Ages ago I sent out a message to the list asking for information on
hypertext floor plans, and now at last I have made the time to summarising
replies - sorry for delay! Hope that they are useful to people.

Some people suggested that the whole thing could be done using
browser-based HTML/Javascript or a multimedia development application such
as Macromedia Director. 

Others thought it would be better to use different applications for
different stages. 
The first stage would obviously be to create the floor plans. It was
suggested that manually created floor plans could be scanned in, but that
sometimes results might not be too impressive and that a certain amount of
"touching up" could be necessary.
 
Alternatively a drawing package or a CAD package might be used to create
plans electronically - the EasyCAD package was mentioned as being user
friendly and intuitive and able to export DXF files, if perhaps a little
limited in the fonts available, and it doesn't sound as if it's compatible
with Windows 95 (although a newer version may now be available which is?)
Another one mentioned was VisualCADD Version 3, in connection with which I
have noted down the Web address http://www.cshull.com/, but what the
connection was I have forgotten, perhaps this is something people might
want to explore.

Next the plans would be saved in GIF format (some drawing packages might
automatically save them in this format but if not it would be necessary to
convert them)  and then turned into an "image map" in order to provide a
hypertext interface which would enable users to "navigate"  the plans and
link from them in instructional material such as library guides.  

Ways of producing the image map which were mentioned were
	- using Microsoft Front Page
	- manually using raw HTML
	- using an image map utility (for a selection of these try URL
http://www.winfiles.com/apps/98/webauth-imap.html)

Some Web addresses affording examples of library guides incorporating
hypertext floor plans were mentioned -
http://www.shef.ac.uk/~lib/sgl/tour.html
  http://www.tees.ac.uk/lis/Welcome/floorplans.htm
and Pick, the directory of LIS resources maintained by DILS at University
of Wales Aberystwyth, was quoted as a possible source of more. Someone also
thought one of the Manchester University libraries had links to detailed
shelf guides. 

Many thanks to everyone who replied, I hope my summary adequately
represents your responses, you're welcome to explicate further if they
don't!

Regards
Eileen


-- 
Eileen Tilley  Tel 01248 351151 x 2918  [log in to unmask]


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