Javascript example tutorial (19) Using HoTMetal (1)_Basic knowledge

HotMetal PRO 6.0 is a powerful and easy-to-use website editing and publishing tool. In this tutorial we use javascript in HotMetal. In HotMetal, JavaScript support is based on HotMetal which provides you with rich resources and objects. It contains several new objects, such as objects for accessing the DOM. In addition, HotMetal supports some ActiveX controls. These controls and Windows scripting support make HotMetal a rare and powerful development environment for JavaScript designers.

In this tutorial, you will learn:

How to add a connection macro to a button;

How to add a button to a menu bar;

What resources are suitable for scripting;

How to write a script in document format;

How to write a script to check the last modified date;

How to write a save module Script;

How to identify all predefined macros;

Okay, let’s introduce them one by one starting from the next page.

Using Javascript in HoTMetal

1. How to add connection macros to buttons:

HotMetal can support scripts through macros. Macros can be called using toolbar buttons and other methods, which we will cover in later tutorials. All HotMetal macros should be stored in a single file, such as hotmetal.mcr. This file is in the macro folder SoftQuadHotMetal PRO 6.0. If you have installed HoTMetal PRO 6.0 in the default directory C drive, then your macro file is in C:Program FilesSoftQuadHoTMetaL PRO 6.0Macroshotmetal.mcr. The thing to note here is that the file has a .mcr extension, but it cannot be edited in the HoTMetal environment. You can edit it using any text editor, such as Notepad, etc. HotMetal PRO 6.0 installs approximately 20 predefined macros for users. You can browse them through the hotmetl.mcr file. You can also find them by selecting Macros on the Tools menu.

One way to enable macros is to create a toolbar button and link it to a macro. Clicking the button triggers the execution of the script defined in the macro. When you select Toolbars from the View menu, you will see the dialog box shown in Figure 1.



(Picture 1)

The first tab in the picture (Toolbars, toolbar) allows you to add, delete and operate toolbars. Since we don't want to change any of the toolbars, we won't use this tab for now. Click the Buttons label and select "Application Macros" from the category bar. Note here that a new text dialog box will appear on the right, as shown in Figure 2:



(Picture 2)

The first macro in the list box is "Apply Layout to Document." Let's install a button for it on the standard toolbar.
First, choose an image for the button. When you click the Select Image button, you will be able to select an image from a number of color palettes. Once you click on one of them, you will get the window as shown in Figure 3:



(Picture 3)

In this example select a yellow color A picture of a smiling face, as shown in Figure 4:



(Picture 4)

Now drag the smiling face icon to the standard toolbar, or Other toolbars. Close the toolbar and menu customization dialog box. This new button will appear in the standard toolbar or other toolbar of your choice. The following is the expanded standard toolbar view, as shown in Figure 5:



(Figure 5)

Now let’s try this macro . First open an HTML file. For simplicity, here select about.htm in D:Program FilesSoftQuadHoTMetaL PRO 6.0Tutorialsampleslesson1. Click on HoTMetaL PRO 6.0's HTML Source View tags and move them to the right with spaces in front of them, then click on the smiley face button. This source program will automatically change to reflect the layout definition described in the Customize dialog box. At this point you will see the source code return to its original surface format.