Image maps

Image maps are images that are clickable but where different sections of the image leads to different links. To get the correct coordinates for the different fields can be a little bit tricky and I haven't found any "fool-proof" method yet. I have been counting pixels by drawing lines and dots on a copy of the image but that was a very awkward method (ideas for how to do this in a smarter way are welcome).

An example

The fields in this image are linked to other images that show where in the image you have clicked.

Technical problems to be aware of

Many people don't load pictures. All they see of an image map is a little icon indicating that there should be a picture there. They don't see the links. Good "netiquette" (politeness) is to add the links under the imagemap (in "ant-print" if you like) like this:

[circle] [rectangle] [polygon] [background]

Don't make your image maps too big. On a slow connection visitors will leave and go elsewhere rather than sit and wait for a huge picture to load. A whole homepage consisting of only imagemaps (such monsters exist!) is heavy to download! (not everybody is a student with a fast connection at school...) Netsurfers like fast pages!

If you copy the zip file and your copy of the image map section doesn't work then that may have something to do with the mapfile and differences between your server and mine. I don't know how to solve that but if you do solve it, please tell me how so I can make an alternative mapfile or alternative version of this page or something else to make this page more complete.

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