Adding an on-line image to a room is a simple process.

When using the Object Editor, you must place a check mark in the box next to the characteristic you want to change or your changes will be lost.

Adding a link to an on-line web page involves the same simple process.

If you want to add an html document with several links, you should have some knowledge of how to create web pages.

Adding an Image

There are two ways to add an image to your room. If the URL you use points to an on-line image (i.e., ends in a .jpg or .gif extension), either method will ensure that the image appears in the VRoma web window with the room description below it whenever anyone enters the room or clicks on the “Look Again” icon:

1. Go to the room to which you wish to add an image. Using the MOO command line, type the following, enclosing the image's URL in double quotes:
   @URL here is "http://your URL"
   
   
2. Invoke the Object Browser and Editor by clicking on “Customize rooms and objects” in the web window. Select “edit an object's basic characteristics” and then select the room name from one of the drop-down lists (“objects near you” or “objects you own”). Then click on “Do Browse or Edit.” On the editor page, scroll down to “Object's associated URL or HTML document” and place a check mark in the box. Click on “URL” and then type the full URL in the form (do not use any quotes). Scroll down and click on “Update Characteristics,” and the image will appear in your room when you return to the viewer. Note that you can also change other characteristics of your room (such as name, description, etc.) at the same time by placing a check mark in the appropriate boxes and changing the relevant information in the forms.

Adding a Link

If you wish your room to display a link to an on-line web page rather than an image, you can use either of the above methods to do so; simply substitute the web page's URL for the image's URL (i.e., the URL will have no extension or an .htm or .html extension). In this case, a visitor to your room will see in the web window, above the room description, a simple statement with a clickable link (e.g., "Link to web page at http://www.vroma.org/"). This is the simplest procedure to use if you do not know how to create an html document.

Adding an HTML Document

If you know something about creating web pages and wish to provide additional information and images for a room in the form of an html document with links to web pages, we recommend the following procedure:

• Design your html document using using an ASCII text editor like Notepad or SimpleText (if you know html code) or using software like Adobe PageMill or Claris HomePage (which will add the html code for you). It is not necessary to set background or text colors, since VRoma will do this for you.
• Write all links using the following formula: <A HREF="javascript:CreateWindow('http://your URL')">Your text</A> (duplicate this exactly, substituting your URL and link text). If you are using one of the webpage software programs, you will need to add this formula manually. If your page contains more than one link, copy and paste the formula, substituting the new URLs and link text.
• The most attractive designs will include an image aligned above or to the left of the text. which can consist of a simple list of links (see the Circus Maximus) or of a description with embedded links (see the House of Paullus Aemilius).
• Use your browser to preview the web page, keeping in mind that the width of your page should not exceed approximately 450 pixels.
• After you have designed your html document to your satisfaction, save the file on disk with an .html extension. Then select the whole file and copy it to the clipboard. In VRoma, invoke the Object Editor as described above. On the editor page, scroll down to “Object's associated URL or HTML document” and place a check mark in the box. Click on “HTML document” and then paste your document into the form. Scroll down and click on “Update Characteristics,” and the html document will appear in the VRoma web window as part of your room, above the room description.
• Changes can be made to the html document at any time by using the Object Editor. Since the text in the html form does not word wrap, it may be easier to go back to the file saved on your disk for other than minor changes, edit that, then copy and paste it back into the html form within the Object Editor.

The links you use in this html document can point to web pages put on-line by others or to additional web pages you create and put on-line yourself. When a visitor clicks on one of the links, a small display window (400 x 400 pixels) will be launched and the web page will appear in this window. If the web page is larger than this size, scroll bars will appear, or the visitor can resize the window. If you wish to design your own web pages for these links (as, for example, the links in the Circus Maximus), keep in mind the small size of the window; images should be no wider than 365 pixels to fit easily in the display window.