[MWForum]Projects to share from Hanover, NH

[Wendy Petti]

I have a few remarks about posting MW projects on the web:

1) I have noticed that MW projects created on a Mac (and then
converted to PC) are much larger in file size than the same projects
created on a PC.  Size does matter when you are asking visitors to
wait for a project to load.  I think it is something about the large
default shapes in the shapes center on the Mac version of MW.  I
don't know if you have access to a PC for optimizing the file size
of your projects or not, but if you do, then I would suggest that
you follow these steps:
* First export the Mac project as a PC project.  I believe you type
in the command center:
export "filename.mw2
* Transfer this project to a PC.
* On the PC, open a new MW project in the same folder as the project
you've just converted.  In the command center, type:
import "filename.mw2 "pages
import "filename.mw2 "procedures
but do NOT import all of the shapes.  Instead, toggle between the
two projects, copying and pasting only the shapes you need for this
project to work.  That way most of the shapes will remain the PC
default shapes.
(You will end up with a blank page as the first page of the project,
and you can easily remove that with this command:
remove "page1
and then rename the other pages if necessary.)

By taking a few minutes to import the shapes individually this way,
I have been able to reduce a project's size from around 112K to
around 33K.  It is not essential but it does make it easier for the
projects to load online.

2) Another thing to consider is the dimensions of the project.  If
your project will still work with smaller dimensions, you can save
file size and ensure that all browsers can view the project without
scrolling if you give the project smaller dimensions.  The LCSI site
recommends 400x300 pixels, which might be a little too cramped.  I
usually aim for 500x300 or 550x350.  But if a project is 700 pixels
in width, some users will need to scroll to see it all and may have
a hard time noticing buttons in corners and so on.  But changing a
project's dimensions can create complications if you use setpos
commands or if your turtle's position no longer lines up properly
with a background drawing.  Also it is much more problematic to
change the dimensions of a Mac project than a PC project.  I can
give you more information on that if you like.

3) Be sure to keep in mind that projects posted on the web must be
completely navigable with buttons; you cannot access the pages menu,
and you cannot type commands.

4) Also, for the purposes of sharing with our group, bear in mind
that we cannot view the procedures for projects posted on the web.
If you want to enhance our ability to learn from sharing your
projects, and if you want meaningful feedback from us, then it helps
if we can see the procedures.  You might consider providing a link
to a companion web page for each project, and provide the procedures
on that page.  I do that for many of the MicroWorlds projects at
Math Cats.  Also, I learned from Frank Caggiano (who has a website
with many great MW projects) that when I view his web pages, the
projects themselves are cached in my Temporary Internet Files, and I
can open that folder and drag the projects to a more accessible
folder for future study of the procedures.

5) If you do set up a website of your students' projects, be sure to
let the folks know at www.microworlds.com and also the Logo
Foundation at
http://el.www.media.mit.edu/groups/logo-foundation/
so they can add a link to your site from their page of links.
And add your site to the Logo Users Ring:
http://www.atlantic.net/~caggiano//logo/logoring.html

As Jeff says, it's easier than you think... but it does help to
invest a little bit of extra time to make the experience as
user-friendly as possible and to attract visitors to your site.

Wendy Petti

> ...please! Put them on the www ...it's easier than you think
> Jeff R

> On Sat, 6 Apr 2002, Cam Cross wrote:
> we just finished up some great 5th grade
> > projects based on Beowulf and the Odyssey. They are in
> MW 2.05 for the
> > Mac.  What's the best way to share them with the list?
> I have *some*
> > experience at making web pages with MW projects, but
> they haven't been publicly posted.