HTML Editor & Previewer

Version 1.0

Written by MrEenie



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1. Introduction & History

2. Install

3. How to Use

4. Contacting the Author


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1.  Introduction & History

   This mIRC addon was created to facilitate making and editing web pages
a little more convenient for those who like to write their own HTML.
Most editors come with so many extras so people that use them don't
even have to know how to write their own HTML.  I wanted something I
could use to write the code, much like Notepad, then preview the results,
all from within one GUI.  Without scripting a mIRC web browser, which
could never come close to Netscape or IE, I settled for a button to
launch the appropriate browser to view the results.

    This is version 1.0, which was completed on February 8, 2000.  This
addon was made using mIRC v5.7, but MAY work with versions back to 5.5
when dialogs were first introduced, but I'm not sure, (I'm not going to
read the versions.txt to see when each scripting improvement was
introduced.)  It also requires a screen resolution of 1024x768 or
greater.


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2.  Install

    Simply unzip HTML_ed.zip to your main mIRC directory, then, while
mIRC is running, type in the status, channel, or message window:
  
   /load -rs htmleditor.mrc

You will get a warning about the script having initialization commands.
You must click Yes so the script can make the sub-directories it uses,
and store the location of your preferred browser.  After clicking on Yes,
you will get a dialog box asking for the location of the browser you
want to use to run the previews of your work.  Just browse to
Iexplore.exe or Netscape.exe, or whatever browser you like to use.  The
script will create a file in your main mIRC directory called html.ini
that stores this location.


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3.  How to Use

    To run the script, under Commands in the menubar, click on HTML
Editor & Previewer, or right-click in the Status window and select the
same.  Once the main window opens, you can either open an existing HTML
file or start a new file by clicking on the appropriate button.  If New
is chosen, the base tags are automatically inserted, but you are free to
make any modifications you like.  If you open an existing file, the 
entire file is displayed in the window.  (Note: When opening an existing
file, only directories, .htm and .html files will be displayed to choose
from.  If you want to open another file type, just change the Files of 
type: drop-down menu.)
    
    When the script was loaded, you probably chose a particular browser
for previewing your work.  Any time the script is running, you can change
that browser by clicking the Change Preview Browser button at the bottom
of the window.  When  you click on the Preview button, the last selected
browser is started and the file in progress is loaded.  For two reasons,
the Preview button opens a NEW browser window each time it is pressed:

1. It saves having to hit the Reload or Refresh button in the browser.

2. I still haven't figured out how mIRC can load a file into an open
browser window! :)
    
    When saving your work, you have two choices:

1. The Save As button allows you to save your work to a new filename.
This is automatically done when saving a new file for the first time,
regardless of which button you use.  With an existing file, it allows you
to keep the old copy, while saving the new changes as well.

2. The Save button will save an open file over top of the original.
(Caution: The Save button replaces the old file permanently.  Be certain
you are satisfied with your work!)

In either case, a small window will open letting you know the file has
been saved, and to what directory.  New files default to the Html folder
in your main mIRC directory, but you can alter the path when saving if
you wish.

    As a last minute addition, I added an option when you press the 
Close button that gives you the chance to prevent the window closing
before you've saved your work.  If you press Yes, the main window will
come back up as it was when you pressed Close, so you can then choose
Save or Save As.  If you press No, the script closes everything, and any
unsaved work is lost.  I also added a Help button that will open this
file, assuming you have your file association for .txt files set.


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4.  Contacting the Author

    I can be reached for bug reports, suggestions, help, etc. by e-mail
at:

   eenie91@hotmail.com

Please include HTML in the subject line.  I hope you enjoy this addon! :)
