design site need you to look

[zero44]

http://zero44.com

Hello, this is my design site I've been trying to keep up on. There are many questions I have and I need all the pc and Mac user to look at the site. All comments are welcome, if you reach any error page or see anything unusual, please let me know.

There are few question I need some help on


#1 - I'm trying to make my custom 404 page, I don't get the .htaccess, I don't know what kind of code do I need to put in the file. Is there a default .htaccess file? I made my own .htaccess file but when I load it in the powweb server, It doesn't see my index page. How do I upload it in ASCII mode?

#2 - I want to have my own favicon, I can save the file in .ico but I don't know what dpi and image size I should made it in photoshop.

#3 - most of my viewers are from a Mac with safari, I notice when I use IE and when I reload the site, the right and bottom black frames are missing, does anyone know how I can change the code to fix it? In safari, all the frames work fine.

#4 - I'm expecting about a thousand visitor in the coming week, will my bandwidth be ok, will powweb charge me $?



All comments are welcome!

[(jj)]

Don't know about your other problems, as I'm not going to check out your site beyond what I just did!

With Mozilla Firebird all of your links opened in new windows and then resized. If I want my windows resized I will do it myself, thank you.

Checked with IE6 and it not only resized the window, but now I can not get my IE windows back to normal. Thankfully I do not use IE as my default browser!!

<edit>
Just to clarify a bit, I run my IE in maximized format, but now when it is maximized it is wider than my 800x600 screen and about 3 inches below the top of my screen. Nothing I've tried so far (checking registry and doing a "repair" of my IE) has helped fix this problem.

If you have 7,000 visitors and only 10% of them are using Windows with IE 6..you will most likely have 700 very angry visitors, and I'm sure some will not take too kindly to having their browsers screwed up.
</edit>

[(jj)]

After searching through the MS newsgroups, I was able to find a cure for that problem.

So if anyone else visits this site to offer a critique and ends up with similar problems, PM me and I'll gladly give you the instructions.

[BerksWebGuy]

Liked your site...different kind of design to it...but hard to navigate.

I use IE 6.0...all links open in new windows (big pain). And your index page has a JavaScript error somewhere (I think it said line 36 or 38).

But I do like the overall design...just hard to navigate.

[zero44]

http://zero44.com

thanks for the reply

i guess you guys don't like the open window huh. the whole idea of the open window is to separate different content that I have.

The first black fill screen page is to cover everything on your desktop, then pop the center main page, that's to take your view from everything else and focus in the middle of the main page. I don't expect people to go to far deep into the site, just read whatever is in front of you. If the viewers are interested in my work, they will go into the links and look around. I like the comment on hard to navigate, I'm working on that, I'm thinking about taking out the thoughts menu, it's kinda useless. I might just skip the java script error for now, the only java script I have in the index page is the fill window command.


I know that the open window doesn't work well with a pc with 800 in a 15in display. I want them to have at least 1024 with a 17in display, heck I rather design a site with a 20+ display and at least 1440, it's almost 2004, time for an upgrade for those who need one.


Please help me with the questions I have, a link for those answers will be great!

Thanks again, keep it coming

[(jj)]

#1 - If all you want to use the .htaccess file for is a custom error document, this is all you need in the file

ErrorDocument 404 /error.html

The document can be named error or just about anything (except index or default) Create the .htaccess file in a pure text editor, I believe for a Mac that is bbedit (not the default one that comes with a Mac). Save the file as htaccess.txt, upload it to your htdocs folder, change the name to .htaccess (note the dot "." in front of the name.


#2 - Favicons are supposed to be no more than 32x32 pixels, 256 colors and must be named favicon.ico to be seen by most browsers. If you want to name it something different, or if you or others are not seeing it, add this to the <head> </head> section of your pages

<link rel="shortcut icon" href="http://www.yourdomain.com/name.ico">
<link rel="icon" type="image/ico" href="http://www.yourdomain.com/name.ico">

[YvetteKuhns]

jj, thanks for the warning. I won't visit that site unless he corrects the code that changes computer settings. That is a big turn off.

Links to other websites can open in a new window, but links to other pages of your own website usually open in the same window.

You can create a jpg in Photoshop (square images are better), then use icon creator programs to convert the image to 32x32 in ico format. There are freeware programs to do that and more.

[sfrancism]

hey bro, first of all, i like the site, my friends and i are actually thinking of doing that vintage look too for our fourth update(taking a break from the "tekkie" look, nawmean). second, nice pics. third, i wouldn't worry too much about some people's complaints towards compatibility w/ browsers or screen size resolutions. i understand the creative aspect of it and IE is so much more flexible to better serve that. ya, some people still use netscape(what a shame) but key word is "some." in this article i read, 95% uses IE, the 5% is shared w/ netscape, mozilla, opera, whathaveyou. i remember b4, we would have a splash page requiring IE and flash, but now, we simply dont care. if u dont have IE, flash, 800x600, too freakin bad, you shouldnt be browsing anyways, get with the program.. lol.

i have no problems with the popup windows except that you popup a diff. window for each image. have a set name for the popup window so it reuses the same window for each image and i assume that the reason you have a popup for each pic is so that it doesnt get hidden behind the fill page when they click for a second picture. well, after u set a name for the popup window, do this. i noticed that you created an html for each pic, well then add "onLoad=focus();" in the <body> tag for each picture's html file. so for ex., if they click a thumbnail for the second time, the same popup window will get the picture requested and then when it's loaded completely, that window will be on top of all windows. hope it makes sense.

there's also another way, which is way easier by using php. this way you dont have to create an html for each pic (i did that too in my earlier days). it'll be too lengthy to explain here. but if you're really interested, reply or pm me.

by the way, the calendar link is fkn up. good luck. peace.


p.s. arguments towards screen size and browser compatibility will be ignored. what can i say, im stubborn. haha happy holidays, everyone :)

[YvetteKuhns]

I don't get offended when people disagree, don't accept my advice or be stubborn. I can be that way, too. JJ and I just gave suggestions. Just trying to be helpful. Didn't want to upset you. If we did, sorry.

The reason your site's visitors are 95% IE users (don't know what article quoted that) is because you program best for that audience. A website for Mac users will obviously have a MUCH lesser percentage of IE users.

Whatever works for you and your visitors is fine. I just think of all the sites that say works best in X browser at Y resolution and anyone not using that is forced to change, see the site at less than best conditions or more likely leave the site.

But again, if your visitors are happy with it, stick with it.

Happy holidays! :)

[firdanand]

I think it could load faster

[zero44]

Hey thanks for the comments. I want to understand more of what you all are writing.

You wrote "i have no problems with the popup windows except that you popup a diff. window for each image."
What do you mean by the different window for each image?

When you click on photography, it pops up a new center window right? When you click in the window, the image changes right? No window suppose to open again.

I have different htmls for all the different photos because each thumbnail leads to each photog html, then each links to a random image html. Is that a good way to do that?

I would like to understand more of php if you can have the time Layer07.net

I'm doing a new page for the calendar.

I like the point that you said it's slow. Yes I know, every page it's pretty heavy. Are you on a 56k, if you are can you tell me how long for each page? If it's under 12 seconds than I'm happy.

I'm not on a pc, I appreciate all the pc comments!

rock on rockstars!

[firdanand]

Hello!

So I think that what we were meaning to say with the window thing, was that it's just a little annoying for someone to click on a link, and then have a new window open; it makes things cluttered. (try _self) With speed, I completely understand; my site is slow as well. There are people out there who would say, get rid of the graphics. But I'm not one of those people. I think you did a great job, but should still always strive for, "as fast as possible".

[firdanand]

P.S. I'm not on dialup; though dialup testing is a good idea; there are still a lot of people out there using it.

[!CC]

I dropped in just to have a quick look after reading the thread.....the 'second' page took 42 seconds to load here (56k dial up) and we normally have pretty good through put compared to many on dial up.. I asked a friend to check her connection it not usually quite as good as mine and it was over a minute for her.....

[firdanand]

As I said...

[firdanand]

hahaha

[sfrancism]

yvette, i also need to apologize. i think it's great that people are out there like you guys that take their time and test it on multiple browsers as some may find it very helpful information. it's up to zero44 which advice he/she wants to take, it was just my personal opinion on how i feel towards browsers and resolution. the article. (http://news.com.com/2100-1023-938784.html)

thanks for the linkage zero44. you've been linked too on my friend's page (http://www.layer07.com/logic). as for your main page(not the splash page), everytime you click the img thumbnail on the upper lefthand corner, it pops up a new window. fix it by giving Name in window.open(URL, Name , Properties) a common one. im bad at explaining. anyone, correct me if im wrong with this.

ill send you ex. files on how i did it php way, though i havent figured out how to do the "go to next picture" using php alone. ill send it sometime this wk, it's kinda hectic right now, its my finals.

on another note, be nice children. i didnt bash on u, why bash me. today musta been a bad hair day. i understand. happy holidays everyone.

[Croc Hunter]

ouch@Galexia

Hope you post here often enough to appreciate Galexia's rampages sfrancism.

Don't take it to heart mate.

[Mirzabah]

Originally posted by galexia
... yeah, because it's not like you want anyone to see it or anything. just your l33t 14 year old friends and gaming clan. ha ha ha...

etc...
Hmmm. I too get tired of sites that 0\/\/n my browser and open every link in a gratuitous popup window, but, oooof, a bit harsh...

Myself, I liked the visual elements of the design, but way too much pointless scriptery. Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

Cheers,
Mirzabah.

[YvetteKuhns]

Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

That was a listing for WebPagesThatSuck.com where you can vote for sites that, well... don't meet our expectations. ;)

yvette, i also need to apologize
If you post here long enough, you will see that everyone is just trying to be helpful and when I bite back like Croc, I don't mean anything personal. If you need to apologize, then so do I.

I usually try to avoid website critiques, because people expect compliments and not insults. Constructive criticism helps you improve your site so others can enjoy it. Most users visit and either stay if they like it or leave if they don't. At least here you have an audience that stays long enough to tell you what is good or bad. ;)

As for Galexia, she wants to be a mod? Look out PowWeb! :D

[zero44]

Thanks for everyone who came to my site, loved it or hated it, I still got you looking......

Also thanks for the people in this thread, I got my 404 and favicon working!


I've been thinking about making everything in one page, since people don't like the pop up windows.

My #4 questions was never answer, can someone explain the 5 gb traffic per day? Now I'll be expecting about three thousand visitors in a week, if they don't all come at once everything will be ok right, 5 gb/day means unlimited?


New ideas are arriving, come back and visit

[YvetteKuhns]

You can check your webstats and monitor your visits or check OPS to see your bandwidth usage. I don't think you will have a problem unless your visitors would be downloading large files.

[zero44]

http://zero44.com


Hey everyone! So what do you think? Everything in one page (less pop Up window).

I notice in Mac IE, my posting gets push down by about 20 pixel? Or when I reload, the posting jumps down. Is it my coding? Any idea?

Thanks!

Please feel free to let me know if there's any broken link or anything that looks odd, All comments are Welcome!



This is not the end, step in and ....

[Mirzabah]

First comment, get rid of the EBTG, Kylie, Beatles and PGMG tracks ... and anything else you might have there that is in violation of copyright. PowWeb's terms of service specifically bar copyright violations. They take this seriously and will suspend your account without warning.

Otherwise, looking good :)