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Mac OS X Dashboard Tutorials

Course Content
Dashboard provides instant access to widgets (mini-applications) that "float" over the desktop. These widgets provide simple functionality such as a calculator or clock; interaction with data from iTunes, the Address Book or other local apps; and interaction across the Web to get weather reports, stock quotes, etc. This course provides an introduction to Dashboard and you will learn how to create your own widgets. VTC author Jesse Feiler guides you through the steps to build a time clock widget to track your time and export it to a TextEdit document. To begin learning simply click the links.
QT To view the Free Tutorials listed below, you must have QuickTime installed. Please note that the online free samples have been compressed for quicker downloads. Purchased CDs have higher sound and video quality.
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Introducing Dashboard
About this Course (05:39)
Dashboard Widgets as Mini-Apps (04:31)
Dashboard Widgets as Data Interfaces (03:33)
Widget Interface Design Guidelines (03:39)
Widget Overview
Accessory Widgets (04:10)
Application Widgets (02:55)
Information/Internet Widgets Pt.1 (06:10)
Information/Internet Widgets Pt.2 (03:34)
Finding Third-Party Widgets (03:59)
Downloading a Widget (03:32)
Managing Widgets
Getting to Dashboard (03:34)
Using the Widget Bar (03:54)
Multiple Copies of Widgets (03:01)
Using the Clipboard with Widgets (02:09)
Widget Architecture: The Basics
Bundles (05:21)
Basic Bundle Files (04:49)
HTML interface (09:04)
Default & Icon PNG Files (03:55)
Property List (03:39)
Industry-Standard Widget Technologies
HTML (06:28)
CSS (07:46)
JavaScript (08:15)
Building a Widget (Basic Version)
Start from the Blank Widget (05:06)
Rename Files & Build the Property List (05:46)
Basic Safari Debugging (04:40)
Add Images & Styles (05:40)
Dashboard Development Mode Pt.1 (02:39)
Dashboard Development Mode Pt.2 (04:47)
Building the Back of a Widget
Flipping the Widget Pt.1 (07:52)
Flipping the Widget Pt.2 (02:21)
Adding a Link to the Widget (04:30)
About Preferences (05:33)
Setting & Storing a Preference Pt.1 (04:50)
Debugging Case Study (03:49)
Setting & Storing a Preference Pt.2 (02:54)
Retrieving a Preference (04:09)
Building a Widget (Advanced)
Implementing a Two-State Button Pt.1 (07:35)
Implementing a Two-State Button Pt.2 (03:33)
Creating a Text Display Field (06:51)
Creating a Text Area (06:53)
Finishing Up: The Reset Button (03:33)
Widget Architecture
Dashboard Architecture (03:57)
Widget Properties (06:11)
Widget Events (03:03)
Writing the Widget Javascript Code
Building the Javascript Timer (06:27)
Building the Timer Click Structure (06:10)
Starting the Timer (03:31)
Pausing the Timer (03:29)
Continuing the Timer (02:10)
Resetting the Timer (04:29)
Handling Show & Hide Events Pt.1 (08:20)
Handling Show & Hide Events Pt.2 (03:38)
Interacting with Other Applications
Using the Clipboard & Drag & Drop (02:45)
Preparing the Test Widget Pt.1 (04:33)
Preparing the Test Widget Pt.2 (03:04)
Using the Command Line (04:16)
Making the Command Line Interactive (03:53)
Status Results & Synchronous Processing (05:54)
Asynchronous Processing (05:38)
Using AppleScript from Widgets
AppleScript/Widget Overview (04:46)
Using AppleScript from the Command Line (04:12)
Generating AppleScript from a Widget Pt.1 (03:14)
Generating AppleScript from a Widget Pt.2 (03:12)
Generating AppleScript from a Widget Pt.3 (02:14)
Creating AppleScript Scripts (03:53)
Looking at an AppleScript Dictionary Pt.1 (04:44)
Looking at an AppleScript Dictionary Pt.2 (03:51)
Writing the Basic Script for the Widget (04:00)
Implementing the Script in the Widget Pt.1 (02:44)
Implementing the Script in the Widget Pt.2 (05:41)
Cleaning Up the Widget Script (03:35)
Labelling & Formatting the Export (03:03)
Saving the Exported Document (05:21)
Completing the Widget (03:14)
Using XML Data on the Web from Widgets
Getting the XML Data for a Widget (04:58)
Sample RSS Widget Architecture (04:15)
Looking at the XML Document (02:59)
Creating the XMLHttpRequest (07:04)
Parsing the XML Data (05:34)
Displaying the XML Data (03:55)
Using Cocoa Plug-ins
Widget Plug-in Overview (02:12)
Building the Fortune Example (05:23)
Setting the Widget to Use a Plug-in (03:57)
Setting the Xcode Project Name (03:30)
Exposing the Plug-in to JavaScript (07:12)
Debugging the Plug-in (04:06)
Widget Appearance & Behavior
Using Control Regions (04:01)
Using the Canvas (04:16)
Resizing a Widget (Live Version) (04:36)
Using Animation Pt.1 (03:50)
Using Animation Pt.2 (07:59)
Using Animation Pt.3 (02:58)
Managing Widget Focus (02:34)
Using the Apple Classes
How to Include the Apple Classes (04:28)
Apple Info Buttons (03:54)
Apple Buttons (Including Glass Buttons) (03:24)
Scrollling in Your Widget (06:25)
Using Sliders (03:24)
Distributing Your Widget
Preparing the Files (02:37)
Downloading the Widget (02:39)
Implementing Localization (07:19)
Wrap Up
Course Summary (02:59)
Credits
About the Author (07:23)

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Tutorial Information / Pricing
Title: Mac OS X Dashboard
Author: Jesse Feiler
SKU: 33701
ISBN: 1-933736-32-1
Duration: 8 hrs / 103 Lessons
Compatibility: Win XP, 2000, 98, NT, Mac OS X, OS 9

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