|
The Tools! - Doing ‘Card’ Tricks
Mapians love tools and free goodies! So, this week, we’re going to take look at some different software for creating WML files. Here’s a rundown of what we’ll go over:
"The Deck Is Stacked!"
In our first article, we learned there are a few things we must have in order to create wml files, as well as get them "live" to wireless devices. But, even if you don’t have your server ready, you can still go ahead and start creating these files.
Of course, we know we can build wml files in good old Notepad. But, there’s something to be said for software that makes this task much more time-efficient, not to mention more fun! And, with so many programs available, which one you choose is simply a matter of personal preference. There are however, at least 3 different tools you’ll want to make sure you have:
Some programs come with part or all of those components already integrated. Also, there are lots of other "goodies" for wml programming, but we’ll get into those a bit later. We’re going to cover in depth, some of our most favorite programs.
COOL KROW CLUE
We’ll cover a number of different resources in this review. So, no worries if you don’t catch all the URLs! There will be a handy list for your reference at the end!
"Just for Starters"
This first handy program is called "Visual Pulp" (not sure why, but it’s catchy) from WapHoleSun. It’s not as fancy as other programs, but it’s a great tool for those who are getting started in WAP. Best of all... it’s free!
Downloadable in a zip file, Visual Pulp is written in Java, and installs clean (though you may need JRE1.2 installed). Once you’re up and running, it’s the simplicity of Visual Pulp that’s so appealing. In a WYSIWYG environment, the workspace is not cluttered with tons of toolbars and palettes. This program takes WYSIWYG seriously, but does it without sacrificing basic functionality. Here’s what it looks like on the desktop:
Visual Pulp interface... clean and simple!
That’s it! You type, it types. You want to link? Just type in your text, click a button, type in the URL... and it links. Visual Pulp makes a very quick and simple job of making wml pages... even if you don’t know a single line of wml code! All the basic tools to write text, create links, make new cards, and even add graphics, are in a single tool bar:
Visual Pulp toolbar: As simple as a text editor!
In Visual Pulp you can adjust font size, code accept and back events, and align paragraphs. Graphics (jpgs and gifs) are automatically resized, maintaining ratio, when passed to an external WBMP converter. Upcoming versions are said to include adjustments of screen sizes for browsers, and will allow variables and input fields.
On the subject of more advanced features, if you’re one who eventually likes to get in and edit actual code, Visual Pulp will probably frustrate you. Though there is a tab to view the wml source code, that’s all you can do... view it. But, before you go discarding Visual Pulp for its lack of code accessibility, you might want to get to know it a little better. Unlike regular web pages, wml "cards" require a completely different mode of thinking when it comes to information layout and navigational structure. Text layouts and navigation aides that work well on a web page, most often do not work for wireless devices. So although you may be very good at coding pages, Visual Pulp will help speed your learning curve of cards. It will require you to "get used to" the limited viewing space on a cell phone (not to mention giving you a better taste of what it’s really like to enter information using a cell phone key pad rather than a computer key board)!
Visual Pulp requires a separate program for converting images to WBMP as well as an emulator. More on those to come!
[next page]
|
