Again, the basic rule is keep it simple! The first question you should ask about adding animation and other features is not “how” do I add such features, but rather, “why” should I add such features. If the only reason you’re adding an animation or an applet is that it’s “neat” then don’t do it. I’d have to say that nine out of ten animation and Java applets I’ve seen on the Web are not necessary and would be best left off.
If you do have a justified reason to add animation, then you basically have five main options.
GIF animation is the most universal and usually the easiest to add. No plug-ins are required, but the files can get large if the animation is long. You can apply an HTML link to an entire GIF animation, but not to individual frames or buttons within the animation.
Flash animation is widely available since the plug-in often comes preinstalled. Flash animation can be very small and efficient and can also be fully interactive.
Shockwave animation can be the most interactive and elaborate but is more involved to create with Macromedia Director. The Shockwave plug-in is required.
Video can also be included in a variety of formats. QuickTime is the highest quality, can stream live or on-demand and can even be fully interactive. RealPlayer and Windows Media are also available options. All require browser plug-ins, but the plug-ins are often pre-installed or widely available.
Any Java applet worth using will come with complete instructions on how to add it to your page. Simply follow the included instructions and you should be fine. But again, before adding any Java applet, first ask yourself, do I really need this on my site and if so why?
|
