Sure. OK, here is the XML file URL, which I copied and pasted into Google Gadgets Editor under Developer Tools: http://hosting.gmodules.com/ig/gadgets/file/106158931204188462693/buffy-faith-1680.xml
Also, I am using Google Chrome version 4.0.249.78 Hope that helps. Also, you say you have never seen that before, does that mean it is a issue only I may be having, and not other users? Whatever the case, it sure is weird. This is the first time I have ever tried using the Themes API tool, so I just thought it was a common problem. Thanks for your help man, I really appreciate it. If only the ThemeMaker would allow us to create Footers as well as the Headers, I wouldn't be going through all this trouble... Thanks again. CBF On Mar 23, 9:37 pm, BlueQuoll <[email protected]> wrote: > Thanks for the screenshots — I now see what you're seeing, though I > can't explain it. It's quite weird — I've certainly never seen it > before! > > Would you mind sharing the URL of your XML file? Also, which browser > version are you using? There's obviously something strange happening > somewhere. > > Dave > > On Mar 24, 1:16 pm, CBF <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > If any one else can help with this issue, please feel free to offer > > your sugeestions... > > Any help is appreciated. Not sure why iGoogle Themes API doesn't have > > this key critical feature. > > > On Mar 23, 3:03 pm, CBF <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > I have provided some screen shots to show what the Themes API is > > > doing. It seems like itdoes not matter what width I use, because I > > > have tried the higher width sizes, from 1280x175, to 1500x175, and > > > finally, at your suggestion, 1680x175. Themes API seems to "crop" the > > > image down to only fit in the center, and I have now noticed there is > > > also extra blank space at the bottom of the banners as well as the > > > sides. By the way I have not published this Theme yet, since the > > > images won't display correctly. I am testing them out using Google > > > Code and the ig?skin=<theme-url> filename add-on in the address bar. > > > Not sure if that helps. > > > > Here is the Header banner displayed at > > > 1680x175:http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp87/ComicBookFan_photos/iGoogle%2... > > > > And here is the Footer banner displayed at > > > 1680x175:http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp87/ComicBookFan_photos/iGoogle%2... > > > > Using ThemeMaker, here is the desired effect for the Header banner. I > > > created this image in Photoshop with the dimensions 1280x175 and it > > > worked > > > perfect:http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp87/ComicBookFan_photos/iGoogle%2... > > > > I want that effect for the Footer as well. As you can see, the images > > > get shrunk down. > > > I have deleted the background and tile attributes, so only the center > > > image is in the code, with my one image, as you suggested. However, > > > it seems this does not work, as the image is displayed the same as > > > before. > > > > Any more suggestions? > > > PS Thank you for your help. > > > > On Mar 23, 2:16 pm, BlueQuoll <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Hi CBF > > > > > The simplest way to achieve what you want, is to Photoshop your image > > > > to the width you want to fill, nominate your single image as the > > > > center image, and forget about the background and tile. > > > > > Unless you want the width of the image to change with the width of the > > > > user's display? I don't think I'd want my photographic images > > > > distorted in that way, but I suppose it could be useful for abstract > > > > designs. > > > > > The beauty of the Themes API is that you can use as many or as few of > > > > the available attributes as you want. I think the idea of the center > > > > and tile images was that you could keep the image file sizes down, put > > > > the main content in the middle of the page, and still fill the whole > > > > width of any size screen with "padding". But it does take careful > > > > image manipulation to work correctly. > > > > > I build all my themes to fill 1680 px width, so I just GIMP my image > > > > to 1680x175 and use it as the center image. Don't worry too much about > > > > image file size limit of 40kB suggested in the Developer's Guide — > > > > I've seen themes with header center images well over 100kB. The > > > > disadvantage of this approach is that as screens get wider than > > > > 1680px, users will see a gap at the sides. However, I'm confident > > > > that, at the moment, for 99% of users my header images extend across > > > > the full width of their screen. Users with smaller screens won't see > > > > the full image, but I try to spread the detail across the image so the > > > > overall effect isn't lost. > > > > > Dave > > > > > On Mar 24, 7:54 am, CBF <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > I have been using the ThemeMaker (http://www.google.com/ig/tm/creator) > > > > > to create my first few themes, and after I upload an image, it shows > > > > > the part where I can drag the ends of the preview area. See I create > > > > > my Header banners in Photoshop first, so the ones I have made using > > > > > ThemeMaker are always with the dimensions 1280 x 175, or higher > > > > > width. But when I drag the ends in the preview area I can select the > > > > > entire banner. Then it fits across the entire header. Maybe not for > > > > > larger resolutions, but I am using a 1280x1024 laptop LCD monitor > > > > > resolution. > > > > > > My question is simple. One must use the iGoogle Themes API to create > > > > > an intricate theme with a Footer, etc., and to make the theme Dynamic > > > > > if desired. If the simple ThemeMaker can fill the entire header with > > > > > an image, why can't the more complex iGoogle Themes API? I have an > > > > > image. I want it to stretch across the width of the page. It does > > > > > not have a background color. It does not have repeating tiles. It > > > > > does not have a center image. It is one image. If there is already a > > > > > way to do this without the tiles/center and creating a bunch of > > > > > overlapping images, please let me know. So many people are wondering > > > > > about this, I have noticed. > > > > > > If not, then please redesign the iGoogle Themes API to allow a code > > > > > such as "header.stretch_image.url" or "footer.stretch_image.url" in > > > > > which our images will stretch across the entire page like the header > > > > > banner does in the simple ThemeMaker. This would have the effect much > > > > > like a desktop background. You already have the "Center" and "Tile" > > > > > options available, but the one to fill all the space is usually called > > > > > "Stretch". We need this option for our images to look professional in > > > > > our Themes, much like the companies (such as DC Comics) and Google has > > > > > their Themes. If you notice, in the Themes Gallery, most user-created > > > > > Themes have only centered images, with blank outer edges, which do not > > > > > look very professional and are undesired. This would not be the case > > > > > were there an option to "fill" or "stretch" the image in the header/ > > > > > footer. > > > > > > Thank you. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "iGoogle Developer Forum" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Google-Gadgets-API?hl=en.
