Glossary

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Note: The following definitions all pertain to use within the context of DHTML Menu Builder.

A

AddIn
An AddIn is a reusable component that provides additional or modified behaviors for the menus.
For more information see the AddIn Editor section.

Anchor
A tag in an HTML document that defines a section of text, an icon, or other element as a link to another element in the document or to another document or file. See also HotSpot.
Click here for a complete description.

AUE (Advanced Unfolding Effects)
Module integrated into DHTML Menu Builder to setup advanced visualization effects for the menus.
To access this tool click File->Project Properties->Global Settings->Advanced Unfolding Effects


B

Border
Area surrounding an element, specifically the area surrounding a group defined through the Color dialog.
For commands. this is the area surrounding the selection. It can be set through the Selection Effects dialog.

DMB
Short name for DHTML Menu Builder.


C

Code
A series of instructions, variables and values that, when interpreted by the appropriate engine, produce some kind of result.
In DHTML Menu Builder the term usually refers to the code generated by the Compile process. The code generated by DHTML Menu Builder will always be saved in files with a "js" extension which means it is a JavaScript file. It is important to know that JavaScript files created by DHTML Menu Builder must be treated as binary (as opposed to text) documents.

DHTML Menu Builder generates more code than that stored in the "js" files. Below is a complete list of all the code that can be generated by DHTML Menu Builder:

  • Menus Code: This is the code stored on the "js" files that display and control your menus. These files are generated through the compilation process.
  • Loader Code: This is the code placed in your web documents that instructs the browser to load the "js" files. This code is installed through the Install Menus tool (or if you have enabled the "Use Advanced Installation Tools" option the Install Loader Code will be used).
  • Trigger Code: For projects using hotspots, this is the code placed on the hotspots so when the hotspots are selected they display the attached menu. This code is installed through the HotSpots Editor tool.

Compile (Compilation Process)
The action of generating the JavaScript code that will display and control the menus of your project.
For more information about compiling see the Implementing the Menus section.


E

Effect
A setting that applies a special feature to an element in the menus.
See AUE, Unfolding Effects, Special Effects.


F

Frame
An individual frame within a FRAMESET. In HTML, this is usually a window within a page where the contents are separated and independent from the contents on another frame. DHTML Menu Builder provides support for triggering the menus on one frame and displaying them in another.
For more information see the Working with Frames section.


H

HotSpot
An element on a web page that can be used to trigger (display) a menu. A HotSpot must always be a hyperlink and the hyperlinked object can be any HTML element that supports the anchor tag.
For more information, see the Preparing your Web Site section.

Hyperlink
An HTML element enclosed in anchor tags.


I

Image
Technically, a file containing information about a two dimensional array of pixels that represent some sort of graphic. In practical terms, any graphic.
You can assign images to various elements in your menus such as the background of the groups, toolbar, commands, and either or both sides of a command or toolbar item.
For more information, see the Images dialog.


M

Margin
Margin defines the distance from the outer border of an element to the inner border of the container. Margins can be applied to numerous elements in DHTML Menu Builder:

Menu
A menu is what the user sees when a hotspot is triggered. A menu is composed of a group and its commands.
For more information see the Anatomy of a Menu section.

Menubar
(see toolbar)


P

Project
The file where all the information about your menus is stored.
DHTML Menu Builder's projects have a "dmb" extension and should be treated as binary files.


T

Toolbar
A toolbar (also known as menubar) is a special object used to display a series of menu items. A toolbar remains always visible and can be used to allow access to the different menus in your project.
In DHTML Menu Builder you can create as many toolbars as you want, place them anywhere on a page. Click here to know more about toolbars.