Learn WML in minutes 3

Learn WML in minutes (3)

Tasks

Tasks order the computer to do certain things in a certain order (for example; enter card, activate link).

Example:

The go element

The go element makes jumps to other spots possible. The target spot is declared within the "href" attribute. It doesn�t matter whether the goal is a card or a different deck:

</go>

<go href="#Cardname"> (NOTE: No closing / if </go> follows)

</go>

There must be a # before the card name in the href-attribute if you put another card as a target

Links to cards on other decks

If the target card is on another deck, then put : "Deckname#Cardname"

CDATA

The special CDATA element is for the case in which the programmer would like to display text without paying attention to any other WML-elements:

<![CDATA[This is a text passage. Learn WML and WMLScript with the ccWAP WML Crash-Course]]>

The prev-element

Prev means previous and creates a jump to the previous place or URL:

<prev/>

Refresh

Refresh will reload the URL:

Noop

If you would like nothing to happen you can use the noop command. This might ssem useless at first, but soon you will notice that this is one of the most useful tools of all:

<noop/>

The do-element

The do-element can be used as a navigational help. Do-elements are browser-dependent and will be displayed at a certain position on the screen.

The do-element gives the user the possibility to start a certain action on the displayed card. The most important actions are:

Jump to previous page when activated:

<do type="prev" title="Back">
<prev/>
</do>

Jump to main page when activated:
<do type="accept" title="Main">
<go href="index.wml"></go>
</do>

Jump to help when activated:
<do type="help" title="Help">
<go href="#help"></go>
</do>

A do-element can be defined within a card as well as outside of the card.

Outside of the card you must enclose all do-elements within the following tag:

<template>
<do...
</template>

Do�s defined in <template> will be displayed on all cards.

To display a do-elements only on single cards, you can simply define it on that card. If there should be defined another do-element in the <template>, then it will be overwritten.

Label, type and name

The attributes label, type and name are the most important elements.

Label is the description for the element and can also "accept", "prev" or

"options".

name is only optional.

Here is an example:

</do>

Link

There are 2 kinds of links:

Please click here!

</anchor>

<a href="targetpage.wml">Please click here !</a>

targetpage.wml is the goal page of course.

If you would like to target a card with a link you can put the following:

Please click here !

</anchor>

<a href="#Cardname">Please click here !</a>

Variables

Variables are important to the WML-language and make it easier to design and create dynamic cards and decks. We will not discuss this issue further now, because the subject would be too specific.

Meta-Tags

The meta-tags are extremely important for search engines and directories. Just like in HTML, the tags are in the head of the file:

<head>

</head>

Title

Just like HTML-pages have a title, cards have one in WML.

<p>

The ccWAP programming course has the following features� etc. etc. .

</p>

</card>

Selection boxes

Again, this feature is very similar to HTML. In WML selection boxes are defined in the following way:

<option onpick="weather.wml">todays weather</option>

<option onpick="stocks.wml">stock market</option>

</select>

The select-tag opens the selection box. Each option-tag is one option in the box. Onpick is the target address, from which the information is derived. A precise description follows.

Other features such as manipulating the variables are possible, but won�t be disscussed further in this beginners course.

If you need some more information, you can consult www.ccwap.com or send an e-mail to wml@ccwap.com