Introduction

About this document

This is the user manual for the AZARDI Interactive Engine. It contains both usage instructions and working examples.

The AZARDI Interactive Engine (AIE) introduces a tagging and scripting environment that allows non-programmers to define a wide range of actions by manipulating the CSS properties of various elements within an HTML file, including manipulating them over a timeline.

The AIE scripting language tries very hard not to be a programming language. It does not use any logic functions to achieve its interactive aims.

There high purpose of AIE is to create directness and predictability of behaviour, simplicity of use, and extensive reusability.

Logic statements threaten reusability, and because they are core programming constructions should be left in a programming language.

Templates and reuse

The AIE Events Module meshes with the IGP:FoundationXHTML approach of controlled content ownership using tagging patterns with a controlled CSS selector vocabulary.

With AIE the selectors create event patterns.The use of controlled CSS class statements empowers event pattern reuse within books, between series and on specific types of content. AIE builds on the HTML Document Object Module (DOM) JQuery manipulating power.

The advantage of this approach is that highly interactive interfaces can be constructed as templates if they are working with the same XHTML tagging patterns and reliable IDs. Originality of design is carried in the styling and presentation CSS. The result is very high script reusability without any constraint on the originality of presentation, the shortest time-to-market and substantially lower costs than other interactive production methods.

AIE is a toolkit component only. It doesn't replace interactive design, graphics design and the other skills that go into first-class end-user interactive experiences.

No frame constraints

AIE interactions can be included in any HTML file, with any presentation, in any position. They are not constrainted to constructed fixed X-Y containers such as Adobe Flash/Edge, HTML5 canvas and similar tools. While a specific animation presentation may require a fixed layout container, AIE does not stop an animation from occuring over even a large scrolling page.

AIE events can be used on Web pages and in e-books that support Javascript. AIE is natively supported in AZARDI so you do not have to include the Javascript if you are targeting distribution of your content through AZARDI.

There are many types of interactive events other than animation. With AIE content can lead or interactivity can lead depending on the exact requirements of the end-user experience. AIE has the benefit that event triggers and responses can be placed in the content at any position.

About this Manual

This manual is subject to change as the AIE Events Module is being constantly improved and expanded.