Automatically swapping avatars

[WillyDeWulfe]

I was working on a little java program that changes my avatar every 30 seconds, and it doesn't work.

It was supposed to function by overwriting the .gif file that the forum gets my avatar from. I know the image gets overwritten fine and everything, but the forum doesn't grab it again.

Basically my questions are these:
1) Does the forum save all avatars on its own server(even the ones from a url) instead of just getting them from whatever server the original image is on?

2) Is there a way I can change my avatar besides Settings>Edit Avatar>Copy/Paste URL? (Like some sort of backdoor way I could get my program to do?)

[Drillgorg]

No sorry, avatars are hosted by the forum and are only changed when you manually upload a new one.

[WillyDeWulfe]

I may still be able to rig something, though this poses problems...

Thanks anyway.

[unbridledExüberance]

I might be possible to figure out what command to send to the server, then call that from your program, but I imagine that automated programs like that are frowned upon. Plus the session key would expire if you logged out.

[orngjce223]

I believe an accepted way to do this is to have an avatar that is an animated GIF with a ludicrously long cycle time (ie 60 seconds). Mind the size restrictions though.

[unbridledExüberance]

That's true. So long as all the avatars you want are static (non-animated) images, you could just put them as frames in a gif with a delay of 30000 ms. The problem with that, though, is it would start back at avatar #1 every time you load a page, so most people would only see the first few avatars.

[simon.clarkstone]

Restarting GIFs depends on the browser, though I expect most will do so. OTOH, some pages can take minutes to read.

[WillyDeWulfe]

I don't think the long gif thing will work to my satisfaction. I'll probably just have to give up. Thanks anyway.

[Derp Strider]

I have an idea
If you host something via drtopbox, the link will be the same even if you change/replace the file.
Perhaps rigging something to periodically change the file the dropbox link directs to?

[simon.clarkstone]

The forum still won't re-fetch the file though.

[Derp Strider]

The forum still won't re-fetch the file though.

FUCK