10 Most Used Freeway Actions (Part 1)

I was asked recently what were my most used actions that I use for Freeway 5 Pro. If you haven't used Freeway 5 Pro you've been under a rock and a quick Google search will get you up to date. Although I don't use Freeway for my main web-design software, I find it's ease of use unmatched if you're in need of building something quick and easy all the while staying cost effective. Within the software are included "actions" which work like "plug-ins" that can help accomplish complicated things rather easily. The support and the development of these actions has been greatly appreciated so I'd like to take a moment here and thank everyone who has submitted an action.

The difficult part about this post is narrowing it down to 10 standard use actions based of a long and distinguished list of "comes with the program" actions and 3rd party actions. Usually my action selection is based on a project-by-project basis, but in my daily workflow I find that I use these 10 often and, regardless if you would use any of these, I find these the best of the best for me. I'll start off this two-part post with Part One of my bottom 5 and post another of my top 5.

10. Comment

Add a set of comments around any layer on the page. This helps you locate a particular element when viewing or editing the source code.

Since there are times when you have to edit the source code you'll need to be able to locate a specific area and nothing is easier than using the Comment action. It creates a nice HTML comment around, say, a specific DIV that you have placed. HTML comments are also a great way to organize your site, code-wise.

9. Dynamic Page Titles

Freeway will normally encode any non-alphanumeric characters, such as < and >, in page titles. This means that you can’t use ASP tags to dynamically generate titles.

If you're building a site using a CMS (content management system) and you want to put dynamic page titles for, say, your articles to include the title of the article in the bar at the top of the browser you'd use this action. Most CMS softwares use a tag based system and they can include "<" or quotation marks and when Freeway goes to publish your document it'll convert those symbols to the HTML equivalent.

8. Form Element Styler

Apply this action to each form element and set the style options. Handy for element widths, heights and setting coloured borders or fills for text fields and text areas.

If you're doing any kind of form work you'll need to have this action. It allows you to style the form elements (fonts, font-size, color, weight, background color...) as well as force their specific width's and height's. This action will save you lots of time in terms of styling and formating.

7. Fading Slideshow

Fading Slideshow is a great alternative to using Flash for a slideshow or using a Flash component. It uses javascript libraries and is super simple to use and understand. So simple in fact I did a screen-cast on it.

6. Slimbox

Let's you assign a Slimbox (Lightbox) popup image.

If you've been to any modern website I'm sure you've run across what Lightbox is and Slimbox is pretty much the same thing. Lightbox/Slimbox happens when you click on an image link and the browsers inner-window goes usually grey and then a white box draws itself out and inside of that holds your chosen photo acting almost as a layer above the page below it. This action is part of the MooTools Action Suite.

Now that Part One is completed please take the time to comment on any actions that are "must's" for you and would make your list.

Also I'd like to say that I am currently seeking employment opportunities in the United States and I know the economy is tough these days, but if you are in need of someone who is knowledgeable, educated, experienced, loyal, and committed to the success of your agency or small business I'd encourage you to drop me a line and give me the opportunity to show you what I have to offer. I'd greatly appreciate it.

Stay tuned for Part Two.