 Database Journal: The Knowledge Center for Database Professionals
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SMIL Tools To Get the Job Done, Part 3
By Scott Clark
Just T.A.G. it up!
Even if you can't find a template exactly like you need, I would suggest using the Wizard to create the basic SMIL file, if for no other reason than to show you what correctly formed SMIL looks like and to give you something to start with. If you choose to use a tool such as Allaire's HomeSite with the SMIL Tag Pack, you'll still need to know how to create your SMIL file, and the SMIL Presentation Wizard can take the pain out of the process. Once you create a few such files and go through them in your editor, you'll get the hang of it in no time, and will be able to create the SMIL file from scratch.
Digital Renaissance's T.A.G.
One of the most full-featured SMIL tools to soon emerge will be Digital Renaissance's T.A.G. version 1.6. In addition to supporting SMIL files, it also supports RealText, RealPix, RealVideo and RealAudio. T.A.G. can used for developing simple RealSystem projects and applications, such a RealVideo track that includes several URL flips. T.A.G.'s "track model" allows for the sequencing of different video or audio segements in SMIL. Not only is the developer able to create and edit the SMIL file, but T.A.G. dynamically converts the formats to RealMedia, and creates the SMIL file --including sequencing -- using drag-and-drop methods.
Digital Renaissance's T.A.G version 1.6
Sausage Software's SMIL SuperTool
Another tool that will soon be available to the public is Sausage Software's SMIL SuperTool. This tool promises to enable developers to easily create SMIL content using a point-and-click WYSIWYG user interface. Developers will not have to know XML, and they will be able to view the SMIL source code they create with a click of a button. You can view this screen shot of the tool to get an advanced look at what's coming up.
[Move on to the next part of the article.]
This article first appeared in June, 1998.
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