Graphic Counter Tutorial

Graphic Counter

Our new graphical counter is very versatile. It can use five different digit styles, wrap a frame around the counter, show the time or date, and much more. This document demonstrates how to use these features. Each feature, or parameter has an alpha code followed by a value. Multiple parameters come be combined within a single counter with each parameter being separated either by a | or a &.

The counter above shows the simplest form of the counter command:

<IMG SRC = "/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?df=crc1.dat|st=1234">

Parameters used - df = datafile, st = preset start number

Note that we preset the counter to a value of 1234 using the "st" parameter. To preset your counter, just place the number you wish to preset it to after the "st=". Note that the counter must not already exist if you wish to preset it.


Frame Color and Thickness

This is what happens when you call the counter with no parameters.

<img src="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi">

No Parameters used

Not all browsers will handle this situation correctly. What you should see here is it complaining about an empty query string, with a blue frame. These are the default settings. The text should be green on black.


<img src="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?ft=0">

Parameters used - ft = frame thickness

Because the datafile parameter (df) is not present, a randomly generated counter number is used. The "ft=0" parameter tells Count to not put a frame around it.


<img src="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?ft=6">

Parameters used - ft = frame thickness

This is the way to create a random counter with default frame color and thickness. "ft" sets the frame thickness in pixels, and the default happens to be six pixels.


<IMG       SRC="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?ft=10&df=crc1.dat">

Parameters used - df = datafile, ft = frame thickness

This counter is NOT random, as it uses crc1.dat for the data file. The "df" parameter specifies this data file. To create your own counter, simply use the "df=xxxxxxn.dat" parameter. The xxxxxx must be your username, the n must be a number, and you must have the .dat. If your username is eager, your first counter would be eager1.dat, your second counter would be eager2.dat, etc. This sample counter has a frame thickness of ten (ft=10).


<IMG SRC="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?frgb=ffd700&df=crc1.dat">

Parameters used - df = datafile, frgb = frame color (Frame Red,Green, Blue)

You change the frame color with the "frgb=xxxxxx" parameter, where xxxxxx is a six character hex value, just like you use in html coding. There is one important difference here, though. You must NOT put a # in front of it. This will truncate the parameter line at that point! This is not our fault, it is the fault of the people who wrote the HTML spec. This is a gold frame. Other hex values yield different colors.

Instead of hex values, you can use RGB triplets, like this;

<IMG SRC="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?frgb=255;215;0&df=crc1.dat">
which gives the same result.


Your count can have commas!

<img src="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?ft=0|df=crc1.dat|comma=T">

Parameters used - df = datafile, ft = frame thickness, comma = show commas

To use commas, simply add the parameter "comma=T". T is for True, meaning that it's True you want to use commas. Note that your counter will not be padded with zeroes if you use commas.


Rotating your counter

<img src="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?ft=0|rotate=Y|df=crc1.dat">
<img src="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?ft=0°rees=180|df=crc1.dat">
<img src="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?ft=0°rees=90|df=crc1.dat">

Parameters used - df = datafile, ft = frame thickness,
rotate = rotate counter 270 degrees, degrees = degrees to rotate

By default, the counter will rotate 270 degrees clockwise. It can only be rotated in increments of 90 degrees. The "rotate" parameter tells it to rotate. The "degrees" parameter tells it how much to rotate. Also note that these have no frame.


You get five digit styles!

<img src="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?dd=A|df=crc1.dat">
<img src="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?dd=B|df=crc1.dat">
<img src="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?dd=C|df=crc1.dat">
<img src="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?dd=D|ft=3|df=crc1.dat">
<IMG SRC="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?ft=2&frgb=000000&dd=E|df=crc1.dat">

Parameters used - df = datafile, dd = digit style (a-e)
ft = frame thickness, frgb = frame color

These are your five style choices. You use the "dd=X" parameter to specify digit styles. X may be any of the first five capital letters. Style A is the default.


The Wonderful World of Color Modification

If you know the hex values of the colors in the digit styles, you can change them. This is how to change the green color in the first digit style to red.

<img src="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?df=crc1.dat|srgb=00ff00|prgb=ff0000">

Parameters used - df = datafile, srgb = source RGB value.
prgb = pen (New) RGB value

"srgb" is the Source RGB value, which is pure green, in this case. "prgb" is the Pen RGB, or the new color, which in this case is pure red. To find out the rgb values of the colors in the image, save it with your browser and open it in your favorite bitmap graphics program.


Make a negative!

<IMG SRC="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?negate=T&dd=A|df=crc1.dat">

Parameters used - df = datafile, dd = digit style, negate = invert color

You can invert the colors in the image with the parameter "negate=T". Note that the frame is unaffected by this command.


Transparency

If you know the hex code of a color in a digit style, you can make it transparent. This sample makes the white color in style E transparent.

<img src="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?dd=E|ft=0|tr=T|trgb=ffffff">

Parameters used - dd = digit style, ft = frame thickness,
tr = make transparent, trgb = transparent color

You use the parameter "tr=T" to tell it that you want a transparent color, and "trgb=xxxxxx" to tell it what color to transparentify. In this case, the color white (ffffff) is used.

Make the black color of the digit style A transparent:

<img src="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?dd=A|tr=T|trgb=000000">

Make the green color of the digit style A transparent:

<IMG SRC="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?dd=A|tr=T|trgb=00ff00">


The Magic Invisible Counter

<img alt="" src="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?sh=0|df=crc1.dat">

Parameters used - df = datafile, sh = show counter (no)

A hidden counter is up there. You use the "sh=0" parameter to make your counter invisible. The ALT="" in the <IMG> tag makes it invisible to text browsers too.


Monitoring your Counter

<img src="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?incr=F|df=crc2.dat">
<img src="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?incr=F|df=crc3.dat">
<img src="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?incr=F|df=crc4.dat">

Parameters used - df = datafile, incre = display without incrementing

By using the "incr=F" parameter, you can display the counter without incrementing it. This is useful for monitoring your hidden counters from the web. You just put calls to the counters with the "incr=f" parameter on a secret, unlinked html page. Then, no matter what ISP you are using, you can monitor your counter without incrementing it.


Number of digits

You may not want six digits in your counter. You can set the number of digits with the "md=x" parameter, where x is any number. This example is a five digit counter.

<img src="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?md=5|df=crc1.dat">

Parameters used - df = datafile, md = number of digits

You may also want to turn off the padding without showing commas. To do that, you use the "pad=0" parameter. Here is a random, unpadded counter.

<img src="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?pad=0">

Parameters used - pad = padding size

More fake counters

You can display a string literally. The valid characters in a string are 0123456789,:-ap

<img src="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?lit=0123456789">
<img src="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?dd=B&lit=0123456789">
<img src="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?dd=C|lit=0123456789">
<img src="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?dd=D&lit=0123456789">
<IMG
SRC="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?ft=0&tr=1&trgb=ffffff|dd=E|lit=0123456789">
<img src="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?lit=a1,456-:p">

Parameters used - lit = literal string

Counter can be a Clock!

You can display time in 12 hr format,

<img src="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?display=clock">

Parameters used - display = display as

or 24 hour format.

<img src="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?display=clock|tformat=24">

Parameters used - tformat = clock hour format

Use "display=clock" to make it a clock, and "tformat=24" to make it a 24 hour clock.


Display date

<img src="/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?display=date">

Parameters used - display = display as

Use "display=date" to show the date. With either time or date, the frame, color, and rotation parameters still apply. Use timezone parameter to display time or date of any place in the world.



Parameter Summary


Parameter

Parameter Code

Values
Datafile df xxxxx.dat
Preset Start Number st Number value
Frame Thickness ft Number value in pixels
Frame Color frgb Six character hex value
or RGB triplets
Show Commas comma T = True
Rotate Clockwise rotate Y = Yes
Degrees To Rotate degrees Number value
increments of 90 degrees
Digit Style dd A,B,C,D,E
Change Digit Color srbg (source color)
prgb (new color)
Six character hex value
Invert Color negate T = True
Make Transparent tr T = True
Transparent Color trgb Six character hex value
Make Invisible sh 0 = Not show
No incrementing incr F = No incrementing
Number of Digits mb Number value
Turn off padding pad 0 = No padding
Fake Counter lit 123456789,:-ap
Change Display display clock or date
Clock Format tformat 24

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