The Dynamic Layer Object API

The Dynamic Layer Object API (DynLayer) is a lightweight object (weighing in at 5 KB) that provides a highly flexible manner of working with layers. Not only does it have common properties and methods for manipulating layers, it is an object based API which opens up a new way of working with layers that far exceeds the traditional way of coding DHTML. I've found it to be the ideal foundation for nearly every application of DHTML including animation, applications, and gaming environments.

Features of the DynLayer Object:

I've left the object open-ended, so you can easily customize it to your needs. You can add more methods or properties onto it, or remove whatever parts you feel you won't need. Many of the next lessons in this tutorial will use the DynLayer as the basis for accomplishing some other task, so it is important that you understand how it works and how to use it.

Revision: I've stripped the wipe methods from the default DynLayer - the truth it's just not used enough to bother having in there all the time. You can of course individually add the methods into a file that uses it.

The Dynamic Layer Object API

Extending the DynLayer

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copyright 1998 Dan Steinman