Text Editing Area

Format Options

Directions

Build 52 is a tool to add color-changing hyperlinks over an image. Specifically, it is intended to add "Links in Ink" to handwritten blog entries. (The "52" in the name comes from the Roman numeral "LII", which are the initials for "Links in Ink".) It is not a tool to compose ink blog entries or upload them to the web; it is to add hyperlinks. To use Build 52, following these steps.

1. In the red-bordered, control box on the right, enter the URL of your image file in the top text box. Tap somewhere else to see it. DO NOT HIT ENTER. Your image must be somewhere on the web before you can add links to it.
2. To add a link, tap anywhere on the image. A yellow rectangle with a gray box in its lower right corner will appear over the image. A new text box will appear in the control box. The number on the left end of the yellow rectangle will match the number next to the new text box.
3. The yellow rectangle displays and allows you to adjust the position and size of the Link in Ink. To adjust the position, press down (left button if using a mouse) on the yellow part of the rectangle and drag it around. To adjust the size, press down on the gray part and drag.
4. The numbered text box holds the URL of the link you want to add. Simply copy and paste or type the URL into the box. The number tells you which yellow rectangle matches to which box. If you need to remove a link, tap on [X] next to the link text box.
5. (Optional) Build 52 allows you to add a text translation of your inked entry (or whatever text you want) with your linked-up ink image. Tap on the "Edit Text & Tags" button to call up the Text Editing Area. Copy & paste or type in the text. To add links from your image to your text, highlight the text you want to link and click on the appropriate URL button at the bottom of the editing box. You may also add bold, italics, underline, and strikethrough tags to the text. Again, just highlight the text you want and tap on the appropriate button.
6. (Optional) You can control the appearance of your Links in Ink. Click on the "Format Options" button. The Links in Ink require a transparent image file, usually a GIF, to work. The default is a clear GIF located on my site, but you can change it to one of your own (and reduce my bandwidth usage -- Thanks). You can also change the style and color of the links when standing alone and when the cursor hovers over them.
7. Whenever you're ready, click on the "Build & Copy Code" button (or "Build Code" button in one of the editing boxes). This builds the code and automatically copies it to your clipboard. You can then paste it into the HTML editing interface of your blogging application. Please note, this is code, so it must be entered in a HTML editing interface, not a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) interface.
8. If you want to clear out everything and start over from scratch, tap on the "Refresh & Reset" button. Be sure to tap on the "Credits" button to see who contributed to the project. And of course, you already tapped the "Directions" button.

Credits

The Capturing Mouse Position tutorial @ the Breaking Par Consulting Inc. website, which was invaluable for creating the "drag" interface.

InsaneBoarder234 for posting a bit of text editing Javascript at gamedev.net, which I modified for my text editor.

Dustin Diaz for publishing much needed code to make the endless Links in Ink option possible.

Cheryl "Jezlyn" Lindo who first mentioned to me how cool it would be to have Links in Ink (it is pretty cool). She has since joined the ink blogging party @ Late to the Party.

Hugh Sung, who spills ink at HughSung.com and asked for a "slow wheelchair" tutorial. Well, can't get more "wheelchair-accessible" than a graphical user interface.

Ichiban inkling Silver now at Sil, who not only pushed everything along by publishing her outstanding Ink Blogging guide (defunct) but also posed the challenge of embedding the Links in Ink in a blog post, instead of a separate inline framed page.

Rev. Michael Penman who is blogging and Linking in Ink at The Hallel Report. He became the second person (other than me) to use Build 52 and pushed me to add the option for unlimited Links in Ink, which was the impetus that led to this latest iteration.