AEDOK Spawntm: User's Controls Level 3

OVERVIEW

The user Spawntm Controls control the location of the display of the content in the page below the controls. Once set, they remain in effect (until changed) for the frame under their control. The user control the sizing of an image being displayed

Today's users are generally accustomed to popup windows. Indeed it is true that they are dispatched with relative ease through a single click. However the existence of controls to limit, restrict, or eliminate popup windows is indicative of their annoying nature. Though often that annoyance is due to advertisement type content.

Yet, to disable popup windows on an educational website such as the AEDOK Suitetm of Websites & Domains would be counterproductive since our pop ups would contain information content.

And because there is a considerable amount of this information content which consists of a clause or a sentence or paragraph or two, heavy use of popups would be annoying.

Therefore we make heavy use of dedicated windows, off to the side somewhere, which once read, can simply be ignored, with no more action required than the simple movement of one's eyes back to the area of interest.

Ktm's window is an example of that technique. These user Spawn Controls are another technique, and which also interact with Ktm's window.

Specifically and of considerable importance, AEDOK subdomains make extensive use of cascading menus/selections. And the quantity of informational content increases as one drills down. So, there is a narrow frame on the left of your display called the information frame, and to it's right is a wider frame called the primary frame, and to it's right a still wider frame called the secondary frame, and finally on the far right the widest frame called the content frame. For your reference, this text that you are reading now is in the .

For an image showing where all the frames are located, click this link and we shall uses a pop-up window.

The utilization of these various frames allows one to make selections without destroying the selection content itself, and that allows one to easily compare selections by simply clicking on them without having to refresh windows and then have to locate the last selection clicked, etc.

This is all part of AEDOK's continuing effort to improve upon the educational experience.

Please use the problem link found at the bottom of all content, administrative and control pages, to advise us of any difficulties. The correspondence page that will appear automatically knows the name and location of the page you clicked from, so you can focus on explaining the problem, not wasting your time describing the problem page. (Yet another intellectual convenience.)

DETAILS

This presentation is in a progressive order from left to right as the controls are normally displayed in the control panel. So within the main group after theLINKS control, the first item pairs with the last and so forth.

Most if the user Spawntm Controls that contain the word Spawn have two modes: PAGE and LINKS.

In the PAGE mode, they control the location of the display of a copy of the page itself below the controls.

In the LINKS mode, they control the location of the display of the content of links that are clicked (or mouse overed) in the page below the controls.

In the PAGE mode, the buttons remain up after being clicked, since their functionality is a one-time event per click.

In the LINKS mode, the buttons remain dn after being clicked, since their functionality is continuous thereafter (until changed) for clicks within the controlled page.

To turn off a LINKS mode functionality, either click another one, since only one can be active at a given time, or re-click the same button. If you re-click such a button, and it pops up, it has been turned off and subsequent clicks on links within the control page will overlay that specific page, in the usual hyperlink fashion. If the button does not click up, then that functionality is automatic and cannot be turned off.

Except for these differences noted, the functionalities of the two modes are the same, so the detailed functionality discussion below is for LINKS (which better illustrates the functionality of spawning) and from an understanding of that functionality the functionality of PAGE is intuitive.

PAGE / LINKS MODE TOGGLE

When LINKS MODE is inactive (gray ) or active but off (up ), those user Spawntm Controls that have the two modes PAGE and LINKS default to the simpler PAGE mode and imagery within the icon tends to be black. E.g.,

When LINKS MODE is active and on (dn ), those user Spawntm Controls that have the two modes PAGE and LINKS are set to the LINKS mode and imagery within the icon tends to be red. E.g.,

Those controls which have only PAGE or only LINKS functionalities are not affected by this control.

DISCUSSION

Although our authors try to send pages to a proper frame size, sometimes this is not possible. In the simpler PAGE mode, a user can simply move a page to a more convenient or appropriate location.

Further, many of the pages at the AEDOK Suitetm of Websites & Domains automatically do spawn right system window as they are drilling down thru indexes, or spawn left system window from a content page which itself has additional content or images, and sometimes that additional content or image. doesn't fit where the author thought it should go. Especially if the page itself has been moved for some reason (using the PAGE mode just mentioned). The more sophisticated LINKS mode affords the user an additional measure if control by allowing the user to specify where the content from those links should be displayed.

When the Spawntm Controls are more fully implemented, there will be additional controls based on individual pages or types of pages, whereas these controls are actually based upon the frame in which the page is located.

MOVE LEFT

Moves the content of the current window one window to the left. The content of the window to the left moves to it's right to make way, effectively switching the content of the two windows.

SPAWN RIGHT SYSTEM WINDOW AFTER MOVING LEFT (LINKS)

A sequential combination of move left () followed by spawn right system window (), so that you need do only one click, rather than a click, followed by a mouse movement, and then a second click.

Does a single move left () when you first click the icon, thereby switching windows. Then activates spawn right system window () for the content that was in the right of the two windows and is now in the left of the two, so that content that results from clicking a link in the now left window is placed INTO the now right window. This option assumes that you want to view the content in the right of the two windows without overlaying the content that was in that right window (often, but not always, because it is a larger image and the right window is larger). Click here to see an image of how this might appear.

Subsequent clicks on other links will cause the new content to appear in that SAME window. You can use that window's BACK button to cause old content to reappear.

SPAWN LEFT SYSTEM WINDOW (LINKS/PAGE)

Places the content (that results from clicking a link) INTO the already existing system window to it's left which AEDOK has provided (ie, not a pop-up). This option assumes that you want to view the content to the LEFT of the click. Click here to see an image of how this might appear.

Subsequent clicks on other links will cause the new content to appear in that SAME window. You can use that window's BACK button to cause old content to reappear.

SPAWN LEFT SAME WINDOW (LINKS/PAGE)

Places the content (that results from clicking a link) into a SINGLE NEW window to the LEFT (a pop-up). This option assumes that you want the content to appear in a SINGLE NEW window to the left of the display. Of course you can move that window yourself.

Subsequent clicks on other links will cause the new content to appear in that SAME window. You can use that window's BACK button to cause old content to reappear.

SPAWN LEFT NEW WINDOW (LINKS/PAGE)

Places the content (that results from clicking a link) into a NEW window to the LEFT (a pop-up) for each click of the links. This option assumes that you want the content to appear in MULTIPLE NEW windows to the LEFT. Of course you can move those windows yourself.

Subsequent clicks on other links will cause the new content to appear in NEW windows (pop-ups).

SPAWN UP SYSTEM WINDOW (LINKS/PAGE)

Places the content (that results from clicking a link) INTO Ktm's WINDOW (an already existing system window) which AEDOK has provided at the TOP of your display to the RIGHT of the logos.

Subsequent clicks on other links will cause the new content to appear in that SAME window. You can use the BACK button to cause old content to reappear.

SPAWN RIGHT NEW WINDOW (LINKS/PAGE)

Places the content (that results from clicking a link) into a NEW window to the RIGHT (a pop-up) for each click of the links. This option assumes that you want the content to appear in a MULTIPLE NEW windows to the RIGHT. Of course you can move those windows yourself.

Subsequent clicks on other links will cause the new content to appear in NEW windows (pop-ups).

SPAWN RIGHT SAME WINDOW (LINKS/PAGE)

Places the content (that results from clicking a link) into a SINGLE NEW window to the RIGHT (a pop-up). This option assumes that you want the content to appear in a SINGLE NEW window to the right. Of course you can move that window yourself.

Subsequent clicks on other links will cause the new content to appear in that SAME window. You can use that window's BACK button to cause old content to reappear.

SPAWN RIGHT SYSTEM WINDOW (LINKS/PAGE)

Places the content (that results from clicking a link) INTO the already existing system window to it's right which AEDOK has provided. Click here to see an image of how this might appear.

Subsequent clicks on other links will cause the new content to appear in that SAME window. You can use the BACK button to cause old content to reappear.

SPAWN LEFT SYSTEM WINDOW AFTER MOVING RIGHT (LINKS)

A sequential combination of move right () followed by spawn left system window (), so that you need do only one click, rather than a click, followed by a mouse movement, and then a second click.

Does a single move right () when you first click the icon, thereby switching windows. Then activates spawn left system window () for the content that was in the left of the two windows and is now in the right of the two, so that content that results from clicking a link in the now right window is placed INTO the now left window. This option assumes that you want to view the content in the left of the two windows without overlaying the content that was in that left window (often, but not always, because it is a smaller image and the left window is smaller). Click here to see an image of how this might appear.

Subsequent clicks on other links will cause the new content to appear in that SAME window. You can use that window's BACK button to cause old content to reappear.

MOVE RIGHT

Moves the content of the current window one window to the right. The content of the window to the right moves to it's left to make way, effectively switching the content of the two windows.

For best utilization of any of the NON-POP-UP options above, you might MAXIMIZE your browser window, and utilize a 19 inch monitor or larger, set to at least 1600 x 1200 pixels.

A memory technique you can employ: The more the arrows point upward (except for straight up), the more windows you will have.

SPAWN ELSEWHERE (Meandering Arrow)

Indicates that the result of a selection from the window below it will be displayed elsewhere. By our leaving the selection window intact, you can make a subsequent selection from that window without anoying wrist action to the BACK button.

Opposite of SPAWN (OVER) SELF (Line thru Meandering Arrow), below.

The SPAWN ELSEWHERE has no active function. nor does it specify the location of the spawn. It is simply a passive indicator that indicates that you can click in that window without overlaying the contents of that window.

The Spawn Controls themselves control and indicate the spawning functionality.

SPAWN (OVER) SELF (Line thru Meandering Arrow)

Indicates that the result of a selection from the window below it will be displayed in that same window in the usual hyperlinked fashion. By having thus overlain the selection window, to make a subsequent selection from that window you must use the BACK button (as is the usual custom).

Opposite of SPAWN ELSEWHERE (Meandering Arrow), above.

The SPAWN SELF has no active function. It is simply a passive indicator that indicates that clicking in that window will overlay the contents of that window requiring a refresh of that window to review that content (as is the usual hyperlink custom).

The Spawn Controls themselves control and indicate the spawning functionality (as discussed above).