Please check wtjr.org

[wtjr]

Hello please check out www.wtjr.org
What do you think?
Thanks
W

Notice the scaling header...!?

[Vistronic]

Kind of a pseudonymous thing going on here but in general I like the site it appears like ablog/cms mix type look.

[Doc C]

Funny thing is if you compare wtjr's site and keyplyr's site side by side, you see pretty much the same layout. But that's just my opinion.

wtjr, give the error page a look and see what you can do. It looks like a few changes will pretty much fix a lot of 'em.

[Builder]

Re: the errors -- in XHTML you *must* enclose all attributes in quotes (width="96" height="100") and all tags must be "closed" either with a separate closing tag, e.g. <p></p>, or self-closing, e.g. <br /> or <img ... />. Most of the errors I looked through were related to one of those 2 items. There are a few that have to do with stray unused tags or incorrectly nested tags.

Kevin

[wtjr]

Hello thanks for the feed back I will try to clean the code up.

"Cookie cutter CMS" ):

It is wordpress made to look like a CMS (and act like one in someways).
Took me a while to get that look its a modified theme of Journalized.
The reason I went for the CMS look is functionaility and neatness and white space.

Again thanks I was not really shooting for "fireworks" with this site
but to match this corporate site http://www.ctnonline.com/ (but better)!
The directive was to make all stations look the same in otherwords match that site above.
I did not want to drop dynamic pages to go back to static HTML so I modded the site to get it close.
So in that regard do you think the site works?

Also the page does have page scaling for diffirent screen sizes.

[YvetteKuhns]

I have to say this (and I say this a lot): I don't like gray backgrounds. They look like a rainy day and after yesterday's thunderstorm and two power outages, that is depressing.

A silver or gold color may be okay. Think of the silver lining in a cloud. This is a religious website and I think of a ray of light shining from the clouds. I would have expected a sunny color instead. The blue link text on gray doesn't have enough contrast for my tired eyes.

The left links menu shows underline when hovering over links. A color change may make it easier for people to see their selections. The main contents box is not the same height as the menu contents box. If you specify the height of the main box to be a fixed size that matches the menu, it can still expand with contents when you need more room. And it would look better when there isn't much contents.

The Site Search would look better ABOVE the links. It doesn't fit in my first screen view which means I have to scroll to see it, the weather and events cancellations. I just noticed that there are even more links on the right side that are viewable in 1024x768 screen resolution. (I didn't try others.) The right menu is even longer than the left. This looks unbalanced. It only appears on the home page?

There is space between the story header and the story content. It would look better if that "white" space (actually gray right now) would be eliminated there. I viewed a few pages and found at least one broken link. Links to other websites should open in a new window. Links to other pages on your website should usually open in the same window.

There are pictures of people, but their names do not appear! That drives me crazy! Try posting thumbnails (smaller images) and make those link to enlarged images. That would save load time when there are several images on one page.

To fix some of those validation errors, you should use the HTML Codes - Characters and symbols (http://www.ascii.cl/htmlcodes.htm). See Children's Programs and notice the question marks that appear instead of the apostrophe for an example.

I decided to focus on the look of the website. It is easy to read and navigate. It is WordPress, so may be limited in what you can change with the source code. I viewed in Firefox and IE6 and got similar results.

[wtjr]

Wordpress is a CMS


When I first got into wordpress they did not call it a CMS as such but blogging software
I admit its like a CMS or maybe it is... I use it that way.

Wiki prefers the Blog software lable
"
WordPress is a blog publishing system written in PHP and backed by a MySQL database. WordPress is the official successor of b2\cafelog, developed by Michel Valdrighi. The name WordPress was suggested by Christine Selleck, a friend of lead developer Matt Mullenweg."

But it fits this:
"A Content Management System (CMS) is a software system used for content management. Content management systems are deployed primarily for interactive use by a potentially large number of contributors. For example, the software for the website Wikipedia is based on a content management system.[1]

The content managed includes computer files, image media, audio files, electronic documents and web content. The idea behind a CMS is to make these files available inter-office, as well as over the web. A Content Management System would most often be used as archival as well. Many companies use a CMS to store files in a non-proprietary form. Companies use a CMS to share files with ease, as most systems use server based software, even further broadening file availability. As shown below, many Content Management Systems include a feature for Web Content, and some have a feature for a "workflow process."

"Work flow" is the idea of moving an electronic document along for either approval, or for adding content. Some Content Management Systems will easily facilitate this process with email notification, and automated routing. This is ideally a collaborative creation of documents. A CMS facilitates the organization, control, and publication of a large body of documents and other content, such as images and multimedia resources.

A web content management system is a content management system with additional features to ease the tasks required to publish web content to web sites."

Source wikipedia

Thanks for all the input so far
wtjr

[YvetteKuhns]

A web content management system is a content management system with additional features to ease the tasks required to publish web content to web sites."

Source wikipedia

wikipedia contents are added by the general public. Anyone can add or edit posts. That comment sounds very opinionated.

A blog IS a CMS. Content Management Scripts describe any scripts that manage contents. They allow website contents to be added, modified or deleted through the browser. A blog, gallery, portal and other scripts that fit my general description is a CMS. Of course, that is MY opinion. ;)

[YvetteKuhns]

Listen to Yvette. She's a smart lady.

You only say that when I agree with you. My husband says that when he wants something. I will not mention what. ;)

[Doc C]

Uh, something is wrong with that last statement. :)

[wtjr]

Was at 54 errors! Now at 44 !

And working on it! First

I will get rid of errors... then YK's advice

[YvetteKuhns]

Place quotes around your attribute values and you will see many more errors disappear.

[wtjr]

YK, I am thinking of a dark purple background what do you think?

[YvetteKuhns]

Dark purple? That doesn't seem appropriate for this website, but the white boxes would certainly stand out. Of course, your logo header would blend into the background. Are you picking a strange color to make your website unique?

[wtjr]

No.
I was just trying to match the header... but you are most likely right.

Silver?

[YvetteKuhns]

A silver or gold color may be okay. Think of the silver lining in a cloud. This is a religious website and I think of a ray of light shining from the clouds. I would have expected a sunny color instead. The blue link text on gray doesn't have enough contrast for my tired eyes.

Yes, I believe I suggested that. ;)

[wtjr]

This Page Is Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional!

Zero errors!

Yippie

(:

OH NO CSS ERRORS!!!!!!!
W3C CSS Validator Results for http://www.wtjr.org
Sorry! We found the following errors
URI : http://www.wtjr.org/wp-content/themes/journalized/layout.css
19 h2 Parse Error - / padding: 1px 4px;
29 Parse Error - : relative; z-index: 3; width: auto; min-width: 120px; } #headerblock

↑ Top

Warnings (60)
URI : http://www.wtjr.org/wp-content/themes/journalized/skins/grey-skin.css
22 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu input and h1
22 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts .storycontent and h1
22 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts .navigation and h1
22 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu input and h1
22 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts .navigation and h1
22 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu textarea and h1
22 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts .navigation and h1
22 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu textarea and h1
22 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu textarea and h1
22 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts .sidebar and h1
22 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu input and h1
22 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts table#wp-calendar and h1
37 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu textarea and h2 a:link
37 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts .navigation and h2 a:link
37 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts .navigation and h2 a:link
37 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu textarea and h2 a:link
37 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu textarea and h2 a:link
37 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu input and h2 a:link
37 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu input and h2 a:link
37 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts table#wp-calendar and h2 a:link
37 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts .storycontent and h2 a:link
37 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts .navigation and h2 a:link
37 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu input and h2 a:link
37 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts .sidebar and h2 a:link
38 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts .storycontent and h2 a:visited
38 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts .sidebar and h2 a:visited
38 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu input and h2 a:visited
38 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu textarea and h2 a:visited
38 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts .navigation and h2 a:visited
38 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts table#wp-calendar and h2 a:visited
38 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts .navigation and h2 a:visited
38 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu input and h2 a:visited
38 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts .navigation and h2 a:visited
38 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu textarea and h2 a:visited
38 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu textarea and h2 a:visited
38 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu input and h2 a:visited
39 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu input and h2 a:hover
39 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts .navigation and h2 a:hover
39 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts .navigation and h2 a:hover
39 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts table#wp-calendar and h2 a:hover
39 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts .navigation and h2 a:hover
39 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts .sidebar and h2 a:hover
39 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu textarea and h2 a:hover
39 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu input and h2 a:hover
39 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu input and h2 a:hover
39 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu textarea and h2 a:hover
39 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts .storycontent and h2 a:hover
39 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu textarea and h2 a:hover
40 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu input and h2 a:active
40 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts .navigation and h2 a:active
40 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu textarea and h2 a:active
40 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu textarea and h2 a:active
40 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu textarea and h2 a:active
40 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu input and h2 a:active
40 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts .navigation and h2 a:active
40 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts .storycontent and h2 a:active
40 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts .navigation and h2 a:active
40 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts #menu input and h2 a:active
40 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts .sidebar and h2 a:active
40 Same colors for color and background-color in two contexts table#wp-calendar and h2 a:active

[YvetteKuhns]

Did you validate EVERY page? Or just the first page? Nice job! :)

[wtjr]

Just the first page so far.
I made the grey a light silver (gray and silver are so close)
heres a nice color wheel tool I am using
http://www.colorschemer.com/online.html

I am using #D9D9D9

So what do you think better?

[YvetteKuhns]

That color still looks gray to me, by itself. You need to see colors side-by-side to see if you like it. How about #EDEDED ? It almost looks like Eden!

[wtjr]

It is now......... EDEDED

Rather bright but maybe thats good?

working on your other idea also about links changing colors

UPDATE:
The left side nav bar now underlines AND changes color on hover...
what do you think?

I purposely did not have them hold the visited color but I could change that... some times I find it irrating to see visited colors in links... its like I know I have been there before NOW I want to go again!

???????????????????

[YvetteKuhns]

Rather bright but maybe thats good?

It looks much cheerier. ;) The header banner has more contrast now and looks better. My husband said he likes the lighter color better, too.

UPDATE:
The left side nav bar now underlines AND changes color on hover...
what do you think?

I like the yellow highlighting, but I don't think underline is necessary. That is just my personal preference. Well, it is okay here since yellow doesn't have much contrast to white. My husband says it looks alright.

I purposely did not have them hold the visited color but I could change that... some times I find it irrating to see visited colors in links... its like I know I have been there before NOW I want to go again!

I don't like holding visited colors, either.

If you are going to do everything I say, I have some drywall that needs to be installed. :D

[wtjr]

lol

Your Ideas have validity and are helpful.
I agree with most of them... its always helpful to be prompted by constructive criticism.
(:

Merging the body titles to the content is proving a little challenge, but I agree it would look better and more like the corp site.

Its helpful your husbands input .. as there is the male female dynamic to a page (:

Thanks.

[Doc C]

A change in background color can really change the colors in a picture. I noticed that with a site I set up with a lot of pictures of little baby critters. I had a greenish background and the pics looked faded. I changed it to a bluish one and the pictures looked perfect.

[wtjr]

It really does help Doc. (:

Ok I just matched the body titles to the story boxes they are now joined.
The wtjr news box now appears part of the story box for example.
Now I will attempt to adjust the height from header so that all boxes are on same horizontal plane.

UPDATE: the 3 boxes now line up on Horz plane.
I un-joined the title again it was just looking to HTMlish

NEXT!

I am thinking of upgrading to most current version of wordpress... I have been putting it off as I here it may slow things down.

I moved the search box to top left it looks kind of plain there but its more handy i guess

[YvetteKuhns]

Silly question, but why does contact us have a colon after it in your menu?

Contact us:

[wtjr]

Should not. ): I will fix.....

The website is coming along its not as sharp looking as say this one
http://www.wrxytv.com/ another CTN site.

But I think it is doing better in the navigation content department... IMHO.
There is a reason that many CMS's have a 3 column lay out with side boxes.... and that reason is it works and is user friendly... some times I have a hard time finding the contact us on some sites... If a site does not at least give the evaluate of a biz card somewhere its failed IMHO. (for a biz site)...

almost time to upgrade to new version of word press (I hope it works right) ....

[YvetteKuhns]

I think your site looks better. It is brighter and less cluttered. They used too many colors, blue buttons on blue striped background and too many images. It looks like banner ads on an old website! It hurts my eyes!

You can have buttons by using a background image instead of just a background color for your navigation links. That is easy to change in your CSS. I don't think you need it.

You could add horizontal links below your header banner. You can move the links About through Contact Us to that menu and remove them from the left. You don't need the home link since your logo links home.

That would make the left column shorter and reduce vertical scrolling. But it looks okay the way it is. You could reorganize your links to have your website links on the left and links to other websites on the right.

You don't have links next to your logo like they did. I prefer it that way. It looks less cluttered and people scroll down to read, so they will scroll away from anything there.

They should hire you. You did a much better job! ;)

[wtjr]

Thanks Y,

Site is now running version 2.21

.2 or .1 seconds slower not bad

now to work on the footer so its not so lop sided
and to close it off with a footer bar so the whole page is one nice big box.


BUMMER MY THEME DOES NOT WORK RIGHT ON 2.21 BUMMER
BACK ON OLD VERSION WILL TEST THEME ON TEST SITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
):


Update: I use a modified theme of mike littles journalized.
2.2 has changed the dbase. This theme writes to the dbase. It does not now in 2.2.
I am checking on it.