List of built-in actions
Image-related actions
Action |
Description |
Notes |
---|---|---|
Preload Image |
Preloads an image file that is not initially displayed |
Use to avoid a delay when a script inserts an image after the document has been loaded. |
Replace Image |
Replaces a named image with another image | |
Resize Image |
Changes the display size of a named image | |
Restore Image |
Restores an original image after being replaced | |
Set Background Image |
Sets or changes the document’s background image |
Layer-related actions
Action |
Description |
Notes |
---|---|---|
Clip Layer |
Restricts the visible portion of a layer |
Takes four length parameters in pixel units, measured from the initial top left corner of the layer:
|
Glide Layer |
Causes a layer to “glide” from a starting position to a final position |
The smaller the value of the Speed parameter, the faster the motion (0 is fastest). This value is relative; the actual speed depends on the browser and the computer. The Step parameter means the number of pixels the layer moves with each step. |
Hide Layer |
Hides a layer | |
Move Layer by |
Moves a layer by the specified number of pixels from its initial position, horizontally and/or vertically |
Negative values cause the layer to be moved toward the left and/or top. |
Move Layer to |
Moves a layer to the specified position, measured in pixels from the top left corner of the page |
Negative values are allowed. |
Replace Contents of Layer |
Replaces the initial contents of a layer with the specified text |
The replacement contents must be text only. |
Resize Layer |
Changes the size of a layer |
If the specified size would make the layer too small to fit its contents, the layer will be auto-sized to fit its contents. |
Set Background Color of Layer |
Sets or changes a layer’s background color | |
Set Background Image of Layer |
Sets or changes a layer’s background image | |
Set Z-Index |
Sets or changes a layer’s Z-index | |
Show Layer |
Reveals a hidden layer | |
Show Layer as Tooltip |
Causes a layer containing the specified text to “pop up” at the specified offset from the mouse pointer’s location |
Can be used to create a “tooltip” for a page element. Requires an existing layer, which can be initially empty and hidden. |
Wipe Layer |
Causes a layer to seem to “grow” from the specified starting coordinates to the specified ending coordinates |
Takes eight length parameters in pixel units, measured from the initial top left corner of the layer:
|
Form-related actions
Action |
Description |
Notes |
---|---|---|
Move Focus to |
Moves the focusA form field has “focus” when it is the target of key presses. to the specified field |
Generally used with an onBlur event on another field |
Reset Form Field |
Clears the contents of the specified text field | |
Select Text in Form Field |
Selects the entire contents of the specified text field | |
Validate E-mail Address |
Displays a message box with the specified message if the specified text field does not contain a valid e-mail address |
Generally used with an onBlur event on the specified text field |
Validate Field Contains Number |
Displays a message box with the specified message if the specified text field does not contain a number |
Generally used with an onBlur event on the specified text field |
Validate Field Not Empty |
Displays a message box with the specified message if the specified text field is empty |
Generally used with an onBlur event on the specified text field |
Validate Length Not Exceeded |
Displays a message box with the specified message if the contents of the specified text field exceed the specified length |
Generally used with an onBlur event on the specified text field |
Validate No Field Empty |
Displays a message box with the specified message if any text field in the specified form is empty (including hidden fields) |
Generally used with an onClick event on a submit button |
Document/window-related actions
Action |
Description |
Notes |
---|---|---|
Close Window |
Causes the browser to close the current window |
The browser may ask the user to confirm closing the window. |
Disable Shortcut Menu |
Disables the shortcut (right-click) menu for the current window and displays a message box with the specified text |
The message box is not optional. |
Expand Window |
Causes the window to grow from the specified starting size to the specified final size, from the center out |
The final size must be larger than the starting size. |
Flash Message in Status Bar |
Displays a flashing message in the status bar | |
Fly Message in Status Bar |
Displays a message in the status bar in which characters “fly” in, one at a time | |
Move Window in Circles |
Causes the window to move in circles the specified number of times and then come to rest at the specified offset from the top left corner of the screen | |
Open Two URLs |
Simultaneously opens the first URL in the current window and the second URL in a new window | |
Open URL After Delay |
Opens the specified URL in the current window after the specified delay time | |
Open URL in Full-screen Window |
Causes the browser to open a URL in a new, full-screen window without a title bar, menu bar, toolbars, or status bar |
Use with caution; users may have difficulty closing the new window. |
Open URL in New Window |
Opens the specified URL in a new window with the specified options | |
Open URL with Message |
Opens the specified URL in the current window after the user closes a message box containing the specified text | |
Open URL |
Opens the specified URL in the current window | |
Periodically Refresh Window |
Reloads the current document at the specified intervals | |
Print Document |
Opens the Print dialog box for the current document | |
Refresh Window |
Reloads the current document once | |
Resize Window by |
Reduces or enlarges the current window by the specified number of pixels, horizontally and/or vertically | |
Resize Window to |
Resizes the current window to the specified size |
Both horizontal and vertical size must be specified. |
Scroll Window |
Scrolls the window up or down by the specified number of pixels | |
Set Background Color |
Sets or changes the document’s background color | |
Shake Window |
Causes the window to “shake” (move rapidly up, down, left, and right) the specified number of times | |
Show Last Update Timestamp |
Replaces the contents of a layer with the last update date and time of the current document |
Requires an existing layer, which can be initially empty and hidden. |
Show Message Box |
Opens a message window (dialog box) containing the specified text | |
Show Message in New Window |
Opens a new window displaying the specified text with the specified options | |
Show Message in Status Bar |
Displays a static message in the status bar | |
Test Browser |
Causes the browser to load one of two specified URLs depending on whether the browser is Internet Explorer or Netscape | |
Test for Plugin |
Causes the browser to load one of two specified URLs depending on whether the specified plugin is installed | |
Test Operating System |
Causes the browser to load one of th | |
Test Screen Resolution |
Causes the browser to load one of two specified URLs depending on the user’s screen resolution | |
Wipe Message in Status Bar |
Displays a message in the status bar that “wipes” back and forth repeatedly |
Frame-related actions
Action |
Description |
Notes |
---|---|---|
Break Out of Frame |
Causes the current document, if it is in a frame, to take over the whole window | |
Open URL in Whole Window |
Opens the specified URL in the whole window, replacing any frameset | |
Open URLs in Three Frames |
Opens a specified URL in each of three specified frames | |
Open URLs in Two Frames |
Opens a specified URL in each of two specified frames |
Visual effects
The visual effect actions all require that the affected content be contained in an existing layer.
The visual effect actions require Internet Explorer 5.5 or later.
Action |
Description |
Notes |
---|---|---|
Apply Alpha Effect |
Applies an alpha transparency gradient to the contents of a layer |
Takes six numerical parameters:
|
Apply Blur Effect |
Applies a blur effect to the contents of a layer |
Parameters:
If the Make shadow option is selected, all opaque parts of the layer will be changed to a medium gray tone. |
Apply Glow Effect |
Makes the contents of a layer appear to “glow” |
The Strength parameter controls the size of the glow. |
Apply Shadow |
Applies a soft-edged shadow to the contents of a layer | |
Apply Hard Shadow |
Applies a hard-edged shadow to the contents of a layer | |
Apply Mask Effect |
Fills transparent areas in a layer with the specified color and makes opaque areas transparent | |
Apply Motion Blur |
Applies a “motion blur” effect to the contents of a layer |
The Strength parameter controls the length of the “trails”. |
Apply Wave Effect |
Applies a sine wave distortion to the contents of a layer along the vertical axis |
Parameters:
If you select the Combine option, the wave-distorted contents will be superimposed on the original contents instead of replacing them. |
Apply X-ray Effect |
Converts the contents of a layer to a negative black & white image | |
Change Colors to Grays |
Replaces all colors in the contents of a layer with gray tones | |
Flip Horizontal |
Flips the contents of a layer horizontally | |
Flip Vertical |
Flips the contents of a layer vertically | |
Invert Colors |
Changes each color in the contents of a layer to its inverse | |
Make Color Transparent |
Makes one color in the contents of a layer transparent | |
Remove Visual Effect |
Restores the contents of a layer to their original appearance after a visual effect has been applied |
Other actions
Action |
Description |
Notes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Call Function |
Causes the specified JavaScript function to be executed |
Use this action to run your own custom script functions. | |||
Enable BLINK Tag |
Enables Netscape’s <blink> tag to work in Internet Explorer, causing contents to blink. |
Hide Element |
Hides the element whose ID you specify |
The element to be hidden must have an ID attribute. | |
Jump to Timeline Frame |
Causes the specified timeline to jump to the specified frame |
The Max repetitions parameter specifies the maximum number of times the same event will trigger this action. This can be especially useful when the event that triggers this action is an onFrame event on a frame after the specified “jump to” frame. | |||
Pause WMP Object |
Pauses the video or audio in the specified Windows Media Player object | ||||
Play Timeline |
Starts the specified timeline | ||||
Play WMP Object |
Plays the video or audio in the specified Windows Media Player object | ||||
Show Element |
Reveals the hidden element whose ID you specify |
The element to be revealed must have an ID attribute. | |||
Stop Timeline |
Stops the specified timeline if it is playing | ||||
Stop WMP Object |
Stops the video or audio in the specified Windows Media Player object |
Related topics
Working with actions and events