Distribution and Modification

Modifications

Animal I-Class was created on a PC using StarOffice 5.2, by Sun Microsystems. StarOffice is a wonderful set of programs comprising a full office suite, including word processor, presentation software, database and spreadsheet, browser, and more. It is quite compatible with both Microsoft and Corel products, as far as I've experienced. At the time it was available for free download at www.sun.com/staroffice, but sadly, it is no longer available. Sun Microsystems now offers StarOffice 6.0, at a great price. Also, you can download for free Open Office which shares the same source code as StarOffice.

When I first created Animal I-Class 1.0, I knew very little about html other than the fact that it would provide some cross-platform compatibility with Macs. I needed a word processor that would write the html code for me. I chose to use the StarOffice word processor over Microsoft Word and Corel WordPerfect for a couple of reasons. First, StarWriter gives you direct access to the html code, which makes simple editing handy. Secondly, StarWriter handles video clips differently, opening them within the window on your page, instead of popping up a new window in which to play the video. And lastly, when editing your work, you see a still image of the video with more formats than you do with the other word processors. As I learned more and more html code, I came to rely less and less on the word processor and edited the code directly in a text editor instead.

If you wish to make modifications to Animal I-Class, and don't know html, I heartily recommend StarOffice (and though I've not tried it, I think Open Office would also be a good choice). If you are using a Mac, Open Office (at the time of this writing in March of '03) has a version available for OS X. Otherwise, you can try your favorite word processor, or learn to edit the html code directly in a text editor.

If you choose to modify Animal I-Class, download your own copy, please remember its educational purpose, add your name to the Credits page, retain my name where ever it originally appeared, and note in the titles that the version has been modified by you. Please be sure to retain all the credits pages and information regarding the images.

Distribution

Animal I-Class is freely distributable, and is to remain so. I want as many people to benefit from it as can. You are free to download, copy and distribute it, but the copies must be made in a specific way, so as to maintain its functionality on both PC's and Macs. See the instructions included in the download for more information.

Why is version 4.1 (CD version) the best ?

Animal I-Class 4.1 is intended by me to be the last revision for at least a few years. Here are just a few of the differences in 4.1 when compared to previous versions:

1. Many more images, especially of the more rare and obscure animals. Animal I-Class versions prior to 4.1 had only one image for which I had to gain special permission to use. With this version, I spent months contacting professionals all over the world and garnered special permission to use their images.

2. Animal I-Class 4.1 utilizes html coding that results in more consistency in display between different browser types and on different platforms. There are also display enhancements for browsers with special capabilities.

3. Animal I-Class 4.1 is the most accurate version. I eliminated several typos that had cropped up in previous versions, including one that said that fish are invertebrates! (Doh!)

4. Animal I-Class 4.1 is generally faster than previous versions.

5. Animal I-Class 4.1 has the highest level of cross-platform compatibility compared to any of the previous versions. New to this version is a custom disk icon on Mac, and a whole new way of burning the CD, resulting in a PC/Mac hybrid CD that shows the PC files only to PC users, the Mac files only to Mac users, and shared files (most of the project) to both—with the shared files being actually shared, rather than duplicated on the CD. This was done utilizing a Mac emulator on my PC and Mac CD burning software, rather than relying on the shareware product used in previous versions. If your CD doesn't appear as I've just described, or doesn't run correctly on a Mac, chances are you got a copy that was made without following the copying instructions I've provided.

6. Animal I-Class 4.1 utilizes a new method of autorunning on Windows platforms, which is much more problem-free than previously techniques.