Quick

• Quickform is a php package lets you generate a form entirely in php.
• Smarty is a templating engine that separates the style and logic, ie php and html, of a web page
• Overlib is a javascript library that lets you generate popups when the mouse is moved over part of a web page

Overview of Quickform

• Create a form without the need to write html. Supports text fields, drop down lists, ...
• The form looks good & clean. I am a programmer, not an arty designer type
• Input field validation - a must to stop you putting rubbish into the database
• Input field validation can additionally be done in the browser - making it nicer for the user

Overview of Smarty

• Coder and Designer maintain separate files, you don't mess up each other's work
• Coder and Designer can concentrate on what they are good at
• Common logic can be reused unchanged but with different templates look different, eg login pages on different sites
• Generated php and/or html can be cached, flexibly - you have a lot of control
• Smarty templates can contain presentation logic, eg loops - so display multiple rows from a database search
• Use multiple templates in the construction of one web (.html) file - eg have standard header/footer files

Overview of Overlib

There are many effects that you may choose from, including:

• A simple box
• The above popup appears to the right of the mouse, this one appears to the left
• Sticky popup
• You can have a box with a caption
• You don't have to have a border
• Overlib also has some extensions
  But beware - the extensions (below) are not ''offical'' and, although fun, don't work in some old browsers.
• You can have popups is a variety of bubble shapes
• You can have popups that fade in and out

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