Chapter 18

Conferencing Controls

• The ASAP WebShow Control
  • Source
  • Properties
    
  • Method
    
  • Events
  • Code Example
• The CyberGO Control
  • Source
  • Properties
    
  • Methods
    
  • Events
    
  • Code Example
• The Look@Me Control
  • Source
  • Properties
    
  • Methods
    
  • Events
    
  • Code Example
• The EarthTime Control
  • Source
  • Properties
    
  • Methods
    
  • Events
    
  • Code Example

Collaborating over a network is one of the many possibilities available to Internet users with ActiveX conferencing controls. Collaboration can take many forms. In this chapter, you will take a look at a diverse (though a bit eclectic) group of controls.

For each control, you will follow the usual format. First, you will learn about the control and discover where you can get it. Then you will learn the properties, events, and methods available for use with the control. Note also that Microsoft has created a product called NetMeeting. NetMeeting is not an ActiveX control; therefore, it is not covered in this book. However, if you are interested, check it out on the Web at http://www.microsoft.com/netmeeting/.

The ASAP WebShow Control

ASAP WebShow is an ActiveX control for delivering presentations over the Internet. With the ASAP WebShow control, users can view, download, print, and even listen to presentation content. ASAP WebShow is a companion product of ASAP WordPower presentation software developed by Software Publishing Corporation. The WebShow control uses VCR buttons as the metaphor for permitting users to move forward and backward through a slide show. Presentations can also be configured to cycle through a set of slides. Audio support that is synchronized to the presentation is provided through the RealAudio Player.

Source

The ASAP WebShow ActiveX control is available for free download over the Internet.

Vendor Information:

Software Publishing Corporation
http://www.spco.com
111 North Market St.
San Jose, CA 95113 USA
408-537-3000
408-537-3500 (fax)

Properties

Method

Events

The ASAP WebShow control does not expose any events.

Code Example

The following listing shows the code required to create the screen displayed in Figure 18.1.

Figure 18.1 : The ASAP WebShow control

Listing 18.1  HTML for Declaration of the ASAP Webshow Control

<OBJECT ID="AXASAP1" 

     CLASSID="CLSID:EA28C303-C2DB-11CF-83E6-00608C5B8AAD" 

     CODEBASE="http://www.spco.com/codebase/asap/axasap.cab"#Version=1,0,0,4

     HEIGHT="305" WIDTH="450">

<PARAM NAME="File" VALUE="SPC3.asp">

<PARAM NAME="Border" VALUE="shadowed">

<PARAM NAME="NavBar" VALUE="on">

<PARAM NAME="Orientation" VALUE="freeform">

<PARAM NAME="AutoAdvance" VALUE="on">

<PARAM NAME="DelayTime" VALUE="4">

<PARAM NAME="Loopback" VALUE="on">

</OBJECT>

Note that the AutoAdvance is turned on. This ensures that the presentation cycles through each slide, pausing 4 seconds on each slide (as indicated in DelayTime).

The CyberGO Control

The CyberGO control is a networked version of one of the world's oldest strategy games. The objective in GO is to conquer a larger part of the board than your opponent. Though the rules for GO are simple, the strategy of the game is quite complex. With the CyberGO control, you can find partners to play over the Internet using a game server.

Source

The CyberGO ActiveX control is available for free download over the Internet.

Vendor Information:

Brilliance Labs, Inc.
http://www.brlabs.com
700 SW 62nd Blvd., Suite H105
Gainesville, FL 32607 USA
352-336-5909
352-336-5909

Properties

Methods

Events

Code Example

The following listing shows the code required to create the screen displayed in Figure 18.2.

Figure 18.2 : The CyberGO ActiveX control

Listing 18.2  HTML for Declaration of the CyberGO Control

<OBJECT ID=cybergo 

           classid="clsid:538843C4-E0D3-11CF-B0E5-204C4f4f5020"     

          CODEBASE="cybergo.cab#ver=1,0,0,7" 

          TYPE="application/x-oleobject"

          BORDER=0 ALIGN=center VSPACE=5 WIDTH=300 HEIGHT=300>

          <param name="BoardImage" value="media/boards19.gif">

          <param name="ClickSound" value="media/click.wav">

          <param name="ErrorSound" value="media/pop.wav">

          <param name="BoardWidth" value=300>

          <param name="ServerURL" value="http://www.brlabs.com/cgi-bin/brlabs/cybergo.pl">

     </OBJECT> 

As you can see the ErrorSound, ClickSound, and BoardImage are all relative URLs (although you are free to use absolute URLs as well). The ServerURL is an absolute URL. The Web site shown in ServerURL is a meeting place hosted by the manufacturer of the CyberGO game.

The Look@Me Control

The Look@Me control presents us with an opportunity to look into the future of the Internet. Bill Gates once remarked that someday users who encounter a problem using a piece of software would be able to click on a "Customer Support" menu and auto-magically connect with a support representative. Once connected to Customer Support, the technician could examine the user's computer and determine the problem. The Look@Me control takes the technology a step closer to this vision.

Look@Me allows you to observe another user's screen anywhere in the world, in real time, over the Internet. Look@Me is based on Farallon Communications's Timbuktu Pro package and leverages Timbuktu's more robust screen-sharing feature. You can use these tools to troubleshoot and fix problems over the network. Look@Me allows the support professional to solve a remote Internet user's problem. Look@Me can view the desktop of any other Look@Me- or Timbuktu Pro-equipped Windows or Macintosh computer over the Internet.

Source

The Look@Me control is available for free download over the Internet.

Vendor Information:

Farallon Communications, Inc.
http://www.farallon.com
2470 Marniner Square Loop
Alameda, CA 94501 USA
510-814-5000
510-814-5020 (fax)

Properties

Methods

Events

Code Example

The following listing shows the code required to create the screen displayed in Figure 18.3.

Figure 18.3 : The Look@Me control

Listing 18.3  HTML for Declaration of the Look@Me Control

<OBJECT ID="LookAtMe1" WIDTH=90% HEIGHT=90%

 CLASSID="CLSID:Cf1C1ECB-9925-11CF-B396-0000C5384b10"

CODEBASE="http://collaborate.farallon.com/www/look/ie/   lookatme.cab#Version=1,0,0,14">

    <PARAM NAME="BackColor" VALUE="&Hffffff">

    <PARAM NAME="ShowAsPopup"   VALUE=FALSE>

    <PARAM NAME="AllowGuests"   VALUE=TRUE>

    <PARAM NAME="SERVICE"       VALUE="Observe">

    <PARAM NAME="RemoteAddress" VALUE="">

</OBJECT>

Note that the RemoteAddress field is blank in this case. Before a connection is made to a distant computer, this value remains blank. After connecting to a computer over the network, this field will contain the target machine's IP address.

The EarthTime Control

The EarthTime ActiveX control tracks time for communications across time zones. The EarthTime user interface includes a world map, clocks for eight cities, time difference calculator, and database of telephone codes, currencies, and other data. The EarthTime control includes in excess of 375 world locations in its database. EarthTime even calculates time differences and graphically displays seasonal changes in daylight and dark cycles. The EarthTime control is perfect for World Wide Web applications used for scheduling appointments, conducting conferences, or engaging in Internet chats.

Source

The EarthTime ActiveX control is available for free download over the Internet.

Vendor Information:

Starfish Software, Inc.
http://www.starfishsoftware.com
1700 Green Hills Road
Scotts Valley, CA 95066 USA
408-461-5800
408-461-5900 (fax)

Properties

Table 18.9  Properties of the EarthTime Control

Methods

Events

Code Example

The following listing shows the code required to create the screen displayed in Figure 18.4.

Figure 18.4 : The EarthTime control

Listing 18.4  HTML for Declaration of the EarthTime Control

<OBJECT CLASSID="clsid:9590092D-8811-11CF-8075-444553540000"

WIDTH="430"

HEIGHT="280"

codebase="cabs/et.cab#version=1,0,0,7"

Id="et">

</OBJECT>