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:

  • Top: the offset of the top edge of the visible portion of the layer from its initial top edge
  • Left: the offset of the left edge of the visible portion of the layer from its initial left edge
  • Right: the offset of the right edge of the visible portion of the layer from its initial left edge
  • Bottom: the offset of the bottom edge of the visible portion of the layer from its initial top edge

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:

  • Starting top: the offset of the top edge of the visible portion of the layer from its initial top edge at the beginning of the wipe
  • Starting left: the offset of the left edge of the visible portion of the layer from its initial left edge at the beginning of the wipe
  • Starting right: the offset of the right edge of the visible portion of the layer from its initial left edge at the beginning of the wipe
  • Starting bottom: the offset of the bottom edge of the visible portion of the layer from its initial top edge at the beginning of the wipe
  • Ending top: the offset of the top edge of the visible portion of the layer from its initial top edge at the end of the wipe
  • Ending left: the offset of the left edge of the visible portion of the layer from its initial left edge at the end of the wipe
  • Ending right: the offset of the right edge of the visible portion of the layer from its initial left edge at the end of the wipe
  • Ending bottom: the offset of the bottom edge of the visible portion of the layer from its initial top edge at the end of the wipe
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
ree specified URLs depending on whether the user’s operating system is Windows, Mac OS, or Linux

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

Namo Web Editor icon note List of built in actionsThe visual effect actions all require that the affected content be contained in an existing layer.

Namo Web Editor icon browser note List of built in actionsThe 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:

  • Start opacity: the opacity level at the beginning of the gradient
  • Finish opacity: the opacity level at the end of the gradient
  • Start X: the distance in pixels from the left edge of the layer to the beginning of the gradient
  • Start Y: the distance in pixels from the top edge of the layer to the beginning of the gradient
  • Finish X: the distance in pixels from the left edge of the layer to the end of the gradient
  • Finish Y: the distance in pixels from the top edge of the layer to the end of the gradient

Apply Blur Effect

Applies a blur effect to the contents of a layer

Parameters:

  • Blur radius: higher values increase the “blurriness” of the effect
  • Shadow opacity: specifies the degree of opacity or translucency of the layer contents when the Make shadow option is selected

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:

  • Cycles: the number of cycles in the wave
  • Phase: the point in the cycle at which the wave begins
  • Amplitude: the horizontal difference between the peaks and troughs of the wave, in pixels
  • Lighting strength: the difference in brightness between the peaks and troughs of the wave; set to “0″ to leave original colors unmodified

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

List of supported events

Working with actions and events

List of built-in actions