[Seamaiden]

Name: Metal Lion HiViz 300 Sidebar
* Designed for Accessibility for the Visually Impaired
GUID: {7AEA5391-EA48-4783-A964-E732B84E9662}
Author: Frank Lion
Version: 1.7.5
Size: 1162KB
Date: 2007-11-16
Compatibility: 2.0 - 2.0.0.*
* Netscape 9 may not be officially supported yet. See compatibility note below.
Platforms:
Homepage | AFx Listing | Installation Instructions | AMI Discussion


MULTI-INSTALL PACKAGE COMPONENTS

• Metal Lion HiViz Style Sidebar
  GUID: {F37AEE7C-E968-4027-B549-093C8AB9C853}
  Version: 1.7.5
  Compatibility: 2.0 - 2.0.0.*
  
  
  
• Metal Lion 300 Theme
  GUID: {4A207596-AED2-4223-929F-BBE1D691B7CD}
  Version: 1.8
  Compatibility: 2.0 - 2.0.0.*
  
  
  
• Documentation (Included in zip file, or download separately from DOCUMENTATION section below)
  Help Page (rtf)
  Developer Notes (rtf)
  License (txt/pdf)

OVERVIEW
This is a one click install package designed specifically for the visually impaired and consists of two parts.

• The first part is the Metal Lion 300 theme. This was chosen for the good contrast levels used in it and although at first glance it looks the same as ever, it has also been recoded to work more effectively with the second part of this package.
  
  
  
• The second part is the new Metal Lion HiViz Style Sidebar extension. This offers the user a choice of no less than 10 font sizes, going right up to 32 pixels, that will change all of the text sizes in all areas of the theme user interface. HiViz also adjust the tab appearance on ML- 300 as these changes happen and also add, as required, scrollbars to parts of the Option Window, so that all parts are accessible at whatever text size....all with a single click.
  
  These areas include, all menus, bookmarks, history, statusbar, findbar, searchbar, urlbar, buttons, labels, Option Window, Customize Window, Page info, Help page interface, extension option pages...in fact, anywhere I could find text to change. :)

OPTIONS & SETTINGS
Access to the sidebar's Options are as follows:

• FIREFOX MENU > VIEW > SIDEBARS > HIVIZ STYLE.
  
  
  
• KEYBOARD HOTKEYS: CTL + SHIFT + M (OR ; ON SOME KEYBOARDS)
  
  
  
• FIREFOX MENU > VIEW > TOOLBARS > CUSTOMIZE AND DRAG HIVIZ BUTTON TO A TOOLBAR.
  Then just press the toolbar BUTTON from then onwards.
  
  
  
• FIREFOX MENU > TOOLS > ADDONS >EXTENSIONS > METAL LION HIVIZ STYLE SIDEBAR > OPTIONS.

Other options in Metal Lion HiViz

• Double Width Scrollbars.
  
• Bold Text.
  
• Loading screen of ML - 300 as the 'about:blank' page, seen on new tabs on as a homepage option.
  
• Internal Help Page option.
  
• Extra Tab Adjuster - for users of the default Firefox theme.

The Options are selected by simply clicking on the DISABLED section alongside and it will change to ENABLED.

Although most changes happen immediately, in real time, it is less confusing just to select only one text size option, plus any of the other options and restart Firefox. If in doubt, just toggle the desired option again.


SCREENSHOTS



1024 x 768 Full size link: http://img514.images...snag0327ne1.png





More screenshots can be seen here and here.


DEVELOPER NOTES
Initial Release is only for Firefox 2.
At the time of writing, the Metal Lion HiViz Style Sidebar extension has been fully tested on Metal Lion 300 and the default theme. However, it is quite safe to use with other themes, as well. When adjustments have been made, if required, for use with many other themes, then the Metal Lion HiViz Style Sidebar will be released as a standalone extension.

Functionality is more important than Looks.
My 100% focus with this extension has been for ease of use and functionality for the visually impaired user. There are no extra buttons, no excess options, no fancy stuff, just what is required to get the job done.

Although I will make efforts to make the user interface on any and all themes look OK in the future... I will say now, things WILL not always look pretty. Buttons, etc., WILL be in slightly the wrong place. That cannot be helped...functionality comes first here and the Firefox user interface was not designed to be pushed quite as far as I am doing here, haha. But...the visually impaired WILL be able to see the text and other areas that they require, which has been my sole aim here.


AVAILABILITY
Metal Lion HiViz 300 will be hosted on just two sites:

Add-Ons Mirror (AMI) - AMI Listing | AMI Discussion

Access Firefox (AFx) - AFx Listing | AFx Installation Instructions (more screenshots)


CONTRIBUTORS & CREDITS
My thanks to the following contributors especially np, the original author of the Stylish extension, on which the Metal Lion HiViz Style Sidebar extension was based.

Jason Barnabe (np), ANBO Motohiko, Kevin Keller, Torisugari, asquella, Relativity_17(Ming Zhang), Philip Chee and Ed Hume.


DOCUMENTATION
The following documentation is available for download. All of these are included in the zip file with the Bundle.

- HELP -
Help page ( rtf)
Developer Notes ( rtf)

- LICENSE -
ML 300 HiVis License ( pdf)
ML 300 HiVis License ( txt)


HELP & SUPPORT
For support Questions, use the 'Contact Us' link on my website http://franklion.co.uk


DONATIONS
For your enjoyment, there is a PayPal link on the Website: http://franklion.blog.co.uk/


KNOWN ISSUES
- EXTENSION -
* On some themes, the buttons may not line up properly.
* When using the FIREFOX DEFAULT THEME, please use the DEFAULT THEME TAB ADJUST OPTION to line the tabs up correctly.
* Read the Help page, Developer Notes, or AMI Discussion for more information.


- THEME -
Problems with Fission and All-In-One Sidebar (AIOS) extensions.
However, the POTO Sidebar is a very good extension, for those that want to try it.

THEME UPDATES
After installing the Metal Lion HiVis multi-install package, get the latest version of the Metal Lion - 300 theme from our AMI Listing or the AMO Listing.

COMPATIBILITY NOTE for NETSCAPE 9 USERS
This multi-install package WILL install in Netscape 9 as it is, without modifications to any install.rdf files.

Netscape 9 is based on Firefox 2, but the Netscape interface is slightly different. You may see some distortion or missing buttons when viewing the THEME in Netscape. After all, it wasn't designed for NS9.

To view a screenshot of the ML HiVis Style Sidebar and the ML 300 theme in Netscape 9, click here.

Netscape 9 may not be officially supported by the author yet. Install at your own risk!


DOWNLOADS

Multi-install packages (all-in-one)

- XPI File: Multi-install package only -
Install | Download

- ZIP File: Multi-install package plus documentation -
Install | Download

Individual components

ML HiVis STYLE SIDEBAR EXTENSION - AMI is not permitted to release this by itself. It is too early in development for this.

ML 300 THEME - Get the latest version from our AMI Listing or the AMO Listing.

Please refer to the DOCUMENTATION section above to download the help file, license, and other notes.

Quote

IMAGE COPYRIGHT:

All graphics, artwork, icons and other image related material used in Metal Lion - 300© Theme Range (including any past, present or future versions) are the copyrighted property of Frank Lion ™, with the sole exception below*. The usage of this aforementioned material is strictly forbidden for any and all, commercial and non-commercial purposes whatsoever. The only exception will be unless written permission is given in advance for such a purpose by the author, Frank Lion ™.

*Helmet image seen in Theme Preview and Download windows, used with the kind permission of hellenic-art.com

REDISTRIBUTION LIMITATION:

Metal Lion - 300© Theme MAY NOT be redistributed or hosted on any network or system without prior authorisation in writing by the author and copyright holder, Frank Lion ™.

For additional copyright information and restrictions, please see the READ ME text file inside the theme's jar file. Also read the license files for the bundle, which can be downloaded from the DOCUMENTATION section above.



This bundle, extension, and theme (and their graphics) are mirrored with the permission of Frank Lion.
The AMI site does not have permission to host, modify or bump any versions of the Metal Lion HiViz Style (the extension part) on it's own.