Using the "Simple Banner Generator"

[idunn]

Hi Folks,

How can I revise or delete with the banner generator? I want to change photo, text, etc.

Thanks,  Irving

[xairbusdriver]

I think the general procedure is to simply drag a new image into the design. It's almost too simple to "figure" out!
The window that comes open is an "editor". Just place the image you want (with the pixel dimensions listed in the text in that window [500 x 80] if you want to avoid scaling distortion surprises).

"Drag an image to the banner above (the image will be scaled to fit...)."

Tip: You can have multiple 'layers'. Drag the basic image first. Drag the second mostly transparent image next. Repeat as desired. In my previous banner, I had horizontal and vertical line to help separate the text items.

Another tip?: I think you can also drag an image ('layer') off the banner. Just click and hold, then drag it off the window.

[elagache]

Dear Irving, X-Air, and WeatherCat power users, . . . .

I wrote up a tutorial a few years ago on how to make banners from photos.  You might find it helpful:

http://wiki.trixology.com/index.php/Photo_to_active_banner_tutorial

Cheers, Edouard

[idunn]

Thanks Edouard,

That dragging off the images from the banner was the key. Now what can I do with the banner?  I don't have a custom page. Hope you survived The Great Orinda Classic Car Show in good shape.

Irving

[xairbusdriver]

Now what can I do with the banner?

Well, that does present a minor problem. In order to use it here, it needs to be at a particular place on the web. I don't know who provides you internet access, but most of them usually provide some space where you can put files. A web page is nothing more than a file. Your image is just another type of file, also.

WC will take care of uploading the banner, making changes, as needed, for new weather data. But you will needs to have some space on the web for it to send the new image. If your ISP doesn't provide any space, the only way I know to get any is to buy some. I'd think you'd eventually want a web site, so there are dozens of places (more and more often, there are more and more places that keep their old name but are now part of a larger company) that provide more than enough space for a few dollars a month. However, before subscribing to any provider, you absolutely, positively need to do your due diligence research of several sites. And that research includes understanding the simple mess of html but also the complexity of the fine print! It's really not hard to get a site up and running, but understanding how to traverse the subscription model is! You really need to know what is required to change companies and get a refund.

I switched to Hostgator a couple of years ago, but there are a few other good ones. Be wary of "reviews" that are paid for! Talk to real users, if possible. 

[idunn]

Hi Xair
I do have a host for my Simple Web (magpie-hill.com) but it does not seem to offer a place for the Banner. See attached
Or does it?
Thanks,  Irving

[xairbusdriver]

Or does it?

Looks fine to me! As the text on the window says, "...It will be saved to your Custom Web output folder..." by WC. If you then 'tick' the "FTP To Custom Web" box on that window, WC will also upload it to your space that you specify in the WC prefs. Looks like you've already done all that, including putting that URL in your Profile settings here! Stu has already done all the hard work for us!

[Blicj11]

Irving:

As you know, your banner is not in your profile settings; rather, you uploaded the banner as a tiff attachment to your post. I do not believe you can post the banner on your Simple Web site. You have to use the Custom Web tool to do that.

I have not tried this (because I don't use the Simple Web tool), but I think you might be able to link the banner to the Signature block of your Forum Profile, even though you are not using custom web. Someone else who knows for sure will post here if that is possible.

[elagache]

Dear Irving, X-Air, Blick, and WeatherCat fans of custom signatures,

As you know, your banner is not in your profile settings; rather, you uploaded the banner as a tiff attachment to your post.

Actually the banner can be any one of a number of image file formats.  I have it set to jpg for example.

I do not believe you can post the banner on your Simple Web site. You have to use the Custom Web tool to do that.

As far as I can tell, the banner tool is independent of the Custom Web.  You would have to enter your login and password information into the Custom web so that WeatherCat would know how to FTP to your web hosting provider, but you could otherwise keep the Custom web setting turned off.  WeatherCat will upload the banner independently even if you don't have a custom web site.

I have not tried this (because I don't use the Simple Web tool), but I think you might be able to link the banner to the Signature block of your Forum Profile, even though you are not using custom web. Someone else who knows for sure will post here if that is possible.

I"m not certain, but I believe this will work.  The last piece of the puzzle is to modify your signature settings on the forum.  You find your signature settings under Modify Profile which is a option you can reach when you view your Profile.  You can then enter the URL of your banner image using standard Forum Bulletin Board Codes.  As an example, here is how I make my banner appear in my signature:

Code: [Select]

[url=http://www.canebas.org/Weather/][img]http://www.canebas.org/Weather/WeatherCatBanner.jpg[/img][/url]
There are two things going on at once.  The inner part that is swapped by the img tags is what actually displays the image:

Code: [Select]

[img]http://www.canebas.org/Weather/WeatherCatBanner.jpg[/img]
The outer URL tags:

Code: [Select]

[url=http://www.canebas.org/Weather/] . . . [/url]
Turn the banner into a hot link that if clicked on takes the forum user to my weather website.  So to replicate this, you need to find the URL of your WeatherCatBanner.jpg file.  Then you could substitute the URL for your simple website where I have:

http://www.canebas.org/Weather/

Sorry, this is the misery of web URLs.  I hope you can figure this out.  If not let us know what happened and we'll try to give you further instructions.

Cheers, Edouard

[idunn]

Hi Edouard,

Here is a reply to see if your method of adding my banner to my signature works.
Thanks
Irving

[idunn]

WeatherCat (sometimes misspelled WheatherCat, but I like WhetherCat) is so wonderful that many of us try to come up with new possibilities. After getting my banner for my signature running (with Edouard's help), I now wonder if it would be possible to use my current webcam shot as background, which would then reflect the current weather. Seems unlikely that this would be easy.
Regards, Irving

[Blicj11]

Congratulations on getting your banner working in your profile signature. I don't know of a way to automate the constant updating of your banner background, but I am not the smartest person on the forum either. Or in my home, for that matter, but my wife doesn't know how to automate your banner background either.

[elagache]

Dear Irving, Blick, and WeatherCat feature junkies, . . . .

I now wonder if it would be possible to use my current webcam shot as background, which would then reflect the current weather. Seems unlikely that this would be easy.

Unfortunately, there is no way to change the picture except to manually put a new photo in.  There have been some requests to add this sort of feature, but so far not enough interest to make it worthwhile.

Cheers, Edouard

[xairbusdriver]

Congrats on getting your Banner on your posts!