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Conference Interview with Simon Haddad, creator of Simon Bots:
Wednesday, July 17, 2002.
Interviewers present were Editors of AnyFrontPage Bytes Ezine:
Tiffany K Edmonds
Frances McColl Stewart
for
AnyFrontPage Bytes
NOTE: This transcript has been edited for your ease of reading.
AFP Editor Tiffany: Hi Simon!
AFP Editor Fran: Hi Simon - Fran here
AFP Editor Tiffany: Fran is a co-editor at AnyFrontPage Bytes. It doesn’t look like Tina will make it today
AFP Editor Fran: And very glad to meet you - I've used your pop-up from Tiffany’s site
Simon Haddad: Nice meeting you, Fran.
Simon Haddad: Fine
AFP Editor Fran: How are you, Simon? How did you get into the genius field?
Simon Haddad: Well, FrontPage attracted me to web design. I took a class in college on web design for (of all things) an English credit. I found that (because of FrontPage 2000) I really enjoyed it.
AFP Editor Tiffany: Did you have any prior training in any computer related field? How did you get started in creating FrontPage components?
Simon Haddad: The interest in the web components came later.
AFP Editor Tiffany: So, how did you get started in learning to create them. Did anything in particular get your interest in wanting to learn to create them?
Simon Haddad: I saw a lot of features, JavaScript or whatever, that weren't built in to FrontPage.
AFP Editor Tiffany: So, you are self taught. Did you do any internet reading or anything to help you learn how to make FrontPage Components?
Simon Haddad: It was all in the FPSDK from Microsoft. The JavaScript and VBScript, on the other hand was something I had to learn on my own which I did, over years with my nose in whatever books I could get my hands on.
AFP Editor Tiffany: SO: What are remotely hosted components?
Simon Haddad: It’s a web page, plain and simple, with an added permission. It can read existing FrontPage Web Components. Aside from that, it's a normal web page. The way it works is, you either insert a component by clicking Insert >> Web Component... or edit one that is already on the page... a pseudo-browser window will open up to the web page defined by the component That web page has the ability to write a component onto your page, or modify an existing component. Aside from that, Internet Explorer (the pseudo-browser) allows no extra permissions so that it's really no more of a security issue than surfing the net.
AFP Editor Fran: That is fascinating. Why were you attracted to pop-ups? Just curious here, as you really hit on the fad of the moment!
Simon Haddad: I've noticed a lot of cross-browser issues that I (and I'm sure most people) hate having to keep track of so that seemed like a good place to start.
AFP Editor Fran: what issues in particular, Simon?
Simon Haddad: Just for one example, to position a new window in Internet Explorer, you would set its "left" property, and in Netscape Navigator to achieve the same result, you would set its screenX property So some people would set the position for one browser and not the other.
AFP Editor Tiffany: I really like how you stay on top of browser compatibility!
Screen shot of SimonBots PopUpWindow dialog box
Click to see full size
Simon Haddad: Browser compatibility is a major concern of mine.
AFP Editor Tiffany: You are very thorough with browser compatibility! It is a really important issue too. I also really like what you have done with the at-frontpage.com slide menu (still to be implemented across all pages of the site) (http://www.at-frontpage.com ) Is that slide menu something that could be worked into a Component like your other components?
Simon Haddad: The slide menu (or something like it) could, but it would have to be completely in-page with no external JavaScripts because FrontPage 2002's Web Components don't support installing external files. That would end up being a kb hog on the page.
AFP Editor Tiffany: Yes it would. It could also kill a lot of Search Engine rankings with too much code and characters before any real text content. That is too bad. At-FrontPage.com gets so many downloads for that slide menu file. Would be nice to offer a component instead of an "on your own" zip file
AFP Editor Fran: What do you see as the next issue that you would like to address with your programming talents?
Simon Haddad: The next issue? Right now, I'm working on special text effects. Specifically: the inclusion of drop-shadows under text.
AFP Editor Fran: WOW - That is one of Tiffany's favorites. What a great addition and time saver
Simon Haddad: I'll have it set up so that you can set the offset and color of the drop shadow for whatever text you use. The prototype looks pretty good so far.
AFP Editor Tiffany: That is really cool!
AFP Editor Fran: Save a lot of dl time too –
AFP Editor Tiffany: So, maybe last question for you Simon...Where are you from?
Simon Haddad: Hammond, Indiana. It's a suburb of Chicago, Illinois.
AFP Editor Fran: We just like to keep track of where our FP family all lives. I'm in WV and Tiffany's in OK. Tina’s in England.
Simon Haddad: Must be quite a commute. J
AFP Editor Tiffany: Yes... it is a tough commute to the office
AFP Editor Fran: Would you have any great advice for someone who would be thinking of following in your footsteps?
Simon Haddad: Advice? Learn your JavaScripts and download the MS FPSDK.
Simon Haddad: I looked up my SimonBots on a search engine and your magazine showed in the results...
AFP Editor Fran: We do well in the search engines, I generally submit each issue separately, and, yes, we have mentioned your Simon Bots before J
AFP Editor Tiffany: We have been talking about doing SimonBots as the featured site for the last couple issues and have been looking forward to it. Loved your idea of the interview for it too - that will really make this one cool.
Simon Haddad: Have you both tried the other three SimonBots?
AFP Editor Fran: I have only tried the one
AFP Editor Tiffany: I FINALLY checked out secret hit counter! very cool..
Simon Haddad: Custom Scrollbars, the wave of the future.
AFP Editor Tiffany: I did try colored scroll bars, but right now my browser is old and doesn't see them. No errors. Just doesn't see them
Simon Haddad: Cool. I have the SimonBots set up so that if you're using an older version of Internet Explorer it'll update the scripting engine to JScript 5.
AFP Editor Fran: You are an inspiration, Simon -
Simon Haddad: Thank you. Why?
AFP Editor Fran: self-motivated; curious; talented; obviously disciplined... wouldn't you say so Tiffany?
AFP Editor Tiffany: Yes. totally agree.
AFP Editor Tiffany: I think it is the coolest that you got started with FP. I bet a lot of people will also think that is cool!
AFP Editor Tiffany: thanks for meeting us here Simon! This was great. I will send you a copy of the edited transcript and what we plan to put in the featured site ASAP
AFP Editor Tiffany: I better get to work on that and a few other things for this issue.
AFP Editor Fran: I can't remember an interview I've enjoyed more, Simon. Thank you so much
AFP Editor Tiffany: Talk to you soon Simon. Thanks again. Bye all
Simon Haddad: Glad to hear it. You're both welcome. So long.
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Please note: AnyFrontPage Bytes only publishes the FrontPage News and FrontPage links AFP Site - The
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