

Good luck!

[[email protected]]

Re: Buttons on a web page

I have run into a problem that I can not solve after referencing my html manuals or the Alpha manuals.

I'm trying to put two separate buttons side by side (horizontally) under a picture (the site logo picture) on the index.a5w page...

1st button: "New Users Click Here", 2nd button: "Members Click Here"

...both buttons need to pass the user on to separate .a5w pages (the new user button will link to an introduction page and the members button will link to the login page).

Now this sounds simple but maybe not. I CAN put simple generic buttons on the page BUT I can not format them (such as font and background color, font type with bold font) or in certain situations (such as when using a form to make the button) get them side by side (I know this is a problem because a form will cause a line break). I've tried various syntax trying to get various coding to work.

I'm trying to do this as described so as to make the buttons match the page that I have background colors set on to match the site picture I used. If I use the generic plain white buttons it spoils the look of my page. I don't wish to use the navigation bars (that display HOME, CONTACT US, ect...) until the member is logged in on the home page. Just simple page navigation up to the login page.

After reading much documentation and examples I haven't found or figured out "how to" by using either standard html coding or through the Alpha genies and achieve this.

Can anyone help with a snippet that'll work in this manner or point me to a working example? TIA!

Have you tried using tables to align?

[Rich Hartnett]

Re: Buttons on a web page

Not sure what you meant by the question Clint, or who it was for?

Are you asking if Iven had tried using the tables method to align the original buttons he was building directly in html?

[ILEllis]

Re: Buttons on a web page

LOL...I think if he reads our other posts the question is answered... :)

BTW Rich your suggestion about the tables has opened my eyes a little more. I was also working on a way to establish a standard banner and your table suggestion was a big help. So I've killed two birds with one stone. Thanks again... :D

[Rich Hartnett]

Re: Buttons on a web page

Glad I could help, since I'm usually the guy ASKING questions, not answering them :)

[[email protected]]

Re: Buttons on a web page

Not sure what you meant by the question Clint, or who it was for?

Are you asking if Iven had tried using the tables method to align the original buttons he was building directly in html?

Sadly I think my post occurred after someone suggested Tables, in which case I second that suggestion.....

[ILEllis]

Re: Buttons on a web page

Sadly I think my post occurred after someone suggested Tables, in which case I second that suggestion.....

Howdy Clint, no problem and the suggestion about tables is really great in more than one way as mentioned.

My greatest hurdle though is my new Web Application Server recently purchased so I could create a virtual club of sorts. I've taken care of most of the basics and can get it up and running on the web. Several web pages are taking form but I believe I have a need to understand the "big picture" better. Maybe one of you could enlighten me some.

I have been using Alpha software in one form or another for years now. Long ago I use to develop relational databases using basic programming and eventually Alpha Four (the old DOS version...and I still have it today) and have always been comfortable with XBasic (even though I'm currently a little rusty at it) with my Alpha Five version 5. Now it is Alpha Five version 7 and the web application.

From much that I have read I have a good understanding of the bits and pieces within the packages I have purchased but I'm having trouble (and not for the lack of researching this) bringing it together with the new Web Application Server.

I read somewhere that one way to look at it was the data files are the common element between the two distinct applications, 1) the desktop Alpha Five application and 2) the web application server. The web application server allows you most of the flexibility of the desktop application when it comes to deploying the tables of data (in the form of forms and browses) to be used on the web (correct me if I'm wrong?).

So as I see it my biggest problem is learning the proper path to take to deploy the forms and browes and such on my web pages. In other words I can pretty much manipulate just about all the elements currently in either application but learning the "steps" with each element is really the slow part for me. Its the lack of having the "big picture" put before me.

The tutorials are all excellent as I grasp them well but even so they haven't brought the image to mind on how all the pieces of the application work together and the "steps" to put those forms and browes on the web pages. If I get past that I'll break the barrier so to speak and be on my way. :o

So if you can spare some time and explaination I'm all ears! If you know of a good reference for what I have described I'd be most grateful to be pointed to where I might find it. I not afraid to read and learn, just got to have the right stuff. :)

[Rich Hartnett]

Re: Buttons on a web page

Iven like you, I've been using Alpha 5 since Version 4 for desktop applications, but I really took off with it when the Web Application Server was introduced in Version 6.

Although there is certainly more flexibility in the design of desktop applications, I have personally found that the ability to build web-based applications to access your databases is 100 times easier with the WAS. Alpha 5 did a great job with the Component Builders & Dialog Components which do 90% of the work for you.

With the component builders, even the newest user of A5 can put a table or database online in less than 5 minutes, provided they have the WAS back-end up and running, and all without any knowledge of Xbasic or html.

I'm certainly a far cry from being any expert, and I ask a lot more questions than I answer on this forum, but if there's a question you have than I CAN answer, I'd be happy to, as would the rest of this message board community I'm sure.

[Peter.Greulich]

Re: Buttons on a web page

The web application server allows you most of the flexibility of the desktop application when it comes to deploying the tables of data (in the form of forms and browses) to be used on the web (correct me if I'm wrong?).

So as I see it my biggest problem is learning the proper path to take to deploy the forms and browes and such on my web pages.

If you mean that you wish to deploy desktop forms and browses on the web, this cannot be done. If by "forms and browses" you are referring to grids and components, well ok.

[ILEllis]

Re: Buttons on a web page

Howdy Peter,

Yep, thats what I meant. I sorta jumped all over this web application server when I got it. I think I've been trying to much to fast. I can extract code and understand it from the examples in the tutorials but the tutorials are interlaced with other code not neccessary to understand the basics (because of how Alpha presents the tutorials) and I believe that is where some confusion is leaking in (digging to deep).

Doing the raw code is one thing but I'm trying to understand better how to take advantage of the genies for now to speed things up. So I'm going to experiment with some smaller examples to see if I can sort this out. My web server "back end" is up and running fine. I have tested some of the pages by having friends in England access the server...no problem.

Today I tried to put a form (a membership form on one of my web pages) after using the genie to create a script under the CODE tab of the Control Panel that uses a form I built under the FORM tab of the Control Panel. The script calls to open the form and display a new record. The member fills the form out and has two buttons (saved as part of the form) to either submit the new record when filled out or to cancel and close the window. I have the code within the <%a5 and %> brackets and when I save and publish the page to the server then run it my browser shows it trying to load the page but everything hangs. If I close the browser the Alpha desktop is whited out and frozen. So I'm stuck on that at the moment. :(