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HTML and JavaScript FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
  
     Email subject lines
     Removing outlines on visited links
     Closing pop up windows
     Returning frame pages to their framesets
     Adding tool tip style bubbles to text links
     Inserting the date automatically

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Email subject lines
Q. How do I make an email link which adds a subject line as well as the address to the message?

A. After the mailto:address add the following:
?subject=type your subject line here

e.g.
<a href="mailto:training@xtinalamb.co.uk?subject=Broken link on xtinalamb.co.uk">report broken links</a>

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Removing outlines on visited links
Q. How do I get rid of the line which appears around buttons and image map hotspots as you click on them? I don't like the way they are visible on a page when you return to it.

A. It's an Internet Explorer only problem, but you can make it go away by inserting the following piece of Javascript into all your links:

onClick="if(this.blur)this.blur( )"

e.g.
<a href="page1.htm" onClick="if(this.blur)this.blur( )">Go to Page 1</a>

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Closing pop up windows
Q. I need to create a button in a pop up window that you can click on to close it.

A. Use this script in the link:

<a href="Javascript:self.close( );">close window</a>

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Better dummy links
Q. I create a dummy links with a # sign as the href value, but when they are low down on a page they make the page jump to the top of the page like an anchor. Is there a way to make a dummy link (e.g. to launch pop up windows) where the page stays put?

A. Use this script in the link:

javascript:void(null)

e.g.
<a href="javascript:void(null)">this link goes nowhere</a>

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Returning frame pages to their framesets
Q. I want to make sure that if pages from my framesets are opened up on their own, they'll be directed back into the frames. How do I do this?

A.
Between the HEAD or BODY tags of each page, type the following script
(where "index.htm" is the name of your frameset page):

<script language="JavaScript">
<!-
if (top== self) self.location.href= "index.htm";
//->
</script>

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Adding tool tip style bubbles to text links
Q. Can I add an alt attribute to a text link? I want an information bubble to appear next to my cursor as I point to the link.

A. Try a title attribute, e.g.
<a href="contact.htm" title="Get in touch with us!">contact details</a>

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Inserting the date automatically
Q. How do I get the date to appear on a page so that it automatically refreshes every day?

A. Here's one from Javascript.com

TWO STEPS TO INSTALL ENGLISH DATE:
1. Copy the coding into the HEAD of your HTML document
2. Add the last code into the BODY of your HTML document -->

STEP ONE: Paste this code into the HEAD of your HTML document:

<HEAD>
<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">
<!-- This script and many more are available free online at -->
<!-- The JavaScript Source!! http://javascript.internet.com -->
<!-- Begin
dayName = new Array("", "Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday", "Saturday", "Sunday")
monName = new Array("January", "February", "March", "April", "May", "June", "July", "August", "September", "October", "November", "December")
now = new Date
// End -->
</script>
</HEAD>


STEP TWO: Copy this code into the BODY of your HTML document:

<BODY>
<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">
<!-- This script and many more are available free online at -->
<!-- The JavaScript Source!! http://javascript.internet.com -->
<!-- Begin
var strDay;
if ((now.getDate() == 1) || (now.getDate() != 11) && (now.getDate() % 10 == 1)) // Correction for 11th and 1st/21st/31st
strDay = "st ";
else if ((now.getDate() == 2) || (now.getDate() != 12) && (now.getDate() % 10 == 2)) // Correction for 12th and 2nd/22nd/32nd
strDay = "nd ";
else if ((now.getDate() == 3) || (now.getDate() != 13) && (now.getDate() % 10 == 3)) // Correction for 13th and 3rd/23rd/33rd
strDay = "rd ";
else
strDay = "th ";
document.write(
dayName[now.getDay()]
+
" the "
+
now.getDate()
+
strDay
+
"of "
+
monName[now.getMonth()]
+
", "
+
now.getFullYear()
)
// End -->
</script>

</BODY>

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