Basic Concepts and Overview

The chapters of this tutorial shows how to download the MegaZine3 software, presents the key folders and files  and gives an introduction into the basic concept of MegaZine3:

  • Elements: to add content like images, video, sound, ... to pages
  • Attributes: Parameters that control the behavior and look&feel of the MZ3 title
  • ASUL files: to easily configure the graphical user interface of MegaZine3 (GUI) with a XML files
  • Plugins: to provide and extend MegaZine3 functionality

At the end the different variants of MegaZine3 available for download are explained:

  • Standard-Software: megazine.swf
    for use on a server and access over the Internet, viewing in a browser with Flah support.
    With acccess to all single files and with that all options to modify and configure MegaZine3: exhange of ASUL file, plugins, button icosn, ...
  • Complete Version: megazine-fat.swf
    if the general configuration using attributes / parameters is sufficient (in most cases it is), this "all-in-one" version simplifies everything: easy to mange, upload and deal with.
  • Projektor file: megazine.exe and megazine.app
    A program, that due to the embedded Flash Player works without internet connection and browser. And therefore can be copied on CDs and memory sticks.
    Two different versions are available: for Windows (as .exe program) und MAC Computers (as .app program). 
    Again available as standard and fat version.

 

Introduction into the MegaZine3 basic concept
Introduction: MZ3 Download, general Concept, Folder structure, File types

MZ3 Download

Where to find the correct file for Downlaod and what to use for first tests.

MegaZine3 download and basic concept

MZ3 online structure

Files and Folders relevant for the online or browser version of MegaZine3:

  • index.html
  • megazine.swf or megazine-fat.swf
  • megazine.mz3
  • in case of the standard version: gui/, elements/, js/, ... folder
MegaZine3 Online Structure

MZ3 offline structure

Files and Folders relevant for the ofline or Flash Player version of MegaZine3:

  • megazine.exe or megazine-fat.exe for Windows
  • megazine.app or megazine-fat.app for OSx (MAC)
  • megazine.mz3
  • in case of the standard version: gui/, elements/, js/, ... folder
MegaZine3 Offline Structure

Custom Content

All the content, that will be used for the individual MZ3 title like images and video files, must be accessible also.

It is good practice to keep different types of content in defferent folders, named appropirately.Such folders also should reside in language specific folders named after the 2-letter acronym of the respective language, so MegaZine3's capabilities to support localization can be used.

Custom Content

Plugins

All features besides the core function of flipping pages are realized as separate plugins. This chapter shows how to make use of the different plugins and provides a list of all available plugins.

Introduction into the MegaZine3 basic concept

Book and Page Attributes

Some book and page attributes / parameters are presented, like:

  • book: pagewidth, pageheight, plugins, foldfx
  • page: stiff
Introduction into the MegaZine3 basic concept

Elements and Attributes

The default MegaZine3 configuration file megazine.mz3 is analyzed to show the principles of the core MegaZine3 components:

  • elements
  • attributes
Introduction into the MegaZine3 basic concept

Variants

Megazine3 is available for use in a browser with FLASH support, or as a stand alone version for MAC and Windows with the FLASH player embedded ("projector file").

Also two variants are availabe: megazine and megazine-fat.

The chapter "Variants" explains the differences and what to download and use for what purpose.

MegaZine3 Variants