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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
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    Info Bootstrapping the Support Folder

    BACKGROUND
    Xara, back in the day, created a thing of wonder with the concept of the Support Folder. Yet, probably, only the originator (Charles Moir?) or the original developer knew or might not have realised what its full potential could be.

    Drop a large number of MP4s onto the design page and they are magically added into a Design Folder in the same location as the design file.
    Only when you export or publish website does the knitting together take place and everything in the Support Folder is copied across into the index_htm_files folder.
    You only have to worry about the upload time!

    REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS
    The confusing point to many is that even if added in, then deleted and never saved, the asset is there and remains in the Support Folder.
    It then follows that with a publish, these large files get uploaded regardless! Is his why your site takes forever?
    Knowing this one fact allows you to take charge of your content.

    Xara has a number of importers that additionally add in additional content.
    You now know where to look and see what is happening your your design.

    THE OVER-COMPLICATION
    Strangely, a PDF Link add just the PDF document but then goes to all the trouble of creating a Placeholder with the following code:
    Code:
    <a href="index_htm_files/P3041071.pdf"><img src="https://webdesigner.xara.com/pdficon_large.png" border="0"></a>
    Without web access, you have a dead image and it has rubbish resolution.

    Create your own form a symbol or other design. I would use an SVG and drop it into the Support folder.
    Then change the placeholder to:
    Code:
    <a href="index_htm_files/P3041071.pdf"><img src="index_htm_files/pdf.svg" border="0"></a>
    I actually just create a Link on some object and path there instead: index_htm_files/P3041071.pdf.

    TAKING CONTROL
    The trick is knowing that you do not have to use an large MP3/MP4, PDF, SWF or other large file to create the Support Folder, a blank file suffices.
    • I select a text label LOG and in Web > Properties > Link > Link to file, link to log.txt and Accept.
    • The attached design file goes into greater detail.
    • Having saved the design file, log.txt is the proud occupant of a vast Support Folder.
    • Drop your images, sounds and videos there and all you need do is add a link to index_htm_files/filename and you can download it.
    • Wrap it in an <img> tag and you can see it.
    • Better, Image Filename an object or thumbnail and this is replaced with the full strength image.
    • Wrap it in an <audio> tag and you can play it.
    • Wrap it in a <video> and you can view it.

    Yes you need to understand some HTML but Xara's Placeholders show you how to improve its offerings.

    GOING FURTHER
    What I discovered is that if you put jQuery version 3.6.0 into the Support folder and name it jquery.js, this overwrites the version 1.11.1 Xara still bundles.
    Some image sliders will fail but you have overcome around three jQuery security issues with such a stale version.
    You can also create sub-folders and this is perfect for images, code and styling content.

    ONE APPROACH
    Xara - Bootstrapping the Support Folder.zip is a ZIP with a design file and its associated Support Folder.
    The design file is sufficient to create its Support Folder but you can use it for link the three labels to save time.

    The file does very little; it is here to show the principle.

    I already posted an External Slider using these concepts...

    Acorn
    Acorn - installed Xara software: Cloud+/Pro+ and most others back through time (to CC's Artworks). Contact for technical remediation/consultancy for your web designs.
    When we provide assistance, your responses are valuable as they benefit the community. TG Nuggets you might like. Report faults: Xara Cloud+/Pro+/Magix Legacy; Xara KB & Chat

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Morelos, Mexico
    Posts
    236

    Default Re: Bootstrapping the Support Folder

    Very useful. Thanks.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    SW England
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    Default Re: Bootstrapping the Support Folder

    What I also do with Item 2 (js.txt) is add the special Name UsesJQuery.
    This forces jquery.js v1.11.1 to always be part of the index_htm_files folder so that when you add an up-versionedjquery.js (currently v3.6.0) into the Support Folder then the later one automatically overwrites the Xara offering.

    Do note that some of the very old Xara sliders will fail.
    I am working on these slowly where I think they have merit. For example, where one creates a grouped image and picture, I am refusing to ever add such into my repertoire.

    Acorn
    Acorn - installed Xara software: Cloud+/Pro+ and most others back through time (to CC's Artworks). Contact for technical remediation/consultancy for your web designs.
    When we provide assistance, your responses are valuable as they benefit the community. TG Nuggets you might like. Report faults: Xara Cloud+/Pro+/Magix Legacy; Xara KB & Chat

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
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    SW England
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    Info Re: Bootstrapping the Support Folder

    I simply wish to retain control over the names of my images and their sizes.
    Xara hijacks both and has been fudging Image Filenaming for a long time.

    This approach uses the Support Folder to deliver what Xara has failed to do so far.
    It is quite specific in that the presentation of the image is precisely that with no border or other attributes Xara offers.
    It does overcome the Image Squishy/Squashy problem Xara introduced.
    Some of the File Placeholders have a hover of click action.

    The resulting design file is far quicker to load and can readily cope with larger numbers of images and pages.
    The heavy lifting is left until Preview, Export or Publish, making design changes and saving faster.

    It is offered in good faith:Cities.zip
    Do not that the design page is showing low fidelity thumbnails for all of the images.
    These are automatically replaced by the full sized and perfectly names JPEGs.
    The originals can be JPGs, PNGs, WebPs and even SVGs; anything Xara can import and a browser can render.

    The ZIP file is a 75kB design file and a Support Folder with the larger image files, totalling 2MB.

    Acorn
    Acorn - installed Xara software: Cloud+/Pro+ and most others back through time (to CC's Artworks). Contact for technical remediation/consultancy for your web designs.
    When we provide assistance, your responses are valuable as they benefit the community. TG Nuggets you might like. Report faults: Xara Cloud+/Pro+/Magix Legacy; Xara KB & Chat

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2000
    Location
    Harwich, Essex, England
    Posts
    21,895

    Default Re: Bootstrapping the Support Folder

    Just a quicky Acorn, just looked breifly at Cities and the Shanghi pop-up is not displaying correctly. The other two are fine.
    Egg

    Intel i7 - 4790K Quad Core + 16 GB Ram + NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1660 Graphics Card + MSI Optix Mag321 Curv monitor
    + Samsung 970 EVO Plus 500GB SSD + 232 GB SSD + 250 GB SSD portable drive + ISP = BT + Web Hosting = TSO Host

  6. #6
    Join Date
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    Default Re: Bootstrapping the Support Folder

    Quote Originally Posted by Egg Bramhill View Post
    Just a quicky Acorn, just looked breifly at Cities and the Shanghi pop-up is not displaying correctly. The other two are fine.
    I did that on purpose to check if Stretch worked.

    Thanks for checking Egg.

    Acorn
    Acorn - installed Xara software: Cloud+/Pro+ and most others back through time (to CC's Artworks). Contact for technical remediation/consultancy for your web designs.
    When we provide assistance, your responses are valuable as they benefit the community. TG Nuggets you might like. Report faults: Xara Cloud+/Pro+/Magix Legacy; Xara KB & Chat

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2000
    Location
    Harwich, Essex, England
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    Default Re: Bootstrapping the Support Folder

    Yes, that's clear and easy to remove the streetchy to get it to work. However having big problems getting my head around the application Acorn. My senior moments, not to do with your instructions. I'll battle on tomorrow.....
    Egg

    Intel i7 - 4790K Quad Core + 16 GB Ram + NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1660 Graphics Card + MSI Optix Mag321 Curv monitor
    + Samsung 970 EVO Plus 500GB SSD + 232 GB SSD + 250 GB SSD portable drive + ISP = BT + Web Hosting = TSO Host

  8. #8
    Join Date
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    Info Re: Bootstrapping the Support Folder

    Here is a reworked Nivo Slider.
    It allows the full functionality of the slider to be configured.

    Yes, you have to have some basic HTML, JS & CSS knowledge compared with the Xara approach but the benefits are major.

    Images can be tall or thin.
    You can even apply Stretch.
    Captions and images can have links.
    Each slide can have its own effect.

    Updated jQuery.zip
    Unzip and run the design file.

    Acorn
    Acorn - installed Xara software: Cloud+/Pro+ and most others back through time (to CC's Artworks). Contact for technical remediation/consultancy for your web designs.
    When we provide assistance, your responses are valuable as they benefit the community. TG Nuggets you might like. Report faults: Xara Cloud+/Pro+/Magix Legacy; Xara KB & Chat

  9. #9
    Join Date
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    Location
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    Default Re: Bootstrapping the Support Folder

    Bootstrapping the Support Folder
    Ah! I seen the light. This is an excellent method to load animated svg's whose text often exceeds the Xara default placeholder limit. Thanks Acorn.
    Egg

    Intel i7 - 4790K Quad Core + 16 GB Ram + NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1660 Graphics Card + MSI Optix Mag321 Curv monitor
    + Samsung 970 EVO Plus 500GB SSD + 232 GB SSD + 250 GB SSD portable drive + ISP = BT + Web Hosting = TSO Host

  10. #10
    Join Date
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    Location
    SW England
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    Default Re: Bootstrapping the Support Folder

    Quote Originally Posted by Egg Bramhill View Post
    Ah! I seen the light. This is an excellent method to load animated svg's whose text often exceeds the Xara default placeholder limit. Thanks Acorn.
    Once you get the concept, it opens up so many avenues.

    Acorn
    Acorn - installed Xara software: Cloud+/Pro+ and most others back through time (to CC's Artworks). Contact for technical remediation/consultancy for your web designs.
    When we provide assistance, your responses are valuable as they benefit the community. TG Nuggets you might like. Report faults: Xara Cloud+/Pro+/Magix Legacy; Xara KB & Chat

 

 

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