It's nice to see where each step ends up but I'd like to see the whole thing prevued on the same download.
Carol

Nice idea, but not technically possible just yet. Well, okay, it is possible, but the resulting file would be so huge that even DSL and cable modem users would spend a good hour or two downloading. (And I don't even want to think about those poor 56k and 28k dial-up users).

Why? Here's the scoop:

The slideshows are done in what is known as "smil" format. This relatively new format is designed specifically for slide show-type presentations. The file itself is actually very small, because it's just a text file that references other files (this is similar to the way html works). The "smil" file tells the RealPlayer where to find these files and when to play them, and each file is loaded one at a time as necessary. What the person viewing the slideshow doesn't know is that while he/she is watching one frame, the next frame is loading.

This is a very clever format, but it only works for still-shot slide shows. As far as I know, you cannot incorporate live-action video into it. If I were to create a live action video that contained the same amount of technical detail, lasting more than 2 & 1/2 mintes, it would be enormous... definitely too big to mass-distribute over the net, even if some people do have the patience for it.

In the meantime, we're stuck with one format or the other... or both, as long as you download them separately.

Sincerely,
Jonathan Atkinson www.ballroomdancers.com

I have no idea what's involve with putting information up on a website. I have seen several websites with long salsa and swing teaching videos - I think one was about 30 minutes. Is the difference that here you have so much more than just the video clips?

Carol:
Do you mean you wish to see a little more detailed description in the overview page like tabulated format of the old "Variation of the week"?
Dave

Dave,

I'm still toying with what to do on the overview page. The new layout presents a whole new set of circumstances, and I'm certainly not set on my current set of solutions. It will probably take a few weeks to work out.

The only problem I had with the overview chart was that I found it to be a bit redundant with the technical details. I was getting quite a few requests to go back to the old old format where we used to discuss the variation in detail with helpful hints. This would be great, too, but it tends to take so much more time to produce that it makes me more likely to fall behind schedule (and you've probably noticed that I'm struggling quite a bit to stay on schedule these days).

I also think that I can probably consolidate the start page and the overview page into one page, but I'm still not quite sure how to do it yet. I'll keep working on it.

Sincerely,
Jonathan Atkinson