MakeStuff

JamPing

Introduction

JamPing is a simple designer for HTML image maps. Given an image, it allows you to define multiple rectangular regions, which will render either as links or as OverLIB popups, or both. For example, the image below has a JamPing-generated image map. If you move the mouse pointer over the various parts of the image of the JamPing UI you will see a descriptive popup.

In the second image you can see the currently-selected area displayed on the image as a red rectangle. The bounds of this rectangle may be dragged with the mouse.

Usage

Download the JamPing zip and extract it to a convenient directory.

Typically you would start with an image, and no map. Just click on the jamping.jar file and it should launch automatically, asking you to select an image. You will need a 1.6 JVM installed for it to work. Your platform may not auto-launch jars correctly. If so, you can launch from the command-line:

java -jar jamping.jar

or

java -cp jamping.jar eu.makestuff.jamping.Application <fileName>

Where fileName is optional. If you don't supply it, JamPing will ask you to choose an image file.

Once you have selected an image, you will see the two-part UI shown above. One area has been created for you, covering the central region of the image.

• Just use the mouse to move the whole box or the lines or corners around until you're happy with the position.
• Now enter a URL in the URL column if you want the region to be a click-able link.
• Now enter some pop-up text in the ToolTip column if you want the region to have an OverLIB popup.
• Now click the New area button to make a new area for you to place and edit.

Once you're happy with the position and attributes of your regions, you can try it out 'live' by clicking the Write sample XHTML button. This will write a file called jamping.html to the directory where the image was loaded from. Open this in a browser and you will see the fruits of your labour.

You can add a new region at a later date.

• Load the image again.
• Paste the <map> HTML into the text pane.
• Click the Refresh from XML button.

Why "JamPing"?

It's almost but not quite an anagram of JMap NG...?