FP1: Changing Animated GIF to Transparent Stops the Animation

• Microsoft FrontPage for Windows, version 1.1

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft FrontPage Editor, when you change the properties of an animated GIF file to make it transparent, the image no longer animates in a Web browser that supports animated GIFs.

NOTE: You cannot see the animation of an animated GIF in FrontPage Editor. To view the animation, open the Web page in a Web browser that supports animated GIFs, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer, version 3.0.

CAUSE

An animated GIF contains several different layers that represent different sequences of the same image. When you modify the properties of an animated GIF, FrontPage Editor changes only the first layer of the image and discards the remaining layers.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use a graphics editor that is designed to edit animated GIF files, such as the Microsoft GIF Animator. You can download this program from the following Microsoft Web site:

   HTTP://WWW.Microsoft.com/ImageComposer/GifAnimator/GifAnin.htm

   http://www.microsoft.com

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was corrected in Microsoft FrontPage 97 for Windows with Bonus Pack.

MORE INFORMATION

In FrontPage 97, when you select an animated GIF, the Make Transparent button on the Image toolbar and the Transparent check box on the General tab in the Image Properties dialog box are unavailable. To access the Image Properties dialog box, right-click the animated GIF, and then click Image Properties on the menu that appears.