Making a Stat with a Patterned Background
Part 3
This part of the tutorial will not use the OE Wizard except to turn the html file into an eml file. What we will be doing is using a "template" to create this stat with a patterned background. It is a little more difficult, but if you follow the instructions, you will be able to do it easily. Once you've done it a few times, you will be able to do it with your eyes closed and create beautiful toppers with patterned backgrounds!
If you wish to use my graphics, the zipped file with the topper and the background tile is here. The text or font color is #a5954d. I have also attached the template, here, so all you have to do is follow along and plug in the pathways to your graphics. I will give you step by step instructions on how to do that.
The last thing I have attached, so you can follow along exactly with the tutorial, is the midi I used, here.
Make a file for all of these graphics, and the midi so you can find them easily. Unzip them.
If you are making your own topper, it MUST be 1025 wide by whatever you wish tall. The template requires this width. If you get into the habit of making all your stats this wide, you can always use this template to make your toppers.
Double click on the template and it will open in Notepad...or if you use an editor like HTML Kit editor, open it there. But here is what you should have - minus the arrows and the numbers, of course. You may want to print this out so it's easier to follow:
Don't let this scare you...you've already done most of it on the last stat so you should be familiar with it. But let's take it step by step.
#1) Even though our stat is using a patterned background, we still want to put a color here. Sometimes, as the stat loads in the recipients browser, the color is seen for just a split second. I've chosen orange for my background and if you are using my graphics, you can put #d88a1c here.
#2) You've worked with these before. This information is the font name, the color, the size and where on the stat (the margins) it will go. ; Choose the top margin based on the height of your topper.
#3) This is where the title of the stat goes. You can choose to give your stat a name, or leave it blank. This is optional.
#4)& This is where the path to your midi or wav goes.
I am going to show you how to copy your path very easily so you don't make a mistake in typing it out. Find the file folder where you have your midi. Right click on the midi you wish to use and select "properties" as shown below:
Another window will open. Highlight the location of the midi as shown below, right click and select "copy".
Paste it into notepad where it says "midi goes here".
That will give you only HALF of your path. You still need the name of the midi. So go back and right click on the midi again, go to properties and then highlight the name of the midi and copy it, like so:
Paste the rest of the path into the html coding. Make sure it has .mid at the end and a slash between the path and the name of the midi. This is what that entire path should look like, substituting your path and midi name, of course:
BGSOUND balance=0 loop=infinite src="D:\PSP\Midis\winterpeace_JimBrickman.mid" volume=-900>