PROFESSIONAL NEW LOOK FOR WEB/SERVLET APPLICATIONS
 In last month's newsletter, the hotline question of the month addressed some brand new changes to the look of mrc's Web/Servlet Applications, and instructed people interested in this new look and the built-in capabilities that go with it to download an MRCCH update from the mrc Web site.
This month, we'd like to give you some documentation about these changes and highlight some areas that might be of interest to you.
For example: You can create a different look for each data dictionary, and you can also generate an application which automatically imports you own look.
Here are some highlights:
General
Simple steps to assign a custom look per data dictionary
Newly created applications automatically import a custom look
Better-organized Properties section of the HTML skeletons
A professional and generic look that that need not be altered
Multiple Record Retrievals
More control for the end user with Advanced Search and Advanced Sort features
New navigation bar features record/page count, links for first/previous/next/last/page, controllable page size, and simplifies removing all navigation
Reports
Like other applications, it employs the standard style sheet and header/footer
Execute and load faster with less internal formatting
Single Record Retrievals, Maintenance, & Graphs
Navigation and mode options are turned off, eliminating most required changes
Non-graphed fields are displayed in tabular format
Automatically Import a Look
There are four external files that control the look and feel of the application: the header, footer, style sheet, and message files. When you generate your first application, these files get copied from directory "/mrcjava/mrcclasses" into the data dictionary directory:
mrc_servlet_head.html
mrc_servlet_foot.html
mrc_servlet_style.html
mrc_servlet_message.txt
Now, that data dictionary has its own look. Without any changes, it is the same as the default look. But, with some minor changes to the style sheet and the header and footer, it can look anyway you like. Every application generated in that data dictionary will now automatically use that look.
Customize the Look of a Data Dictionary
The header, footer, and message files reside in the data dictionary directory. Those external files are used directly by the Java servlet program at run-time. Therefore, it is logical to include them in the same directory as the generated programs. The style sheet is a little different. It is not used directly by the Java servlet program, but it is instead loaded via the browser (much like images.) It is not typical to serve style sheets (and, likewise, images) in the same directory as the programs. So, we ship the file "mrc_servlet_style.html" to the data dictionary directory and that file points the actual CSS file.
If you want your own header, footer, and messages, they can be changed in the data dictionary directory. If you also want to use your own style sheet, just copy the default CSS file "/mrcjava/mrcclasses/mrc_servlet_style.css" to another name like "/mrcjava/mrcclasses/dictionary.css" and make your style changes there. Then, point the "mrc_servlet_style.html" file in the data dictionary directory at the new CSS file you created.
Considerations for Applications Served Elsewhere
If you move your applications to another location or server after generating them, then you will also need to copy these external files into the same directory where the programs reside.
Common Changes
If you wish to change the background image, you can change the image referred to in the "back" class in the style sheet. To eliminate the background image, remove the "back" class in the style sheet.
If you want to include the style sheet reference in your header file, alter file "mrc_servlet_style.html" by removing the line that points to the mrc-shipped style sheet.
This documentation can be found in the customers-only section at: http://www.mrc-productivity.com/members/manual/servletmanual/web_servlet_appl.htm if you'd like to bookmark it.
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