Official Help Thread for Aspiring Webmasters

[Morgoth]

This thread has been created to aid members who are aspiring to be as good as our techy TheWizard at web design () or create a website as in depth and creative as MuggleNet. Either way, here you can ask any questions related to web design and anyone who is an expert in HTML and other abbreviated web jargon can assist you.

There are some rules though.

Posting in this Thread

First and foremost, this is an advice thread. If you are having problems with learning how to create a site or your present site is in need of work then here is the place to ask your questions. Please do not come into this thread and place a link to your site unless you are genuinely in need of some hints and tips about how to improve it.

The website must be G rated, which means it's suitable for all audiences. Any innapropriate links to sites will be removed and you will be warned or banned depending on the severity of what you have posted.

Anyone is free to give advice in this thread from staff to student. However, do give people time to answer your questions. Some people may like to research their answer before posting it or it maybe that you should rephrase your question in case people didn't understand it.

If you are going to post code you must use the relevant tags [*code][*/code] or [*html][*/html] minus the * of course. However do not post code that is malicious in any way. There are plenty of technically gifted minds on the staff who will spot such attempts and we will remove your code and warn/ban you if you decide to do this.

Summary

1. This is an advice thread only. CoS Forums is not responsible for any advice that is posted, expressed or implied that could lead to a problem with your site. You post comments at your own discretion
2. Anyone is welcome to answer your question from student to staff.
3. If you post a link to your website, make sure it's G rated i.e. suitable for family viewing.
4. Do not simply post your site looking for a reaction. Only post it if you want advice on it's source code and/or layout. You must ask specific questions to get specific answers.
5. Tags MUST be used to post code.
6. In no way whatsoever should you post any type of malicious code.
7. Allow time for people to answer your question. The more complex, the longer it could take

Some useful links to know

http://www.w3schools.com/html/html_intro.asp - Introduction to HTML

http://spiderpro.com/pr/prstgm001.html - Some basic dos and don'ts in web design.

http://validator.w3.org/ - Checks your site for any HTML errors.


If you've got any other sites that would be useful, please do post them.


Thanks and ask away

[Nick]

Wow I wish I had your mad skills ..


I have a question.

I once wrote a most excellent avatar rotator that fully ruled.

PHP Code:

<?php

/*
    Nick's Avatar Rotator
    Rotates different avatars depending on the category supplied, or the day's date.
    This code is freeware, but I'm not responsible if you bugger it up somehow and nuke all the files on your hard drive.

    Last update on 9/7/03
*/

$category = (isset ($HTTP_POST_VARS ['c'])) ? $HTTP_POST_VARS ['c'] : $HTTP_GET_VARS ['c'];

// get a list of subdirectories
$directories = array (); $num_dirs = 0;
$dir = @opendir('.');
while (!(($file = @readdir($dir)) === false))
{
    if (@is_dir("./$file") && $file != '.' && $file != '..' && $file != '_vti_cnf')
    {
        $directories [] = $file;
    }
}
@closedir ($dir);
$num_directories = count($directories);

if ($num_directories == 0)
{
    header('Location: default.jpg');
    exit;
}

if (!isset ($category) || $category == '' || !(in_array ($category, $directories)))
{
    // do some killer calculations based on today's date to get today's avatar set.
    // there are 86400 seconds in a day.
    $curr_time = time();
    $day_stamp = intval(($curr_time - ($curr_time % 86400)) / 86400);
    $directory = $directories [$day_stamp % $num_directories];
}
else
{
    $directory = $category;
}

srand((double)microtime()*1000000);

$dir = @opendir($directory);
$filenames = array ();
while (!(($file = @readdir($dir)) === false))
{
    if (preg_match("/^.*?\." . 'jpg' . "$/", $file))
    {
        $filenames [] = $file;
    }
}
$number_files = count ($filenames);
@closedir($dir);

header('Location: ' . $directory . '/' . $filenames [rand (0, $number_files - 1)]);
?>

Aren't I benevolent? I'm sharing my code with the world!

Anyway, some board software, for example UBB, only allows avatars of a certain extension (usually .GIF or .JPG) to be used. So what I had to do to get it to work was to rename the file to rotator.gif and trick the .htaccess file into treating files with a .gif extension as PHP. With me?

Here's the problem. I was using webspace given to me by the owner of a site I happened to be administrating. Paid webspace, PHP, SQL, all the trimmings. Including the ability to use .htaccess files.

This site no longer exists, and I'm trying to find some new webspace for my rotator. Unfortunately, all the free stuff for some reason doesn't allow you to modify the .htaccess files ..

So I suppose my first question is, does anyone know of any free webspace with both PHP and .htaccess capability? Or, given the nature of my program as described above, is there any other way I can achieve the same effect without having to edit a .htaccess file?

[NashiraErato]

Hello!
I have the dubious pleasure of being halfway through a degree in Interactive Multimedia, which means building a lot of all kinds of things, but at the moment I'm involved in a group project building a mapping/"crowd control" piece of software that will operate in public spaces like museums and art galleries called Radix.

Part of my task is to design the interface that will allow museum/gallery staff to set up the software system simply and easily. With that in mind, the more people who I can get to give the interface a onceover the better.

The interface has been made using ColdFusion, because it will have to do lots of communicating with a backend database. You can view the interface so far (please note it's not complete, not by a long shot ) here:

Radix Administrator Interface

Please note : So far you can only step through the "System Set-Up" section, and do not enter any information into the forms because the database isn't up and running yet and your info will go nowhere...

If you have any suggestions of how to make it simpler, or easier to use, or if you notice anything out of place or downright broken then please let me know. All CONSTRUCTIVE criticism welcome. Don't just send me messages telling me you don't like orange please

[Nick]

You seem to be in want of error handling procedures somewhat .. I don't enter anything into the fields and it accepts them. :/

The colours are all right, but the font used for the main text should be altered. Made a little bigger, I think.

What is Coldfusion, incidentally? Why didn't you just use PHP?

[Ali]

Originally Posted by Nick

Wow I wish I had your mad skills ..


I have a question.

Anyway, some board software, for example UBB, only allows avatars of a certain extension (usually .GIF or .JPG) to be used. So what I had to do to get it to work was to rename the file to rotator.gif and trick the .htaccess file into treating files with a .gif extension as PHP. With me?

Here's the problem. I was using webspace given to me by the owner of a site I happened to be administrating. Paid webspace, PHP, SQL, all the trimmings. Including the ability to use .htaccess files.

This site no longer exists, and I'm trying to find some new webspace for my rotator. Unfortunately, all the free stuff for some reason doesn't allow you to modify the .htaccess files ..

So I suppose my first question is, does anyone know of any free webspace with both PHP and .htaccess capability? Or, given the nature of my program as described above, is there any other way I can achieve the same effect without having to edit a .htaccess file?

nice script there...

As for webspace, I'm not sure if there is any 'free' ones out there that will let you edit the .htaccess file. 1and1 used to have a special 3 years free of charge offer but it looks like its gone now.

Also, to be able to change the file extensions using mod_rewrite you will HAVE to either edit the .htaccess file or add some lines to apaches httpd.conf (this will only be accessible if you are on a dedicated web server, AFAIK). I dont think there is any other way of doing what you want.

and just an FYI... you can use the [*php] tag instead.. looks nicer that way .


NashiraErato: So far so good. As Nick pointed out, you will definitely need to include some kind of error handling procedures (valdation, verification, etc)

It would be a good idea to add a proper navigation to the interface (eg. 'back', 'go to main menu' buttons, etc, etc.)

[dumbleedore]

I'm the webmistress at work, and, unfortunatly, I don't know a thing about webpages. . It was a choice between me and my boss, who wouldn't know how to turn a computer on, or my co worker who can turn it on but can't do much else.

The problem I'm having is that my boss (the one who can use a computer who doesn't work in the office- long story) wants the page to use frames. But I don't know how to do frames...

I use FrontPage, although I do have access to Dreamweaver. The page can be found here. I'm doing a HTML course next week as well- will that help me in anyway shape or form?

[TheGift]

Hey dumbleedore,

I'm kind of in the same situation as you as far as i am trying to learn HTML, and how to actually build a website. I found this site on frames help here. I got a copy of FrontPage yesterday, and any tips would be greatly apreciated! Feel free to PM me. Hope the Frame help link can help you.

[dumbleedore]

Tips with Frontpage? I just fiddle and hope for the best Best thing about computer illeterate co workers is that they think you're working

Thanks for the frames help page, though- will look at it when it's not 11pm at night when I should be in bed

[NashiraErato]

Nick - As I said, very unfinished, at it was after 2am, so you'll have to cut me a little bit of slack But thankyou for the feedback. Error handling comes along today if I can remember how to do it.
I didn't use PHP because I don't know it...hehe. ColdFusion is a server-side language that is very much like HTML (which I do know), as it uses <tag> </tag>. It's owned by Macromedia so it's well integrated into Dreamweaver. Macromedia ColdFusion (it doesn't sound like "Confusion" for nothing) Support .

Good luck to anyone having to use Frontpage! It's one to avoid if you can. Use Dreamweaver if at all possible, because the WYSIWYG interface is nice and friendly, once you get over the profusion of buttons, I've been using it since I was 15.
For frames...well...Be CAREFUL else you end up with pages opening in the wrong place. Writing frames in HTML can be very tricky, so I'd avoid doing it in code and go for the visual interface of Frontpage/Dreamweaver. Dumbleedore - if you can get Dreamweaver open and just use the insert>frames menu option. It takes a lot of the hassle out of thing.

Good luck everyone!

[Tane]

I have been waiting for something like this to come along because I have been using the signature attachment here to practice a very tiny amount of HTML with little success.

I can set up tables and frames and drop boxes and hyperlinks etc....

What I seem to have problems with is setting up a drop box full of hyperlinks to a website outside the forum, that will work.

So how do I set up a drop box containing hyperlinks that are outside say this forum, so that I have a signature with only 1 line of links and not 5 lines of hyperlinks?

Wow I feel a little embarrassed to ask such a simple question in the presence of some members on here.

[Nick]

^ Can't be done the way you are describing it. You can't put hyperlinks into a dropdown list, but what you can do is put in some javascript that will cause the browser to jump to another page based on what the user selects.

Starting to wish I had the ability to code HTML here, but never mind :/

You could do this by adding some javascript into the <select> tag .. at least, that's what I think the tag is ..

<select onclick="location=index.value;"><option name="The Best Web Page in the Universe" value="http://www.maddox.xmission.com"> .. </select>

The script is wrong of course because it's been ages since I did anything like that and I'm very lazy .. not to mention the fact that java and iframes and all the cool stuff are disabled in your sigs so this wouldn't work here anyway.

Originally Posted by NashiraErato

Error handling comes along today if I can remember how to do it.

Be very careful. This looks like an internet app to me, and so you have to watch out for hack attempts as well as users of questionable intelligence. Make sure you remove or neuter any dangerous symbols in all inbound data, not just the stuff that the user enters. This includes anything that you might have inside <input type="hidden" ..> tags. Quite a few vunerabilities I have found in badly written code that doesn't bother to check the validity of data from hidden tags. It's quite imperative that you make sure that all numbers really are numbers and not tricky SQL injection strings.

Also - the less data you have on each page, and the more incomprehensible the "name" of the data is, the better. I know that in programming classes they like to teach you to make your variable names meaningful or whathaveyou, but making such information public would give any keyboard-wielding hacker an advantage you don't want him to have.

I didn't use PHP because I don't know it..

I encourage everyone to learn it, because it rules almost as much as I do.

For frames...well...Be CAREFUL else you end up with pages opening in the wrong place. Writing frames in HTML can be very tricky, so I'd avoid doing it in code and go for the visual interface of Frontpage/Dreamweaver. Dumbleedore - if you can get Dreamweaver open and just use the insert>frames menu option. It takes a lot of the hassle out of thing.

I disagree.

Frames are very simple in HTML as long as you plan everything out properly. I'll probably write a simple tutorial or something showing exactly how easy it is.

Personally I can't stand visual interface programs like Frontpage .. I'm a fully hardcore Notepad hacker.

dumbleedore - that site needs help. I'll be back ..

[NashiraErato]

Nick - ohh you're one of those text-only types are you? My coding/scripting/programming is pretty awful as it is, so if I have to look at loads of words my brain turns to mush and dribbles out of my ear. I'm a visual thinker. I hate laying pages out with frames anyway. I like to do it in tables, but I heard that the W3C types want to phase out using tables for layout and make people use...layers. Layers are even worse than frames in my opinion. I hope it's a ghastly ghastly rumour that never comes to pass.

[Qeomash]

Anyone using frames should know this:

Search Engines do not record the frame code file. (The HTML file with the frame coding in it). Instead, they only record the actual pages that are displayed in frames. This can be a pain, especially if you use a frame for you navigation. (Like I once did.)

[Nick]

^ Take a look at the site dumbleedore linked to. I like their solution to that problem.

[Tane]

Originally Posted by Nick

^ Can't be done the way you are describing it. You can't put hyperlinks into a dropdown list, but what you can do is put in some javascript that will cause the browser to jump to another page based on what the user selects.

Explains the failed 20 attempts.

Starting to wish I had the ability to code HTML here, but never mind :/

Well at least you can do Java and know the difference between Java and HTML and when to use them.

You could do this by adding some javascript into the <select> tag .. at least, that's what I think the tag is ..

<select onclick="location=index.value;"><option name="The Best Web Page in the Universe" value="http://www.maddox.xmission.com"> .. </select>

The script is wrong of course because it's been ages since I did anything like that and I'm very lazy .. not to mention the fact that java and iframes and all the cool stuff are disabled in your sigs so this wouldn't work here anyway.

No head hurts, I am a beginner so trust me to start off with something impossible with HTML coding. So what part of the script is actually correct Nick and the maddox obsession continues with you.

That also explains why some of the HTML I was convinced was right did not work. They lied to me; they should have stated that some HTML is enabled in your signature.

[Nick]

Originally Posted by Tane

No head hurts, I am a beginner so trust me to start off with something impossible with HTML coding. So what part of the script is actually correct Nick and the maddox obsession continues with you.

Well, I'll try and get a version that works up sometime today. At the moment I don't know what part is working and what isn't.

[Nick]

Ok, here we go.

PHP Code:

<select name="f" onchange="if(this.options[this.selectedIndex].value != 0){ document.location=this.options[this.selectedIndex].value; }">
<option value="0">Choose your doom ..</option>
<option value="http://www.maddox.xmission.com">Madcox Rocks!</option>
</select> 


I have tested this code myself on this forum and it works perfectly. Chances are I'll use it in my sig too.

The <option>..</option> format is dead simple. Its just :

<option value="http://www.the.place.where.you.want.people.to.go.com">Website name</option>

Here's a nice little feature: if you put in a value of 0, (not http://www.0.com) it will not jump whenever you click on it. Which means that you can use it to space out any link categories you may have.

I hope that I've made it clear enough.

[NashiraErato]

Just wondered if anyone here used Macromedia Flash very much and what they thought of it?
I'm using it a lot at the moment for a project I'm working on...

[Nick]

Generally when a page has flash on it I shut the page down .. my computer doesn't like flash very much.

[NashiraErato]

I don't like using it very much. It's a very very awkward piece of software, and it's taken up to version 7 of the Flashplayer Plugin to display animation on the Mac at the same speed as the PC. I had to put up with really slow stilted looking stuff for aaages. I'm a Mac nut I'm afraid.