The HTML Reference Library v2.1 -------------------------------- Please Note : This version of the HTML Reference Library is the Windows95 specific version. It may run if you have Win32s (specifically WinHlp32.exe) installed, but I can't guarantee that. For the Win3.x version, please download htmlib21.exe instead. Welcome to the HTML Reference Library, your one-stop, on-line guide to HTML mark-up elements, their uses, meaning and syntax. While this document is, at the time of release, up-to-date with all HTML elements that are currently supported by the most common browsers, I make no promises that it will remain current in say, 6 months. All I can say is that as new elements are supported, or when the official HTML level 3.0 spec. is determined, it will be included in the reference. What's new in this version? --------------------------- All new elements/attributes/functionality changes are listed in the 'What's New' section accesible from the contents page. I'd suggest looking there first if there's something specific that previous versions didn't cover that you want to know about. As a new feature in WinHelp 4.0 (Windows95), any http:// links that are present in the HLP file are "live-links". If you have Microsoft's Internet Explorer installed, then activating these links will run the Internet Explorer and call up the specific page. Registration ------------ Ha. Bet that scared you. Don't fret. The HTML Reference Library is still completely free in monetary terms. I ask nothing more than a quick e-mail to tell me what you think of the reference. Was it worthwhile? Is it useful? Call it e-mailware, or responseware. However, I would like to stress that if you do use the reference that you mail me. Response from people who use the Library is the only way I have of gauging the usefulness/success of the library and that is what determines whether or not I carry on working on it. Also, if you upload the archive anywhere, please contact me to let me know where it is, so that I can keep a track of the file and can point lost people in the right direction. Thanks. Notification of future releases ------------------------------- If you heard of this release from a posting to one of the Usenet newsgroups, but thought you were on the mailing list, it will be because your address was incorrect at the time of posting the release note. When this happens, I delete the address, so as to minimise 'bounce back' messages. Please contact me again, with the correct address if you wish to be on the mailing list. Release notes are posted to everybody on the mailing list (to subscribe, mail me, cmlehunt@swan.ac.uk and let me know - this is NOT an autoreplier) and will be posted to comp.infosystems.www.users/misc/authoring.html and possibly others. Where/How to get updates ------------------------ ftp.swan.ac.uk/pub/in.coming/htmlib/htmlib95XX.exe, where XX is the version no., currently 2.1 (21) http://hjs.geol.uib.no/news/htmlib/htmlib.htm http://www.tucows.com/softhtm.html (rated a five-star app!) ftp.crl.com/users/zo/zot/htmlibXX.exe http://www.maui.net/~dml/htmlhlp.html http://copper.ucs.indiana.edu/~Mchaifet/ ftp://ftp.mindpsring.com/users/guild/docs/html/html.hlp ftp://ftp.gov.nb.ca/pub/html.editors/htmlibXX.exe http://www.psy.uwa.edu.au/archive/html_hlp ftp://ftp.kfunigraz.ac.at/edvz/info-systems/win-dos The first site is the primary distribution site. Files kept there are updated by me personally. The other sites are 'mirror' sites, and may lag a few days in holding the actual file after release notes have been issued. If you are having trouble with the swan.ac.uk site, please try one of the others before mailing me. To install : ------------ 1) 'Run' the archive in any directory desired. It will extract the necessary files into that same directory. (The downloaded self extracting archive can then be deleted if necessary). 2) The HLP file can be run by double-clicking it in the File Manager, or an icon can be set up in a group. If you don't know how to do this then I suggest reading your Micorosoft Windows manual. 3) DO NOT DELETE THE .CNT file. This is the contents file for the HLP file. It will not work properly if this file is deleted. Known Installation problems --------------------------- For the HLP file to work, WINHELP.EXE must be installed. If you can access Help on any other Windows applications it is already installed. If not, please refer to your Windows documentation on installing Windows components. If double clicking on the icon produces a message saying 'There is no application associated with this file', the association needs to be set. Highlight HTML.HLP in the File Manager, then choose Associate from the File Menu. If 'Windows Help WINHELP.EXE' is not there, simply type WINHELP.EXE in the appropriate box. Click on OK, then double clicking the icon should work. Version History: ---------------- 2.1 Release 6/1/96 Added support for various new Internet Explorer-isms. Added new functionality into the Quick Reference section that is now displayed in a separate secondary window, allowing it to be kept open longer. Updated some information concerning frames, HotJava and VRML embedding in HTML documents 2.0 Release ??????? Added support for MS Internet Explorer 2.0/Netscape 2.0/Mosaic 2.0 extras. i.e. in-line video and sound, marquee text, frames
, table alignment and colouring, font colouring and the inclusion of HotJava applets. A new 'New in this Version' section was added to the contents page to allow quick jumping to new topics. Many typos/dead links/formatting problems sorted out. 1.1a Release 25/8/95 Added support for MS Internet Explorer specific attributes to the element and element, allowing control over the font type and colour, and client side image maps. 1.1 Released 24/8/95 Added support for ,,,, and elements. Re-arranged several sections. No more Netscape concerns sections. This was done because it was becoming increasingly confusing keeping up with elements that were Netscape specific. Most browsers are implementing Netscapisms anyway, so I felt it would be wise to link all attributes under the same element together, so that future editing would be easier. Icon not provided in archive. Two reasons why. 1) It was a crap icon anyway, 2) Some of you will have it (it came with Visual Basic 3 Prof), or are probably using the default yellow '?'. 1.0g Not released Changed the document background section position, due to support by Mosaic. Changed some links to the extended Horizontal Rule page, due to support by Mosaic. 1.0f Released 8/7/95 Added mid-topic jumping from Attributes pop-up and index keys to the Quick Reference section. RGB triplet chart added to show possibilities for BGCOLOR attribute when using Netscape. (Many thanks to Doug Jacobson - e-mail him if you use the colour chart) 1.0e Released 8/5/95 Added description of Netscape's element for Object embedding. Browse sequences added. Added more functionality to non-scrolling region. Nearly all pages have a direct link to the Quick Reference section, pages that have other references are linked together and pages that are too long to fit on one screen have an attribute list in the non-scrolling region, so the user can check they're on the right page. NOTE : Versions 1.0c and 1.0d were not released publicly. They were just interim versions which I used to add aesthetic changes. 1.0b Released 28/4/95 Included Netscape's LOWSRC attribute, corrected some typos and added graphical screenshot links to the table examples. 1.0a Released 25/4/95 Corrected title graphic problem. 1.0 Released 24/4/95 DISLCAIMER ---------- This reference is supplied 'as is'. I take no responsibility if it breaks your system, or crashes Windows. It's only a Windows Help file...it shouldn't do anything stupid. But if it does, it's not my fault.