How to insert a ' LOADING' .gif? (Full Version)

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megahoon2000 -> How to insert a ' LOADING' .gif? (5/28/2003 0:07:10)

Hi
I have seen webpages where a fast loading gif is shown before a photo in the same spot.
I have created a gif that is black with a bright green LOADING written on it which flashes.
My problem is, how do I put the gif in and then have it replaced when the photo loads?
Please Help![8|]



garry -> RE: How to insert a ' LOADING' .gif? (5/28/2003 6:38:19)

Hi Richo

Try right click on your existing image, image properties >general> and " alternative image" . Just make sure your alt image is small and quick.

(I tried it once many years ago & gave up as it wouldnt work......however I believe it was me and the fact that once it is in your machine' s cache the bigger image will show up first anyway) So to test you may need to empty your cache.)



Gil -> RE: How to insert a ' LOADING' .gif? (5/28/2003 7:34:19)

quote:

Try right click on your existing image, image properties >general> and " alternative image" . Just make sure your alt image is small and quick


The " ALT" attribute is an alternative image for those with poor or no vision using a text reader - has nothing to do with the question!



Andy from Somerset -> RE: How to insert a ' LOADING' .gif? (5/28/2003 11:36:44)

You could possibly use a script to do this. Try looking at http://www.dynamicdrive.com/dynamicindex4/index.html

Alternatively, right click over the image and select Picture Properties. If your image is a jpeg, enter a figure in the Progressive Passes box - if it is a gif tick the Interlaced box. When the page is loaded, you should see a fuzzy image which gradually becomes clearer. Not quite what you asked for but at least your site' s users will know an image is loading. Be warned though - this doesn' t work on all browsers.



garry -> RE: How to insert a ' LOADING' .gif? (5/28/2003 17:57:14)

Point taken about ALT Gil,

The term is " alternative representations" & Alt text is one of them along with " Low resolution image" as another alternative.

The alternative representation " image" works best when the " loading" image (your low resolution one) & your larger slower one are exactly the same dimensions.

Its all in the picture properties dialog box in FP.

EDIT , OK I just tried it out according to the " Idiots guide to Frontpage" and my 90kb image just loaded gradually and my 23 kb alternative image didnt get a show. OH well can' t trust the books & endorsement by Paul of FP World.
Rest of the book is fine although falling apart after 5 years.



megahoon2000 -> RE: How to insert a ' LOADING' .gif? (5/29/2003 1:32:48)

Thank you all for your responses.
The link to DynamicDrive.com was very helpful.
I think my main problem now is deciding - thumbnails or slideshow?
Just for reference I could not seem to see any difference using the Progressive passes for JPG or Interlaced for GIF in the FP2000 picture properties. I checked in IE6 with a clear cache, the pictures loaded as usual.

I am interesed in using this progressive passes feature elsewhere in my site. Any suggestions for making it work?



clum1 -> RE: How to insert a ' LOADING' .gif? (5/29/2003 11:03:39)

Here' s a sledgehammer to crack a nut...

1. Insert both images in the page (gif first).
2. Set the large photo to 1px x 1px; it is to all intents and purposes invisible. The gif should display as normal.
3. Use a meta refresh to move to a new page after an arbitrary length of time (based say on size of photo at a given download speed).
4. On the new page, insert the main image at normal size. Because it " loaded" in the other page, it should now be in the user' s cache and display instantly.
5. Don' t curse me if it doesn' t work; this is pure theory and I have not tried it...

I think it was Abbeyvet who came up with this idea for loading the next image in a sequence.

clum1



megahoon2000 -> RE: How to insert a ' LOADING' .gif? (5/29/2003 23:59:59)

I can' t see why that wouldn' t work Clum1, but due to the amount of pictures on my site and the fact that they are constantly being changed. I think this option would be too time consuming.
I will give up on the loading gif theme and try to use some sort of preloading for my pictures. Either using your suggestion but without the meta refresh/ loading gif, or the the preloaded slideshow script at http://dynamicdrive.com/dynamicindex14/flexislide.htm[8D]



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