Smart Parts

Labels are simply parts that hold pieces of text. They can be used as simple sticky notes, as labels on a page or overlaid on an image for a caption. One advanced feature of labels is that they can be used to raise actions on other parts when accessed.

A note part is much like a label part but includes a text editor much like the Windows Notepad. Just access a note part and an editor will open.

Link parts provide two types of links. One type is to link to files and web site addresses. The other is to actually store files inside a MyUniverse project file. When a document such as a Microsoft Word document is stored in a link part, when accessed, it will start Microsoft Word and open the document. It is even capable of re-storing into the project file any changes made in the Word file whenever the Word file is saved.

Image parts display images from several formats including jpg, png and gif files. The images can come from the internet or from your hard drive. They can be either linked or stored in MyUniverse project file. Additionally, images have link capabilities similar the Link Smart Part.

Icon parts function as sub-parts, meaning they can be placed inside other parts. Icon parts simply show icon images from .ico files. Use them as visual annotations for the parts that hold them. Icon files are widely available on the internet.

Page parts add multiple dimensions to a project. Without pages, MyUniverse would simply be one large page. To give structure, use pages. Think of a page as an additional MyUniverse page on which more parts can be added. Add multiple pages to a page or pages inside page parts to give organization to a project file.

Connectors allow connections between two parts on a page. Connector segments can be set to Bezier lines to make the connectors curvy. Primarily intended for visual associations between parts, such as an organizational chart, family tree or mind map, it can also be used for "de-cluttering". You can conceal information until it is needed by using the “Hide downstream” function and with one click show the hidden information. Connectors used with the flowchart part can create dynamic visual flow charts. See flowcharts for more information.

A Basic connector is a simple single segment connector between two parts.

A Polyline connector connects two parts with any number of segments.

A Star connector connects one part as an origin to multiple destination parts.

Installation of Google Earth is required for this part to function. The Google Earth Positioner Smart Part provides interaction with Google Earth. It part can store a single coordinate captured in the current view on Google Earth for later playback. An advanced usage of the Google Earth Positioner is to create multiple parts and move from one position coordinate to another in a sequence using the Action capability provided in the Professional Edition. This gives the ability to create a Google Earth tour or visually travel a route using parts as waypoints.

A priority part is a sub-part that will show a colored indicator based on one of five priority settings. This provides a visual indication of the priority of the part that contains it. Accessing a Priority part will open a summary of all parts tagged with a priority part.

The action scheduler part provides value in the Professional edition and can be used to cause certain actions to happen at certain times. The flexibility of the scheduler's timers means you can specify actions to happen in much the same way as reminders in Calendars.

The Button part provides value in the Professional edition where the button can be configured to perform an action when clicked. The actions that are available will depend on the part's capability upon which the action will be performed.

A checklist is a simple part which allows you to list a set if items. Each item can be checked or unchecked as needed.

Flowchart parts can be connected to any other kinds of parts using connectors. Because any type of part can be a flowchart block, it is possible to create very powerful flowcharts. The connectors can be colored showing the active path through a flowchart. Green can show the path through flowchart parts that are set to "Yes" and red for all other paths.

The state of flowcharts can be set in a number of ways. It can be set manually using 'Yes'/'No' buttons, it can be set automatically from a value in a database, set by a script or based on the value of other parts. This means flowchart path coloring can dynamically change as information it is based on changes.

A foreign exchange part can apply foreign exchange rates to HTML Value and Stock Quote parts.

If you are in Australia and you want to see the quote for a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange, but you want to see the quote in Australian dollars, use a foreign exchange part.

The Formula part provides a calculation capability. Enter a mathematical formula using other Value parts (Value, HTML Value, Formula, Stock Quote, etc.) as inputs to the formula to calculate a value for display or for use in other parts.

The HTML Value part is an interesting part in that it is uniquely capable of pulling out a single value that is displayed on a web page, and making the number available to other parts such as Formulas or Totalizers.

A media part is capable of playing a single Audio or Video clip. The media part is capable of playing any Audio or Video file that can be played in the Windows Media Player which includes MP3 music files and MPEG video files. The media part can detect when the file played has finished and start an action on another part. This allows for doing things like playing a set of music files.

An RSS Reader part is used to store a link to an RSS or Atom news feed. When accessed, the RSS Reader will show an RSS Browser with the items currently available from the feed.

A script part is an advanced part that can add powerful and sophisticated capabilities to a MyUniverse project. A script can be a simple one which changes a few properties in a part or can be much more complex doing significant processing. Scripts can be run either manually or can be started as an action based on an event from another part. Most parts have properties and methods that can accessed from a script.

Because scripts provide a powerful capability, users of projects with scripts can control what a script is allowed to do. For example, someone may write a script that can access files on the local hard drive. The user can set permissions on the script to prevent this from happening if they do not trust the origin of the script or project file.

A stock quote part is used to get current stock prices from quote services for display. With a stock quote part, a cost basis and the number of shares held can be entered and the portfolio value updated regularly. Alerts can be set up on share prices enabling alerts such as sending an e-mail automatically if the share price goes above or below a certain price.

Because a Stock Quote part is a Value type part, the share value or portfolio value can be used by Totalizer or Formula parts for a Net Worth calculation or additional processing.

To Do parts can be used for your To Do list. Settings for each To Do item can be set such as priority, percent complete or status. The To Do part can be configured to raise an alert (such as to twitter or an email) when the deadline has been reached.

The toolbar makes available a button which will show a summary of all To Do parts in the project along with information such as the priority and current status.

A Totalizer will add up all the values in a project for a given value group. This makes it easy to set up an inventory total value or a net worth calculation. As the value in Value type parts in the group change, the Totalizer value will update. For example, it can be used as a Net Worth calculator that includes the current portfolio value from Stock Quote parts, the value of your house or car and mortgage or loan liabilities.

The Twitter part allows you to follow Twitter within MyUniverse. Along with the Twitter part, comes the Twitter alert functionality which will allow alerts configured in the project to use it to automatically post to your Twitter account. This can be To Do reminders, stock alerts or any other Smart Parts that can raise alerts.

The Unit Converter is a part specifically used in conjunction with the HTML Value part. The Unit Converter will take the value in the units used on a web page and convert it to different units within MyUniverse. For example, if a web page shows a temperature in Celsius but you want to see it in Fahrenheit, set the Unit Converter to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit and set the HTML Value part to use the Unit Converter. The unit converter allows you to enter in any kind of conversion formula to be able to handle most unit conversion scenarios.

A Value Part is a value type part which allows you to manually enter a value and a quantity. This provides the ability to create for example, a home inventory. As you acquire more, you can add more parts or adjust quantities. Another use is to manually enter values such as the balance on a loan or bank account which can be totalled with a Totalizer part to determine your net worth.