HTML Generation with JADE Forms

[ConvertFromOldNGs]

by Andrew >> Sat, 10 Dec 2005 2:59:27 GMT

Hello Everyone:

I was hoping to receive a bit of feedback regarding this question:
When using the HTML Generation system to convert JADE Forms into Web Pages, which will be displayed by a webserver connected to the JADE application server...

1) Would it be possible to place an "audio" object in the JADE Form's design ( for eventual conversion into a web page element) that will playback the audio file on the client side? It appears that the file can either be transferred to the client side or read directly from server storage.

I certainly wish that there were more online resources available on the JADE language and it's capabilities. The JADE "HTML Generation with JADE Forms" whitepaper on this technology do not appear to elaborate on how to transfer an audio file to the client (to play the file from cache on the client side or from webserver storage across the network). However, the instructions in the whitepaper do enable a local audio file ( that already exists on the client side ) to be played by a converted JADE Form web page as an OBJECT or IMG element.

Thank you all for your advisories.

Regards,

-Andrew Campbell

[ConvertFromOldNGs]

by Jade Support >> Tue, 13 Dec 2005 20:04:07 GMT

The audio plugin runs on the client machine, so the audio file must be transferred from the server if it isn't already on client machine, however, it may just be a 'temporary' transfer to the client cache while it plays, then gets removed.

If you're wanting to know how to put the audio file on the web page from within JADE (not just the HTML syntax), please see the documentation for the WebHTML class in the JADE Encyclopaedia of Classes and Types (Volume 2) PDF.

As far as the HTML, if the audio is to be requested by the user, a simple <a> link to the audio file may be sufficient:

<a href="http://mysite/music/elvis1.wav">Click to listen</a>

If the sound file is on the client machine, then the 'href' would be set to the local file name, but this is generally dangerous, as you don't generally know where a user may have a file stored.

Jade Support.

[ConvertFromOldNGs]

by Andrew Campbell >> Fri, 30 Dec 2005 5:09:55 GMT

I can't thank you enough for your prompt reply.

The problem that I am experiencing with my final year University project is when using the HTML Generation system to convert JADE Forms into HTML Web Pages, which appears to be quite inflexible. My objective is to modify an existing JADE Form-based Application to ensure it is accessible from the Internet and performs the same functions as the original version (audio playback and also "rollover" and "single-click" mouse events). The application is minimally required to presents users with images and play scripted audio from a collection of sound and image material files.


I am able to create audio controls (e.g. MultiMedia) using the JADE Form designer that will appear on the "translated" web page created automatically by the HTML Thin Client Generation system. The control seems to be restricted to playing only locally accessible client audio when adjusting its MultiMedia control properties. According to the documentation whitepaper "HTMLThinClientUsingJADEForms.pdf", MultiMedia controls are converted into <EMBED> tags for only audio files.
However, using JADEScript code, I am not able to adjust the "mediaName" property (which in the HTML element is the SRC attribute) to specify a particular audio file to play. This is evident in the translated HTML Webpage, which doesn't contain an EMBED or that is produced, which has no value in its SRC attribute

I would like to know how to access and play the audio file located on the Application Server using a translated "ThinClient" HTML WebPage and whatever controls or elements are necessary.
Indeed, I have read the documentation for the WebHTML class, but it appears to only elaborate on which Forms Controls are possible when translating JADE Forms into HTML Webpages.

Thank you for your help.

[ConvertFromOldNGs]

by Jade Support >> Tue, 10 Jan 2006 19:29:27 GMT

Andrew, I have reproduced what I believe is the problem you're encountering when attempting to play media files, (in this case audio), via a JADE web enabled application. The solution is to use the WebHTML control in conjunction with the JADE Multimedia control, as below.

On your form paint both a MultiMedia control and WebHTML control. The first is used when the form is viewed as a normal JADE application, (i.e. Windows GUI), the later is shown when the application is converted into HTML by JADE and viewed through a web browser. You don't need to handle which is used when, JADE does this for you. In the Text property of the WebHTML control enter the following:

(Obviously the src URL will need to be relevant to your system, I've just included mine for the example).

<EMBED src="http://cnwam2a/JADE6023/Music/TestMusic.wav" width=250 height=20 autostart="false">

If you want the sound to play automatically use the 'AUTOSTART=true' parameter. There's plenty of examples of how to use the EMBED command on the Internet.

This should achieve the desired result of playing audio files straight from the server hosting your JADE application. I note that in my testing the source of any generated web page did not include the tags the white paper suggests should have been created and we're investigating this further.

Regarding the issues encountered with rollover, it's expected you'll need to employ a Java script to achieve this.

Jade Support.