WildView - HelpDesk Demo

elpDesk Demo

This HelpDesk demonstration illustrates how WildView can be used to implement a simple Help Desk application that can route problems to support personnel.

The applet's initial display show three department buttons. When a department button is clicked, a department specific display is loaded that lists problem areas for which the user can obtain assistance. When a problem area is clicked, a pre-configured WildView Java email window is loaded that allows the user to request help.

The demonstration applet shown below uses CGI program that resides on the Modern Minds web site. If you are not viewing this demonstration on the Modern Minds site, then you will not be able to send an email message using the applet. If you would like to try the fully functional demonstration, you may load the page from the Modern Minds site (you must have an active Internet connection in order to load the page).

pplet Tag

The applet tag for the HelpDesk demo is shown below.

<APPLET CODEBASE="../../Java" WIDTH="250" HEIGHT="225" CODE="WildViewApplet.class"> <PARAM NAME="color"VALUE="666666"> <PARAM NAME="panelSet1" VALUE="DocExamples/HelpDesk/HelpDesk.TXT"> <PARAM NAME="panelSet2" VALUE="DocExamples/HelpDesk/Sales.TXT"> <PARAM NAME="panelSet3" VALUE="DocExamples/HelpDesk/Marketing.TXT"> <PARAM NAME="panelSet4" VALUE="DocExamples/HelpDesk/Accounting.TXT"> </APPLET>

anel Set File

The HelpDesk demo uses a primary panel set that serves as a directory ("HelpDesk.TXT") and three department specific panel sets ("Sales.TXT," "Marketing.TXT," and "Accounting.TXT").

The primary directory panel set is shown below, followed by one department specific panel set (all of the department specific panel sets are similar).

"HelpDesk.TXT" Panel Set

<!-- *** TITLE ***> <PANEL name=Staging module="WVPanelText" w=240 h=40 hidden=true background=000000 fontStyle=bold align=middle justify=center> <PANEL name=fx module="WVPanelFx" x=5 y=5 w=240 h=40 clock=50 frames=10 sourcePanel=Staging sourceX=0 sourceY=0 sourceW=240 sourceH=40> <PANEL name=loopcontrol module="WVPanelTimer" loop=1> <TRIGGER panel=Staging text="Ask the HelpDesk" fontColor=ff0000 fontSize=21> <TRIGGER panel=fx effect=down> <WAIT timeout=20> <TRIGGER panel=Staging text="Please select your Department..." fontColor=ff00ff fontSize=14 fontStyle=bold+italic> <TRIGGER panel=fx effect=up loop=9999 fLoopDelay=4000 rLoopDelay=1000> <!-- *** DEPARTMENT 1: SALES ***> <PANEL name=Dept1Frame module="WVPanelFrame" x=2 y=47 w=246 h=36 size=3 color1=666666> <PANEL name=Dept1 module="WVPanelText" x=5 y=50 w=240 h=30 background=000000 fontColor=666666 fontSize=14 fontStyle=bold align=middle justify=center> Sales Department <PANEL name=Dept1Action module="WVPanelTrigger" x=5 y=50 w=240 h=30> <TRIGGER event=buttonUp panel=Dept1Frame color1=999999 color2=444444> <TRIGGER event=buttonUp panel=Dept1 fontColor=d0d0d0 background=252525> <TRIGGER event=buttonUp panelSet="DocExamples/HelpDesk/Sales.TXT" stop=true loadMessage="Loading Sales HelpDesk"> <TRIGGER event=buttonDown panel=Dept1Frame color1=444444 color2=999999> <TRIGGER event=buttonDown panel=Dept1 fontColor=b0b0b0 background=151515> <TRIGGER event=mouseExit panel=Dept1 fontColor=666666 background=000000> <TRIGGER event=mouseExit panel=Dept1Frame color1=666666 color2=666666> <TRIGGER event=mouseExit panel=Desc text=" "> <TRIGGER event=mouseEnter panel=Dept1 fontColor=d0d0d0 background=252525> <TRIGGER event=mouseEnter panel=Dept1Frame color1=999999 color2=444444> <TRIGGER event=mouseEnter panel=Desc fontSize=12 fontStyle=bold align=top justify=left text="Margaret Skoller will be handling the Help Desk this month for the Sales Department."> <!-- *** DEPARTMENT 2: MARKETING ***> <PANEL name=Dept2Frame module="WVPanelFrame" x=2 y=82 w=246 h=36 size=3 color1=666666> <PANEL name=Dept2 module="WVPanelText" x=5 y=85 w=240 h=30 background=000000 fontColor=666666 fontSize=14 fontStyle=bold align=middle justify=center> Marketing Department <PANEL name=Dept2Action module="WVPanelTrigger" x=5 y=85 w=240 h=30> <TRIGGER event=buttonUp panel=Dept2Frame color1=999999 color2=444444> <TRIGGER event=buttonUp panel=Dept2 fontColor=d0d0d0 background=252525> <TRIGGER event=buttonUp panelSet="DocExamples/HelpDesk/Marketing.TXT" stop=true loadMessage="Loading Marketing HelpDesk"> <TRIGGER event=buttonDown panel=Dept2Frame color1=444444 color2=999999> <TRIGGER event=buttonDown panel=Dept2 fontColor=b0b0b0 background=151515> <TRIGGER event=mouseExit panel=Dept2 fontColor=666666 background=000000> <TRIGGER event=mouseExit panel=Dept2Frame color1=666666 color2=666666> <TRIGGER event=mouseExit panel=Desc text=" "> <TRIGGER event=mouseEnter panel=Dept2 fontColor=d0d0d0 background=252525> <TRIGGER event=mouseEnter panel=Dept2Frame color1=999999 color2=444444> <TRIGGER event=mouseEnter panel=Desc fontSize=12 fontStyle=bold align=top justify=left text="C.L. Moore, who finished last in the sales contest, will be working the Marketing Help Desk."> <!-- *** DEPARTMENT 3: ACCOUNTING ***> <PANEL name=Dept3Frame module="WVPanelFrame" x=2 y=117 w=246 h=36 size=3 color1=666666> <PANEL name=Dept3 module="WVPanelText" x=5 y=120 w=240 h=30 background=000000 fontColor=666666 fontSize=14 fontStyle=bold align=middle justify=center> Accounting Department <PANEL name=Dept3Action module="WVPanelTrigger" x=5 y=120 w=240 h=30> <TRIGGER event=buttonUp panel=Dept3Frame color1=999999 color2=444444> <TRIGGER event=buttonUp panel=Dept3 fontColor=d0d0d0 background=252525> <TRIGGER event=buttonUp panelSet="DocExamples/HelpDesk/Accounting.TXT" stop=true loadMessage="Loading Accounting HelpDesk"> <TRIGGER event=buttonDown panel=Dept3Frame color1=444444 color2=999999> <TRIGGER event=buttonDown panel=Dept3 fontColor=b0b0b0 background=151515> <TRIGGER event=mouseExit panel=Dept3 fontColor=666666 background=000000> <TRIGGER event=mouseExit panel=Dept3Frame color1=666666 color2=666666> <TRIGGER event=mouseExit panel=Desc text=" "> <TRIGGER event=mouseEnter panel=Dept3 fontColor=d0d0d0 background=252525> <TRIGGER event=mouseEnter panel=Dept3Frame color1=999999 color2=444444> <TRIGGER event=mouseEnter panel=Desc fontSize=12 fontStyle=bold align=top justify=left text="Johnny James will be filling in for his father, Jimmy, who is currently serving a 6 month prison sentence."> <!-- *** DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION ***> <PANEL name=DescReset module="WVPanelTrigger" x=5 y=50 w=240 h=100 event=mouseExit panel=Desc text="How May We Assist You?" fontSize=18 fontStyle=italic align=middle justify=center> <PANEL name=DescFrame module="WVPanelFrame" x=2 y=153 w=246 h=70 background=000000 size=3 color1=999999 color2=444444> <PANEL name=Desc module="WVPanelText" x=10 y=161 w=230 h=54 fontColor=c0c0c0 fontSize=18 fontStyle=italic align=middle justify=center> How May We Assist You?

Notes

The animated HelpDesk title text was created by using a WVPanelFx panel named "Fx," which has a hidden WVPanelText panel ("Staging") as its source. The WVPanelTimer panel (named "LoopControl") "programs" the WVPanelFx panel animation by sending a series of triggers to the WVPanelFx and WVPanelText panels (note that the loop attribute is set to "1" so that the triggers are only executed once). The final trigger tells the WVPanelFx panel to repeat the animation loop 9999 times, so the animation will run constantly.
Each of the department "buttons" is created by using a WVPanelFrame panel and a WVPanelText panel. The button animation is controlled by a WVPanelTrigger panel, which also handles displaying the descriptive text at the bottom of the display when the mouse is over the button, and loading the appropriate panel set when the button is clicked.
When a department button is clicked, the appropriate department panel set is loaded by a trigger in the button's WVPanelTrigger panel. The trigger specifies the panel set to load using the path and file name of the panel set (the path and file name must exactly match the panelSet attribute in the applet tag). Note that the panel set number (as identified in the applet tag) could have been used instead of specifying the path and file name, but using the path and file name has the benefit of loading the correct panel set even if the panel sets are re-ordered in the applet tag.
The department description WVPanelText panel (named "Desc") is initialized to the text "How May We Assist You?" Whenever the mouse is moved over a department button, the text is changed by a trigger sent to the panel by the department button's WVPanelTrigger panel. When the mouse is moved away from all buttons (e.g., when the mouse is moved out of the applet area), the WVPanelTrigger panel named "DescReset" resets the text to "How May We Assist You?" Notice that since this WVPanelTrigger panel only sends a single trigger, there is no need for a <TRIGGER> subtag (i.e., all of the trigger information is included in the panel tag).

"Sales.TXT" Panel Set

<!-- *** TITLE ***> <PANEL name=Title module="WVPanelText" x=5 y=5 w=240 h=40 background=000000 blink=3 clock=200 fontColor=d0d0d0 fontSize=21 fontStyle=bold align=middle justify=center> Sales HelpDesk <!-- *** PROBLEM CATEGORY 1 ***> <PANEL name=Cat1Frame module="WVPanelFrame" x=2 y=47 w=246 h=26 size=3 color1=666666> <PANEL name=Cat1 module="WVPanelText" x=5 y=50 w=240 h=20 background=000000 fontColor=666666 fontSize=12 fontStyle=bold align=middle justify=center> PC Related Problem <PANEL name=Cat1Action module="WVPanelTrigger" x=5 y=50 w=240 h=20> <TRIGGER event=mouseExit panel=Cat1 fontColor=666666 background=000000> <TRIGGER event=mouseExit panel=Cat1Frame color1=666666 color2=666666> <TRIGGER event=mouseEnter panel=Cat1 fontColor=ff0000 background=252525> <TRIGGER event=mouseEnter panel=Cat1Frame color1=999999 color2=444444> <TRIGGER event=buttonDown panel=Cat1Frame color1=444444 color2=999999> <TRIGGER event=buttonDown panel=Cat1 fontColor=dd0000 background=151515> <TRIGGER event=buttonUp panel=Cat1Frame color1=999999 color2=444444> <TRIGGER event=buttonUp panel=Cat1 fontColor=ff0000 background=252525> <TRIGGER event=buttonUp panel=EMail showNow=true updatenow=true subject="Sales Department PC Problem" message="Please enter a description of the problem that you are experiencing with your PC."> <!-- *** PROBLEM CATEGORY 2 ***> <PANEL name=Cat2Frame module="WVPanelFrame" x=2 y=73 w=246 h=26 size=3 color1=666666> <PANEL name=Cat2 module="WVPanelText" x=5 y=76 w=240 h=20 background=000000 fontColor=666666 fontSize=12 fontStyle=bold align=middle justify=center> Sign-on or Communications Problem <PANEL name=Cat2Action module="WVPanelTrigger" x=5 y=76 w=240 h=20> <TRIGGER event=mouseExit panel=Cat2 fontColor=666666 background=000000> <TRIGGER event=mouseExit panel=Cat2Frame color1=666666 color2=666666> <TRIGGER event=mouseEnter panel=Cat2 fontColor=ff0000 background=252525> <TRIGGER event=mouseEnter panel=Cat2Frame color1=999999 color2=444444> <TRIGGER event=buttonDown panel=Cat2Frame color1=444444 color2=999999> <TRIGGER event=buttonDown panel=Cat2 fontColor=dd0000 background=151515> <TRIGGER event=buttonUp panel=Cat2Frame color1=999999 color2=444444> <TRIGGER event=buttonUp panel=Cat2 fontColor=ff0000 background=252525> <TRIGGER event=buttonUp panel=EMail showNow=true updatenow=true subject="Sales Department Sign-on or Communications Problem" message="Please describe the sign-on or communications problem that you are experiencing."> <!-- *** PROBLEM CATEGORY 3 ***> <PANEL name=Cat3Frame module="WVPanelFrame" x=2 y=99 w=246 h=26 size=3 color1=666666> <PANEL name=Cat3 module="WVPanelText" x=5 y=102 w=240 h=20 background=000000 fontColor=666666 fontSize=12 fontStyle=bold align=middle justify=center> Mainframe Inventory System Problem <PANEL name=Cat3Action module="WVPanelTrigger" x=5 y=102 w=240 h=20> <TRIGGER event=mouseExit panel=Cat3 fontColor=666666 background=000000> <TRIGGER event=mouseExit panel=Cat3Frame color1=666666 color2=666666> <TRIGGER event=mouseEnter panel=Cat3 fontColor=ff0000 background=252525> <TRIGGER event=mouseEnter panel=Cat3Frame color1=999999 color2=444444> <TRIGGER event=buttonDown panel=Cat3Frame color1=444444 color2=999999> <TRIGGER event=buttonDown panel=Cat3 fontColor=dd0000 background=151515> <TRIGGER event=buttonUp panel=Cat3Frame color1=999999 color2=444444> <TRIGGER event=buttonUp panel=Cat3 fontColor=ff0000 background=252525> <TRIGGER event=buttonUp panel=EMail showNow=true updatenow=true subject="Sales Department Mainframe Inventory System Problem" message="Please describe the module or function that is causing a problem in the Inventory System."> <!-- *** RETURN TO MAIN HELPDESK ***> <PANEL name=HDFrame module="WVPanelFrame" x=2 y=125 w=246 h=26 size=3 color1=666666> <PANEL name=HD module="WVPanelText" x=5 y=128 w=240 h=20 background=000000 blink=enter fontColor=666666 fontSize=12 fontStyle=bold align=middle justify=center clock=150> Return to Main HelpDesk <PANEL name=HDAction module="WVPanelTrigger" x=5 y=128 w=240 h=20> <TRIGGER event=buttonUp panel=HDFrame color1=999999 color2=444444> <TRIGGER event=buttonUp panel=HD fontColor=ffff00 background=252525> <TRIGGER event=buttonUp panelSet=1 stop=true loadMessage="Returning to Main HelpDesk"> <TRIGGER event=buttonDown panel=HDFrame color1=444444 color2=999999> <TRIGGER event=buttonDown panel=HD fontColor=dddd00 background=151515> <TRIGGER event=mouseExit panel=HD fontColor=666666 background=000000> <TRIGGER event=mouseExit panel=HDFrame color1=666666 color2=666666> <TRIGGER event=mouseEnter panel=HD fontColor=ffff00 background=252525> <TRIGGER event=mouseEnter panel=HDFrame color1=999999 color2=444444> <!-- *** HELP DESK EMPLOYEE ***> <PANEL name=EmpPhoto module="WVPanelImage" x=10 y=163 w=50 h=50 displayX=0 displayY=0 displayW=50 displayH=50 image="DocExamples/HelpDesk/Margaret.JPG"> <PANEL name=EmpFrame module="WVPanelFrame" x=2 y=153 w=246 h=70 background=000000 size=3 color1=999999 color2=444444> <PANEL name=EmpText module="WVPanelVScroll" x=70 y=162 w=170 h=54 clock=50 fontSize=12 leading=-3 fontColor=d0d0d0 pause=enter> Hi! My name is Margaret Skoller, and I'll be assisting you with your problem. Please select a problem category from the options above, and click on the appropriate button. This will allow you to send an email message to me so that I can assist you. Currently, the expected turn-around time is within 24 hours. <!-- *** E-MAIL SUPPORT ***> <PANEL name=EMail module="WVPanelMail" title="Sales Department HelpDesk Request" toName="Margaret Skoller" toAddr=mskoller@modernminds.com buttonText="Submit Request" editable=true cgi="WVMail.cgi">

Notes

The department specific panel sets are similar to the HelpDesk directory panel set, with the major difference being that when a button is clicked the department specific panel sets launch a Java email client for sending email instead of loading another panel set.

mage Files

The image files used by the HelpDesk demo are shown below.