Exporting Image Maps; Slicing Images When Exporting; Slice Objects As Event Areas; Creating A Sliced Image - MACROMEDIA FIREWORKS 2-USING FIREWORKS Use Manual

Client-side and server-side image maps
A client-side image map requires image map
information to be stored within the HTML document.
A client-side image map shows the actual URL in the
status bar message at the bottom of the browser window.
A server-side (NCSA) image map requires the image
map information to be saved within a separate file stored
on a server and accessed by a CGI script. This type of
image map is far more complicated to set up, and is not
supported by all servers.
Server-side image map behavior varies from system to
system, even among different systems using the same
server. A server-side image map shows mouse
coordinates at the bottom of the screen.
Note: Contact your service provider to find out how
your server handles server-side image maps.

Exporting image maps

Export image maps just like you export other images.
Make settings in the Export Preview and then click
Next to open the Export dialog box. In the Export dialog
box, choose an HTML Style format. This causes
Fireworks to generate an HTML document when
exporting the image. That HTML document will
contain MAP information that defines the hotspot
regions of the image map or it will contain a link to a
MAP file, or both.
Exporting image maps can result in the following files:
The suffix or extension HTM is added
The HTML file—
to the file name being exported.
Generated for server-side image maps,
The MAP file—
this file is created when the user specifies a Map Type of
Both or Server-Side in the File > Document Properties
dialog box.
For server side image maps, you must edit the exported
HTML file and enter the URL path to the map file
where it is placed on the server.
Slicing images when
exporting
A common method of creating navigation bars or
navigation graphics for web sites is to create a graphic
and then cut it into pieces that are then reassembled on a
web page using an HTML table. The graphic appears
seamless in the web browser but is actually made up of
multiple pieces, each a separate file.
Using slicing to create a navigation graphic has several
advantages.
In HTML, creating a link from an entire image is
often easier than using an image map.
If a section of the graphic is updated frequently, such
as today's date or a current news item, a single piece
may be replaced rather than the entire graphic.
Parts of a graphic can be optimized individually,
resulting in optimum file size and quality.
Slices designate a part of the image to swap out
using a JavaScript rollover.

Slice objects as event areas

Use slice objects as the target, or event area, of behaviors.
For example, use a slice to mark an area that is swapped
with another image when a hotspot is triggered
somewhere else in the image.

Creating a sliced image

In Fireworks, use the Slice tool to draw rectangular slice
objects. Slice objects define parts of the image that are
exported as individual files.
Web Design Features 117