Installation

Copy the imgAddText.dll into a location on your server ( \inetpub\imgSuite is a good spot ). Follow the instructions below to add it to the server.

Install Filter

Using the IIS Administration tool, right-click Default Web Site , select Properties, select the ISAPI Filters tab, select Add, type the filter name (for example, “imgAddText”), and browse to imgaddtext.dll for the executable. Click OK, then OK again.

Verify that the filter is properly installed by going back to the ISAPI Filters tab. Verify that the up-arrow next to the filter name is green.

Test Filter

Test the installation of the filter by copying the sample .png (coolbar.png) into a directory accessable by the web server and then request it with the following url: http://localhost/coolbar.png,DXR,217000000400A000,14279616C6,94E6374716C6C60234F6D607C6564756.JPG
This will display a JPEG image with a blue bar behind it ( coolbar.png ) and the text "Install Complete" written on it.

About the Demo Version

If you are using the demo version of imgAddText the words 'demo' and the url to Solutions.nu will be superimposed over the created image. In the purchased version this is not there. You can purchase imgAddText at http://www.solutions.nu/imgSuite

Sample ASP

The file count.asp is included to give you a basic sample of how the filter works. Other language examples will be made available at http://www.solutions.nu/imgSuite

How the filter works

The filter picks up on the phrase "DXR" in a URL call for an image and attempts to translate any commands on the url. There are some simple ASP functions that allow you to create the URL dynamically and quickly.

A file with the same name as the url will be created and written to the folder where the image is so the next identical call will be 'cached'. Future versions will support non-cached direct reply images.

The Functions

The asp file has a couple of prewritten functions to make the calls to the filter easier. Only one of these need be called by you. We encourage modifying the function in anyway to make it easier for you to call in your situation. ( These functions are contained in count.asp and may be copied out to use )

makeimg(imgurl, font, fontsize, align, color,left,top,outputformat,text)

Make image returns the URL for the image with the text added to it. It does not actually make the image, but rather creates a URL that the imgAddText filter will pick up on and use to create the image.

A sample call would be

<img src="<%=makeimg("button.jpg", "Arial", 18, VCENTER OR HCENTER, "000000",0,0,"jpg","Text to display")%>" border="0">

This would return a url to the image button.jpg, it would use the Arial font with a size of 18, center the text vertically and horizontally, with a black color ( 000000 -- uses html colors ) no left or top alignment ( 0,0 ) and output as a jpg file with the text being "Text to Display".

It's as simple as that. Play with the demo--email sales@solutions.nu with questions, and when you are ready go ahead and make the purchase.

The text sent over to the filter is 'muddled' with an asp function called 'muddletext'.

The Constants

Four constants are defined in the ASP file, these are for the text alignment.

RIGHTALIGN

HCENTER

VCENTER

BOTTOMALIGN

Support

For support e-mail sales@solutions.nu

Licensing Options/Pricing

Currently there is only one licensing option, that is per server. The price as of 2/15/2001 is set at $149 and a complete licensed version of the software is available electronically once the purchase is made through RegSoft.

Purchase now online with VISA, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express. Or for more information on foreign currency, phone ordering or other ordering options click here. SECURE ORDERING PROVIDED BY REGSOFT.

Your online purchase entitles you to an electronic copy of the imgAddText DLL and a license to operate it on one server. Please contact sales@solutions.nu for pricing on volume server purchases and/or site licenses.

In version 1.0 the DLL provides basic necessary functionality, and all version 1.0 purchasers will be entitled to free upgrades for one year of the imgAddText program as well as a discount on other products that may become part of the imgSuite.