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<dpStory>

D E F I N I T I O N:

The story currently being built or queried.

A T T R I B U T E S:

images="on|all|off|#|# to #|#,#"

Tells the story to display images or not. You may simply say on or all to display all of the images, or you may reference a single image, multiple images or a range of images.

<dpStory images="on">
<dpStory images="1, 3">
<dpStory images="2 to 4">
<dpStory images="2 to 4, 6">
<dpStory images="3 to <dpImageCount>">

Defines how you want your images aligned within the story.

right - all images align to the right.
left - all images align to the left
toggleLeft - images toggle left to right, back and forth
toggleRight - images toggle right to left, back and forth
center - centers image and follows it with a 
none

imageStart="#p"

Defines the starting position for the first image. The default is 0p, meaning before the first paragraph. <dpStory imageStart="3p"> would display the first image after the 3rd paragraph.

imageStop="#p"

Defines the ending position for the last image. This is only relevant if there is more then one image to be displayed. This is usually used in conjunction with <dpImageStart> to define a range where images should be displayed. The default is 3/4 through the story, meaning the last image will display at that position.

Examples:

<dpStory imageStart="2p" imageStop="10p">
This would put the first image after the second paragraph, and the last image after the 10th paragraph. All of the remaining images would be equidistantly dispersed within this range.
<dpStory imageStop="14p">
If this story had three images, the first image would be before the first paragraph (default). The middle image would be after the 7th paragraph, and the last image would be after the 14th paragraph. If there was only one image, it would still be before the first paragraph and the imageStop attribute would be ignored.

imageMacro="macro name"

The <dpStory> image shorthand is quite flexible and easy to use, but it always uses a pre-defined table that is hard coded into Dispatch. The imageMacro attribute allows you to override this table format and use a layout of your choosing.

When defining this layout, you can use any HTML you want and image tags "without" the number attribute. Dispatch will handle advancing the number values for the appropriate images. You may also use other Dispatch tags like conditional statements.

For example:

<dpMacro myImageLayout>
 <table border=1 align="<dpImageAlign>" width="<dpImageWidth>">
 <tr>
 <td>
 Image Table 
 <dpImage> 
 <dpImageCaption> 
 <dpImageArtist>
 </td>
 </tr>
 </table>
</dpMacro>

Note: Like all macros, this macro needs to be declared before it is used, meaning it must be above whatever references it within your template.

Usage would be as follows:

<dpStory images="all" imageMacro="myImageLayout">

Please refer to the common attributes page for the common attribute descriptions.

Your First Story Layout

A basic story layout. No conditional tests and nothing fancy.

T A G C O D E:

<dpHeadline> <dpSubheadline> By <dpAuthor> <dpStory> The above works fine, but doesn't take in many conditions, such as the absence of a headline, or a subheadline, or an author. What if the author credit isn't "by" but "edited by." The following enhancement satisfies these specific concerns: <dpHeadline default="<dpColumn>"> <dpIf <dpSubheadline>> <dpSubheadline> </dpIf> <dpIf <dpAuthor>> <dpAuthorCredit> <dpAuthor> </dpIf> <dpStory> And now with a little formatting and style: <dpHeadline default="<dpColumn>"> <dpIf <dpSubheadline>> <dpSubheadline> </dpIf> <dpIf <dpAuthor>> <dpAuthorCredit> <dpAuthor style="upper"> </dpIf> <dpStory images="on" imageAlign="right">

E F F E C T:

Testing the Length of Story

You can test the length of a story in order to decide whether to display additional ads or suggested links on the side. This can be easily achieved with <dpLength>.

T A G C O D E:

Set a variable that contains the length of the story in characters, so you can use this value in conditional tests throughout your template. <dpVar characterCount="<dpLength unit="c"><dpStory></dpLength>"> Then add your tests where needed. <dpIf <dpVar characterCount> gt 1500> # display side ads </dpIf> or <dpIf <dpVar characterCount> gt 1500> # display side ads <dpElseIf <dpVar characterCount> gt 2000> # display side ads and suggested links </dpIf> Another example, might be testing the number of paragraphs for image placement. This is just a variation on the code above. <dpVar paraCount="<dpLength unit="p"><dpStory></dpLength>"> <dpIf <dpVar paraCount> gt 3> <dpC>Start Images lower on the page</dpC> <dpStory images="on" imageStart="2p" imageAlign="right"> <dpElse> <dpStory images="on" imageAlign="right"> </dpIf>

E F F E C T:

Dropcaps

This example shows how you can give the first character of a story a special treatment, and then display the remainder of the story.

T A G C O D E:

<table border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 align=left> <tr> <td valign=top align=left> <dpStory start="begin" length="1c" style="noHtml"> </td> <td valign=top align=left> </td> </tr> </table> <dpStory start="resume">

E F F E C T:

W

hen Paul McCartney Stated that the Beatles would never work together again on April 10, 1970, people were moved and disappointed, as if a best friend had turned his back on them. That breakup was the first in a decade that saw the demise of several other huge rock bands who make up the core of classic rock. Led Zeppelin, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Pink Floyd buckled under the weight of death or malicious infighting, leaving mediocre final albums in their wake. They might not have gone out on a high note, but they all exited fairly quickly and gracefully (at least as far as the public was concerned). The dirty laundry we've come to read about in the 20 years since wasn't spelled out in the press at that time, so fans felt only loss and adoration. We loved them, and we still love them.

So why is it that I'm finding it hard to feel that kind of love these days?

The explosion of music coverage in magazines and on the web since Michael first moonwalked and Madonna pulled on her fishnets has evolved to the point where no subject is out of bounds. And some bands are happy to play into it: What could keep fans more on edge than constant breakup rumors and in-fighting?

Pavement are the biggest offenders these days. In fact, they've been "breaking up" for the majority of their career. But last November, it looked like the end had finally come. The New Musical Express website (www.nme.com) reported a much publicized -- and disputed -- comment allegedly made by lead singer Stephen Malkmus during a performance at the London Brixton Academy. According to the website, Malkmus explained a pair of handcuffs hanging from his mic stand by saying, "These symbolize what it's like being in a band."

Matador, the band's label, stoked the fires by neither confirming nor denying the story in a brief post on their homepage.

On December 1, matters became even more confusing when NME quoted bandmember Scott Kannberg from an earlier SonicNet (www.sonicnet.com) article, where Kannberg claimed that what Malkmus had actually said about the cuffs was "This is what it's like playing in England." Kannberg was quoted by NME as saying the band was going to take a few years off, and the website called the split "official."

To make matters more confusing, the official Pavement website (www.pavementtherockband.com) put up the following disclaimer: "Contrary to what has been said, Pavement are not breaking up. They are taking a much needed rest as they do at the end of every touring year. They would like to thank all of those who have supported them this year as in the past. They will be back sooner than you know. In the meantime, Pavement will be working on The Slow Century video and DVD compilation to be released sometime in the new century."

Hey, Pavement: Break up or speak up. We're tired of trying to find reliable information about the future of your band. I run out to the record store just like everybody else on release day, happy to get your new record, but by crying wolf so often you're tainting your legacy.

Likewise, the Smashing Pumpkins are a lightning rod for breakup rumors. After the admission that Siamese Dream was pretty much the Billy and Jimmy show, it seemed alt rock had finally found a control freak to rival Dinosaur Jr.'s J. Mascis, and it wasn't until Corgan promised to let the rest of the band play on the follow-up that it appeared the group would continue... until the drama of firing Jimmy... who rejoins triumphantly... and now we have the departure of D'Arcy.

Of course, there have been some modern-day departures that left me feeling misty. Bands who knew when to say when and did it with grace. Take Portland's Heatmiser, who made the best album of their career, Mic City Sons, for Virgin/Caroline, and then promptly disappeared. Lucky for us, Elliott Smith and Sam Coomes put out even better records thereafter. And there was Seattle's own Soundgarden, who calmly called it quits in April 1997 after the modest success of Down on the Upside. True, their commercial peak was Superunknown, but they got out of the grunge game while others (Alice in Chains, Tad) were stumbling blindly toward the end.

It's best to leave us wanting more, not sick to death of you. We expect a reunion in five years anyway, now that hell froze over for the Eagles. In the opening days of 2000 we have been given a warning sign: Camper Van Beethoven, the first major indie rock reunion. Who's next? Slint?

So Pavement, Smashing Pumpkins: You guys go ahead and break up. We dare you. You'll be back.

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