I don't know where else to post it.

I want to set up this tool where the user can type in something in a text field, choose font, size, color, etc... and the results display in another text box.

Are there any scripts out there that I can modify?

Check this out:

http://www.myboatsign.com/main.asp

It would actually be for something like this anyway, but not this complex.

Do you want this to display in image or HTML? You said to put the output into another textbox, so I assume you want HTML outputted.

If that's the case you could use a WYSIWYG editor... have it in HTML (Design) mode. Upon submitting the form, it submits to a standard ASCII textbox on the page which displays the CODE (HTML).

u'd have to use some java or flash
wouldnt be too hard in flash though

dun know flash Someday I'll have time...

most ppl dont have the slightest clue about how powerful flash really is, its amazing!

but I'm not an expert in action scripting.

How easy would it be? Can you do it

It shouldn't be too difficult. First need to identify what you want to user to be able to customize. It all depends on what level of difficulty you want to go for...

Just have the user enter

text name
color
some other options.

Take a look at the current tool - which the owner previously used on someone elses server and now got caught using it, so they can't use it anymore.

http://www.letteringandstriping.com and click on the right where it says create your own boat lettering

Thanks!

How does the process end? Do you need results posted to a DB, sent to you as an email, etc...

Well, as it stands right now, the user would have to save the image and upload it in the form.

If the results would be attached to the form, and sent in the form, then that would be easier on their part.

Thoughts?

It seems to me that if you're only dealing with text, then you can do this with some simple CSS and JavaScript.

If you're wanting to produce an image that includes some text, then you probably want a server-side component that can build graphics for you.

Either way, you'll have some data entry components (dropdowns, text boxes) to enter the text, font, size, colours etc.

If you use JavaScript/CSS then setting these can automatically produce the corresponding formatted text. When the user wants to submit their selection, the form probably submits the user font, size, colour etc. selections rather than the displayed text. Your server can then reproduce the formatted text on the server using these settings.

If you need to produce an image, you again will have some input boxes for font, size, colour, the text etc. When the user has made their selections, you'll need to post the info to the server (using a submit button maybe). The server will use this info to produce a .gif or .jpeg using the info they've submitted, and send back the page with their selections and the rendered graphic. When the user is happy, they will just re-submit their selections (but not the actual graphic). The server can re-render the graphic as needed from the provided settings. This way you avoid sending a graphic back to the server.

If you can avoid graphics, and just stick to formatted text, it will be much easier. I haven't done much with JavaScript, but you'll want to google for OnClick, CSS, Style, Button, JavaScript, Dynamic. If you search on those terms I'm sure you'll find the code you need to do this with JavaScript/CSS.

i agree u could do it with css as well
again i go back to flash
probably could be done with little actionscripting
one of the tuts that comes with flash has the whole color changing thing
but to do this right its not a little task