The Daily WTF: Curious Perversions in Information Technology

Andy Goth · 2009-03-30 Reply Admin

kastein:
they should have included a noscript tag with a shockwave plugin doing a runtime rendering of the same animated image just in case.

And as a last-ditch failsafe, maybe fall back on an animated GIF? Naah. It's more portable to use ASCII art with embedded <blink> and <marquee> tags to simulate animation.

RHuckster · 2009-03-30 Reply Admin

There are actually certain times where this method of animating images would be beneficial:

If you wanted to pause or stop an image partway into the animation
If you wanted to finetune the speed of the animation on runtime
If you wanted to actually make the animation indicate whether the javascript is still responding (which often times is the reason you animate loading images in the first place!)
Animated GIFs have a speed limit when rendered in most browsers. If you want the animation have an increased framerate, you need to use this method.

That being said, if those reasons don't apply, it's best to "just use a freaken animated GIF"

2009-03-30 Reply Admin

Run This:
Remind me again why we need that cute dancing cartoon? Oh yeah it is to reassure the timid little untrainable luser that his precious report is still running. Even if it isn't. Damn lying GUI designers. Hey but at least it's colorful.

I worked with a web programmer once that had a sense of humor about it, and our "please wait" animation was one of several silly things, silliest one being a dancing frog playing a banjo.

LightStyx · 2009-03-30 Reply Admin

whatever:
LightStyx:
First...

LightStyx:
Now for the comment...
here's an easy way around that... just create the gif animation in GIMP as one file then stick it in there. Why would one need programming to animate a gif when they themselves are already animated?

O....M......G......!!!!

You submit a 'first post' which is soooo lame it's ludicrous, and then 4 minutes later post a comment that is spelled out right there in the article.

Wow.

Holy #$%#ing CRAP! Could it be that someone like myself could have missed the last line? Oh t3h no3z COMMON MISTAKE! Let's all point and laugh at the retard and regurgitate the same comment that everyone else has ALREADY SAID so we aren't left out in the lynching and we can all feel better about ourselves for blowing up a situation that was all a simple mistake.

Please sir... do englighten me! Teach me the ways of how I can be like you and be an idiot that just jumps to conclusions with the sole intent of trying to be cool. I MUST KNOW!

Addendum (2009-03-30 12:11): OBVIOUS TYPO: enlighten*

2009-03-30 Reply Admin

Boy, that global variable is evil.

I'd recommend something like

function Animate(animFrame) {
   var img = document.getElementById('Logo');
   img.src = 'Template/Wait0' + animFrame + '.gif';
   setTimeout('Animate(animFrame % 6 + 1);', 200);
}

and call it like Animate(1) in the first place.

2009-03-30 Reply Admin

I haven't done recursive calls in javascript yet, but would a VERY long load cause a stack overflow?

2009-03-30 Reply Admin

LightStyx:
do englighten me!

AAAAAAAAAAAARGHHHH!!! HE'S DOING IT ON PURPOSE!

Where are you, spelling nazis, when we need you?

2009-03-30 Reply Admin

These GIF's can use animation hack for more than 256 colors and because of this direct animation can be impossible.

2009-03-30 Reply Admin

Ben:
I haven't done recursive calls in javascript yet, but would a VERY long load cause a stack overflow?

I'm pretty sure this would result in tail recursion (equivalent of iteration); the stack wouldn't be utilized at all.

2009-03-30 Reply Admin

i feel a poo coming on

2009-03-30 Reply Admin

I'm sorry, I was busy exterminating dangling participle's

What was it you wanted?

2009-03-30 Reply Admin

M C Spanner:
HVS:
Actually, there is a perfectly good reason to do this. If you have a "report running" page that has been submitted, Firefox will often stop all running animations on the page. This is not a problem in IE. By doing it with javascript, it avoids this problem.

or use the animated gif and re-set the source of the image on submit and it'll keep going

As someone else asked, it was IE6 that would lock animations, and I'm all but certain the above approach would not work.

I had to make a modification to an app that did all this as a hack (this was way pre-ajax):

The user clicks submit
The client sets the gif image (but it doesn't start animating).
A server handler starts an asynch process and returns a javascript handler for when the process finishes.
Now the image on the client starts animating.
The client javascript handler fires when the asynch process finishes and the gif is hidden.

Today's wtf is much better (with or w/o the rafactorings).

Sutherlands · 2009-03-30 Reply Admin

notromda:
illtiz:
cdosrun:
illtiz:
Bobbo:
illtiz:
LightStyx:
Now for the comment...
here's an easy way around that... just create the gif animation in GIMP as one file then stick it in there. Why would one need programming to animate a gif when they themselves are already animated?

Is it me or does the article point that out itself?

But kudos on being Fist.

Hang on, doesn't it say that in the article?

Come to think of it, the article mentions the same thing already.

Check out http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx for an easy alternative to animated GIFs

Thanks! Also, more useful information and links can be found at http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx

Be careful with the code in that link - the whole thing could have been replaced by an animated gif.

My sister had a problem with animated gifs, once. I went over to her house and set fire to her computer. Now she doesn't call me with gif problems anymore.

2009-03-30 Reply Admin

JG:
There seems to be more WTF's in the comments then there were in the article :S

You must be new here.

2009-03-30 Reply Admin

PHB: "See what happen when I hit ESC? This animation stopped. I want this fixed!"

Hence the WTF.

2009-03-30 Reply Admin

LightStyx:

Holy #$%#ing CRAP! Could it be that someone like myself could have missed the last line? Oh t3h no3z COMMON MISTAKE! Let's all point and laugh at the retard and regurgitate the same comment that everyone else has ALREADY SAID so we aren't left out in the lynching and we can all feel better about ourselves for blowing up a situation that was all a simple mistake.

Please sir... do englighten me! Teach me the ways of how I can be like you and be an idiot that just jumps to conclusions with the sole intent of trying to be cool. I MUST KNOW!

Addendum (2009-03-30 12:11): OBVIOUS TYPO: enlighten*

Hmmm, well, perhaps you missed that line in your rush to add a coveted "First post (with no content)" to your collection of l33t online victories.

2009-03-30 Reply Admin

I work on same project. Plz send teh codez!

2009-03-30 Reply Admin

[quote user="whatever"][quote user="LightStyx"]

Please sir... do englighten me! Teach me the ways of how I can be like you and be an idiot that just jumps to conclusions with the sole intent of trying to be cool. I MUST KNOW! [/quote]

I think you have the 'idiot who jumps... with the sole intent of trying to be cool' part covered with your first post, there.

savar · 2009-03-30 Reply Admin

LightStyx:
First...

Was the whole "it took me an hour" anecdote a joke? This is one of the most obvious WTFs I've seen.

Archimidas · 2009-03-30 Reply Admin

notromda:
illtiz:
cdosrun:
illtiz:
Bobbo:
illtiz:
LightStyx:
Now for the comment...
here's an easy way around that... just create the gif animation in GIMP as one file then stick it in there. Why would one need programming to animate a gif when they themselves are already animated?

Is it me or does the article point that out itself?

But kudos on being Fist.

Hang on, doesn't it say that in the article?

Come to think of it, the article mentions the same thing already.

Check out http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx for an easy alternative to animated GIFs

Thanks! Also, more useful information and links can be found at http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx

Be careful with the code in that link - the whole thing could have been replaced by an animated gif.

Hey did you know there's an easy way around that? just create the gif animation in GIMP as one file then stick it in there. Why would one need programming to animate a gif when they themselves are already animated?

2009-03-30 Reply Admin

Ironic:
The ajaxload.info site is broken - I get stuck with this crappy loading animation whenever I try to click something.

Well played, sir or madam. :)

ContraCorners · 2009-03-30 Reply Admin

brrr:
Archimidas:
notromda:
illtiz:
cdosrun:
illtiz:
Bobbo:
illtiz:
LightStyx:
Now for the comment...
here's an easy way around that... just create the gif animation in GIMP as one file then stick it in there. Why would one need programming to animate a gif when they themselves are already animated?

Is it me or does the article point that out itself?

But kudos on being Fist.

Hang on, doesn't it say that in the article?

Come to think of it, the article mentions the same thing already.

Check out http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx for an easy alternative to animated GIFs

Thanks! Also, more useful information and links can be found at http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx

Be careful with the code in that link - the whole thing could have been replaced by an animated gif.

Hey did you know there's an easy way around that? just create the gif animation in GIMP as one file then stick it in there. Why would one need programming to animate a gif when they themselves are already animated?
For a complete story, you should check out http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2#252413.

Isn't there a way to create an GIF that's already animated?

hatterson · 2009-03-30 Reply Admin

ContraCorners:
brrr:
Archimidas:
notromda:
illtiz:
cdosrun:
illtiz:
Bobbo:
illtiz:
LightStyx:
Now for the comment...
here's an easy way around that... just create the gif animation in GIMP as one file then stick it in there. Why would one need programming to animate a gif when they themselves are already animated?

Is it me or does the article point that out itself?

But kudos on being Fist.

Hang on, doesn't it say that in the article?

Come to think of it, the article mentions the same thing already.

Check out http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx for an easy alternative to animated GIFs

Thanks! Also, more useful information and links can be found at http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx

Be careful with the code in that link - the whole thing could have been replaced by an animated gif.

Hey did you know there's an easy way around that? just create the gif animation in GIMP as one file then stick it in there. Why would one need programming to animate a gif when they themselves are already animated?
For a complete story, you should check out http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2#252413.
Isn't there a way to create an GIF that's already animated?

I think http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2#252416 quotes some articles that explain it

ContraCorners · 2009-03-30 Reply Admin

Anon:
hatterson:
ContraCorners:
brrr:
Archimidas:
notromda:
illtiz:
cdosrun:
illtiz:
Bobbo:
illtiz:
LightStyx:
Now for the comment...
here's an easy way around that... just create the gif animation in GIMP as one file then stick it in there. Why would one need programming to animate a gif when they themselves are already animated?

Is it me or does the article point that out itself?

But kudos on being Fist.

Hang on, doesn't it say that in the article?

Come to think of it, the article mentions the same thing already.

Check out http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx for an easy alternative to animated GIFs

Thanks! Also, more useful information and links can be found at http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx

Be careful with the code in that link - the whole thing could have been replaced by an animated gif.

Hey did you know there's an easy way around that? just create the gif animation in GIMP as one file then stick it in there. Why would one need programming to animate a gif when they themselves are already animated?
For a complete story, you should check out http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2#252413.
Isn't there a way to create an GIF that's already animated?
I think http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2#252416 quotes some articles that explain it
You know what would be really funny? If people keep nesting quotes over and over, repeating the same comments. Hilarious.

Nah, that would be stupid.

Spectre · 2009-03-30 Reply Admin

MNG FTW!

ContraCorners · 2009-03-30 Reply Admin

Jon:
ContraCorners:
Anon:
hatterson:
ContraCorners:
brrr:
Archimidas:
notromda:
illtiz:
cdosrun:
illtiz:
Bobbo:
illtiz:
LightStyx:
Now for the comment...
here's an easy way around that... just create the gif animation in GIMP as one file then stick it in there. Why would one need programming to animate a gif when they themselves are already animated?

But kudos on being Fist.

Hang on, doesn't it say that in the article?

Come to think of it, the article mentions the same thing already.

Check out http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx for an easy alternative to animated GIFs

Thanks! Also, more useful information and links can be found at http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx

Be careful with the code in that link - the whole thing could have been replaced by an animated gif.

Hey did you know there's an easy way around that? just create the gif animation in GIMP as one file then stick it in there. Why would one need programming to animate a gif when they themselves are already animated?
For a complete story, you should check out http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2#252413.
Isn't there a way to create an GIF that's already animated?
I think http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2#252416 quotes some articles that explain it
You know what would be really funny? If people keep nesting quotes over and over, repeating the same comments. Hilarious.
Nah, that would be stupid.
If you want to see stupid try this: http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2

That one's not a stupid as http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2#252425.

hatterson · 2009-03-30 Reply Admin

D C Ross:
ContraCorners:
Jon:
ContraCorners:
Anon:
hatterson:
ContraCorners:
brrr:
Archimidas:
notromda:
illtiz:
cdosrun:
illtiz:
Bobbo:
illtiz:
LightStyx:
Now for the comment...
here's an easy way around that... just create the gif animation in GIMP as one file then stick it in there. Why would one need programming to animate a gif when they themselves are already animated?

But kudos on being Fist.

Hang on, doesn't it say that in the article?

Come to think of it, the article mentions the same thing already.

Check out http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx for an easy alternative to animated GIFs

Thanks! Also, more useful information and links can be found at http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx

Be careful with the code in that link - the whole thing could have been replaced by an animated gif.

Hey did you know there's an easy way around that? just create the gif animation in GIMP as one file then stick it in there. Why would one need programming to animate a gif when they themselves are already animated?
For a complete story, you should check out http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2#252413.
Isn't there a way to create an GIF that's already animated?
I think http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2#252416 quotes some articles that explain it
You know what would be really funny? If people keep nesting quotes over and over, repeating the same comments. Hilarious.
Nah, that would be stupid.
If you want to see stupid try this: http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2

That one's not a stupid as http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2#252425.

If only there was an xkcd comic about this.

I think someone already was looking into this. Check it out: http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2#252426

ContraCorners · 2009-03-30 Reply Admin

hatterson:
D C Ross:
ContraCorners:
Jon:
ContraCorners:
Anon:
hatterson:
ContraCorners:
brrr:
Archimidas:
notromda:
illtiz:
cdosrun:
illtiz:
Bobbo:
illtiz:
LightStyx:
Now for the comment...
here's an easy way around that... just create the gif animation in GIMP as one file then stick it in there. Why would one need programming to animate a gif when they themselves are already animated?

But kudos on being Fist.

Hang on, doesn't it say that in the article?

Come to think of it, the article mentions the same thing already.

Check out http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx for an easy alternative to animated GIFs

Thanks! Also, more useful information and links can be found at http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx

Be careful with the code in that link - the whole thing could have been replaced by an animated gif.

Hey did you know there's an easy way around that? just create the gif animation in GIMP as one file then stick it in there. Why would one need programming to animate a gif when they themselves are already animated?
For a complete story, you should check out http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2#252413.
Isn't there a way to create an GIF that's already animated?
I think http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2#252416 quotes some articles that explain it
You know what would be really funny? If people keep nesting quotes over and over, repeating the same comments. Hilarious.
Nah, that would be stupid.
If you want to see stupid try this: http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2

That one's not a stupid as http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2#252425.

If only there was an xkcd comic about this.
I think someone already was looking into this. Check it out: http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2#252426

I don't understand, hatterson. Your link doesn't bring me to xkcd.

LightStyx · 2009-03-30 Reply Admin

[quote user="rofl"][quote user="whatever"][quote user="LightStyx"]

Please sir... do englighten me! Teach me the ways of how I can be like you and be an idiot that just jumps to conclusions with the sole intent of trying to be cool. I MUST KNOW! [/quote]

I think you have the 'idiot who jumps... with the sole intent of trying to be cool' part covered with your first post, there.[/quote]

Look folks, we have another idiot who completely misquotes and misconstrues what people type in forums... sorry but you fail.

The correct version is: Teach me the ways of how I can be like you and be an idiot that just jumps to conclusions with the sole intent of trying to be cool.

hatterson · 2009-03-30 Reply Admin

ContraCorners:
hatterson:
D C Ross:
ContraCorners:
Jon:
ContraCorners:
Anon:
hatterson:
ContraCorners:
brrr:
Archimidas:
notromda:
illtiz:
cdosrun:
illtiz:
Bobbo:
illtiz:
LightStyx:
Now for the comment...
here's an easy way around that... just create the gif animation in GIMP as one file then stick it in there. Why would one need programming to animate a gif when they themselves are already animated?

But kudos on being Fist.

Hang on, doesn't it say that in the article?

Come to think of it, the article mentions the same thing already.

Check out http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx for an easy alternative to animated GIFs

Thanks! Also, more useful information and links can be found at http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx

Be careful with the code in that link - the whole thing could have been replaced by an animated gif.

Hey did you know there's an easy way around that? just create the gif animation in GIMP as one file then stick it in there. Why would one need programming to animate a gif when they themselves are already animated?
For a complete story, you should check out http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2#252413.
Isn't there a way to create an GIF that's already animated?
I think http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2#252416 quotes some articles that explain it
You know what would be really funny? If people keep nesting quotes over and over, repeating the same comments. Hilarious.
Nah, that would be stupid.
If you want to see stupid try this: http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2

That one's not a stupid as http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2#252425.

If only there was an xkcd comic about this.
I think someone already was looking into this. Check it out: http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2#252426

I don't understand, hatterson. Your link doesn't bring me to xkcd.

You're right, but it does link to a post where someone was talking about xkcd in reference to animating gifs.

That reminds me of a project of mine. I was thinking of taking some xkcd comics, converting them to gifs and then stringing them together to make a sort of animated slide show. I found some sample code here http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx What do you think?

C4I_Officer · 2009-03-30 Reply Admin

illvm:
Maybe the original code was to support animated PNGs in a browser that *still* doesn't support them.

Just when I was to write about how they were trying to make animated PNGs...TRWTF is I didn't know they actually existed. Well...outside of IE, at least ;-)

Pim · 2009-03-30 Reply Admin

OK, but seriously now. Nobody has yet commented on the fact that GIF animation can be switched off in most browsers, and that this program may be an attempt to circumvent that. GIF animation, even in a browser that has it switched off.

And if the webpage would start out with displaying a real animated GIF to begin with, it would catch the case where Javascript is turned off. Then, if it really really wants to do animation, it needs to cater to browsers that have both javascript and animated gifs disabled. We could make a Flash animation for that.

Unless Flash is disabled too. Let me think. Wait a minute, how about refreshing the whole page every 200 ms?

2009-03-30 Reply Admin

Pim:
OK, but seriously now. Nobody has yet commented on the fact that GIF animation can be switched off in most browsers, and that this program may be an attempt to circumvent that. GIF animation, even in a browser that has it switched off.
And if the webpage would start out with displaying a real animated GIF to begin with, it would catch the case where Javascript is turned off. Then, if it really really wants to do animation, it needs to cater to browsers that have both javascript and animated gifs disabled. We could make a Flash animation for that.

Unless Flash is disabled too. Let me think. Wait a minute, how about refreshing the whole page every 200 ms?

If you did this using animated ASCII art instead of this newfangeled Flash and Javascript stuff, could it actually work?

2009-03-30 Reply Admin

Google did exactly the same thing with their chat smileys when they were first introduced. I don't know why though.

C4I_Officer · 2009-03-30 Reply Admin

Don't you just love web languages and standards?

2009-03-30 Reply Admin

this comment thread could serve as a warning to all future CS students..."do you see what you may end up preferring spending your time on?"

2009-03-30 Reply Admin

RHuckster:
There are actually certain times where this method of animating images would be beneficial:

If you wanted to pause or stop an image partway into the animation

If you wanted to finetune the speed of the animation on runtime

If you wanted to actually make the animation indicate whether the javascript is still responding (which often times is the reason you animate loading images in the first place!)

Animated GIFs have a speed limit when rendered in most browsers. If you want the animation have an increased framerate, you need to use this method.

That being said, if those reasons don't apply, it's best to "just use a freaken animated GIF"

Other reasons...

Enable use of PNG/JPG based animations
Support platforms that supported JS but not animated GIF (though I can't think of an example)

2009-03-30 Reply Admin

A nitpick:

setTimeout("Animate()",200);

should be:

setTimeout(Animate,200);

2009-03-30 Reply Admin

clearInterval(createRecursiveComments);

Who left this running all night again?!

2009-03-30 Reply Admin

Who needs semi-colons anyway.

function Animate(i){setTimeout(Animate,200,i=i?(1+i%6):1,document.getElementById("Logo").src='Template/Wait0'+i+'.gif')}

lolwtf · 2009-03-30 Reply Admin

Ted:
Smash King:
Ted:
illtiz:
cdosrun:
illtiz:
Bobbo:
illtiz:
LightStyx:
Now for the comment...
here's an easy way around that... just create the gif animation in GIMP as one file then stick it in there. Why would one need programming to animate a gif when they themselves are already animated?

Is it me or does the article point that out itself?

But kudos on being Fist.

Hang on, doesn't it say that in the article?

Come to think of it, the article mentions the same thing already.

Check out http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx for an easy alternative to animated GIFs

Thanks! Also, more useful information and links can be found at http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx

Thanks! I was trying to remember where it was I read about this and could only vaguely rememebr a TDWFT article...
And there's another useful option in that article's comments, posted by LightStyx (IIRC).

...or old faithful google yields some good results (first listing)

http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx also has a bunch of links to articles on this subject.

2009-03-30 Reply Admin

Maybe it stops animating images because it receives the headers for the next page from the web server and it unloads the animations and things that are no longer needed, in preparation for rendering this incoming page.

Firefox can't predict the report will take a while to load, the incoming page with the report should output a layer with a loading image and then start generating the report and then dumping it to the user.

digdan · 2009-03-30 Reply Admin

if ($_SERVER["HTTP_HOST"] != "http://www.wtfchuck.com") { die('Wrong website'); }

2009-03-30 Reply Admin

Ham9ish:
stiggy:
Martin:
hatterson:
ContraCorners:
hatterson:
D C Ross:
ContraCorners:
Jon:
ContraCorners:
Anon:
hatterson:
ContraCorners:
brrr:
Archimidas:
notromda:
illtiz:
cdosrun:
illtiz:
Bobbo:
illtiz:
LightStyx:
Now for the comment...
here's an easy way around that... just create the gif animation in GIMP as one file then stick it in there. Why would one need programming to animate a gif when they themselves are already animated?

But kudos on being Fist.

Hang on, doesn't it say that in the article?

Come to think of it, the article mentions the same thing already.

Check out http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx for an easy alternative to animated GIFs

Thanks! Also, more useful information and links can be found at http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx

Be careful with the code in that link - the whole thing could have been replaced by an animated gif.

Hey did you know there's an easy way around that? just create the gif animation in GIMP as one file then stick it in there. Why would one need programming to animate a gif when they themselves are already animated?
For a complete story, you should check out http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2#252413.
Isn't there a way to create an GIF that's already animated?
I think http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2#252416 quotes some articles that explain it
You know what would be really funny? If people keep nesting quotes over and over, repeating the same comments. Hilarious.
Nah, that would be stupid.
If you want to see stupid try this: http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2

That one's not a stupid as http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2#252425.

If only there was an xkcd comic about this.
I think someone already was looking into this. Check it out: http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx?pg=2#252426

I don't understand, hatterson. Your link doesn't bring me to xkcd.
You're right, but it does link to a post where someone was talking about xkcd in reference to animating gifs.

That reminds me of a project of mine. I was thinking of taking some xkcd comics, converting them to gifs and then stringing them together to make a sort of animated slide show. I found some sample code here http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/Technically,-Its-Still-GIF-Animation.aspx What do you think?

Maybe you could use an animated gif for that? These are gifs which contain embeded javascript code that animates the image. I recommend GIMP as the best editor to write that code.

That's a great idea. Do you have a link where I could read more?

There is a video about it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z93Z1v5dypE

You know, I think this guy already mentioned that video...

DaveK · 2009-03-31 Reply Admin

Andy Goth:
Addison:
*claps slowly*
You mean, like this? [image]

[image]

2009-03-31 Reply Admin

I would "solve" it that way:

Create a image that is larger than the image that should be displayed. Just put all six images below each other. Put it as background of that div and just manipulate the offset of the background over time. That way you have no extra loading time, no problem with ... well... anything. You can even let it scroll smothly. ;)

In the end: Animated gifs are a stupid idea because at least most people I know have them deactivated.

lrucker · 2009-03-31 Reply Admin

Or they could've just used a freaking animated gif in the first place.

That all depends on the purpose of the animation.

I wrote code to track downloads that advanced the animation whenever a certain amount of bytes had transmitted. You could see at a glance if your download was moving fast, slow, or not at all. Since "not at all" was a frequent occurrence, this was very useful.

I wrote it in OS/2. I could have translated it to Windows, but idiot co-worker was supposedly the Windows expert so she(*) got the job. Windows apparently had built-in animated progress widgets, so she used it, completely missing the point.

(*) Just FYI, I am also female; so was most of my team. She was the only one who was an idiot.

bjolling · 2009-03-31 Reply Admin

Pim:
OK, but seriously now. Nobody has yet commented on the fact that GIF animation can be switched off in most browsers, and that this program may be an attempt to circumvent that. GIF animation, even in a browser that has it switched off.

A user that deliberately has turned off GIF animation might not like circumventions so IMO it's still a bad idea.

A møøse once bit my sister ...

2009-03-31 Reply Admin

animFrame = animFrame % 6 + 1;

So in javascript this is the way to perform a loop?

2009-03-31 Reply Admin

M C Spanner:
or use the animated gif and re-set the source of the image on submit and it'll keep going

Sadly not. If you have a "please wait" page that displays, then re-loads to pull in the "real" next page, all animation will stop when the new page load starts. "img.src = img.src" (or setting it to the original filename) will restart it in certain versions of IE, but not in Firefox.

One trick is to load a fresh copy of the same image elsewhere in the browser, e.g. in a tiny iframe on the page, since Firefox animates all copies of the same image in sync. But if you're serving over HTTPS, you'll need an initial content for that iframe: "about:blank" is insecure content!

Or you can just use manual animation, and it's not a problem. Makes putting alternating adverts on your loading pages a breeze, too...

Technically, It's Still GIF Animation

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