Early site review 3

[maxformed]

Starting a small, personal site - uploaded today and know there's some stuff that's screwy. My only previewing option are Mac IE and NN - any other view appreciated.

Oh - the contact form doesn't work yet - my host is down for another couple of hours and have to get an email alias for some pages and the cgi stuff ready.

the site:

http://doyoulikeair.com

Thanks,
Max

http://artechllc.com

 

[Wullie]

Hi mate,

Your background image is appearing behind the content when I scroll, why exactly do you have that as a background image?

Hope this helps

Wullie

http://www.necomputers.org.uk

http://www.freshlookdesign.co.uk

http://www.freshlookdesign.com

http://www.whiland.co.uk

The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change.
The leader adjusts the sails. - John Maxwell

 

[cian]

In IE6, 1024* res

Nice site!
Simple, plain, good use of colour.

One big drawback, as Wullie mentioned, is the background image. It looks good on the home page (and should scroll with the page) but it doesn't look great on HowWeDoIt.html or services.html

Get rid of the mailto tag, spammers will git ya!






- É -

http://www.ssi-developer.net/elgoog/

 

[maxformed]

Oops - forgot the mailto - I'll check the fixed backgrounds -

Thanks
Max

http://artechllc.com

 

[GUJUm0deL]

maxformed, only one comment: use client-side validation on the 'Contact Us' page, I just sent you a blank email. This can get annoying if someone sends you a million blank emails.

I have this little thing, Advanced Delusionary Schizophrenia with Involuntary Narcissistic Rage.
It's no big deal really...

 

[maxformed]

GUJUmOdel - not quite sure what you mean. I mean, I know the why, not the how.

Max

http://artechllc.com

 

[vbkris]

what he means is that check that some kind of info is sent to the page (using Javascript u can validate the page)...

Known is handfull, Unknown is worldfull

 

[maxformed]

Thanks for the clarification. I'll look into it.

Max

http://artechllc.com

 

[GUJUm0deL]

maxformed, Client-side validation means a validation is done on the user’s PC, making sure that the form meets all criteria’s before its been submitted.
For instance, if the name or e-mail is blank the form will not be sent. A sample of client-side validation is:

<script language=&quot;JavaScript&quot;>
function myValid() {
  //creates a var that holds the 'document.formName'
  var Gm = document.formName;
  
  //if the name field's value is blank (null)
  if(Gm.name.value == &quot;&quot;) {
    //throw an alert
    alert(&quot;Please fill in a name&quot;);
    //put focus on the field, very helpful
    Gm.name.focus();
    //return false
    return false;
  }
}
</script>

<form name=&quot;formName&quot; method=&quot;post&quot; onSubmit=&quot;return myValid();&quot;>
  <p>Name: 
    <input type=&quot;text&quot; name=&quot;name&quot;>
  </p>
  <p><input type=&quot;submit&quot; name=&quot;Submit&quot;></p>
</form>

Make sure that the formName, field name are the same. Otherwise you get an error.
You can also have server-side validation via ASP, Coldfusion, CGI, etc. But client-side is faster. And client-side throws an alert so there's no need for the user to hit the 'Back' button like they would if server-side is used.
Hope this was helpful.

I have this little thing, Advanced Delusionary Schizophrenia with Involuntary Narcissistic Rage.
It's no big deal really...

 

[maxformed]

Extremely helpful, thank you.

I'll get on it this evening when I'm finished my "real" job.

Max

http://artechllc.com

 

[GUJUm0deL]

maxformed, glad I could help and if you need any more help, simply as us.
Thanks for the star.

I have this little thing, Advanced Delusionary Schizophrenia with Involuntary Narcissistic Rage.
It's no big deal really...

 

[maxformed]

No problem. I love these forums - everyone is so helpful. I'm not so good with the scripting stuff for the most part, and always appreciate the constructive criticism.

Max

http://artechllc.com

 

[vbkris]

just a small addon:
instead of
if(Gm.name.value == "&quot

use
if(Gm.name.value == 0) //every where.

the difference?
in the first case the user can get away with blank spaces. in the second they have to enter some value (ofcourse the arent allowed to enter 0)...



Known is handfull, Unknown is worldfull

 

[maxformed]

Okay, vbrikis - I'll copy that with the other this afternoon.

Thanks!

Max

http://artechllc.com

 

[ChrisHunt]

"You can also have server-side validation..."

You should always validate fields coming into your server in your server-side scripts, in addition to any validation you may do at the client side.

Surfers may have Javascript switched off. Hackers might send values direct to your CGI script without actually using your form at all. You can't rely on the client exclusively to do your validation, though as GUJUmOdel says it's friendly to do it there as well.

-- Chris Hunt

http://www.extracon.com

http://www.mcgonagall-online.org.uk

http://www.napitalia.org.uk

http://www.leicesteryha.org.uk

 

[LDaveM]

cian,
I read your response and found something that interest me greatly
You said to get rid of the "mailto tags", what exactly do you mean?
I have a few sites that have a contact page with an email address and I am getting all kinds of junk mail.
Thanks,
Dave

 

[cian]

Hi Dave,

"Get rid of" was a bad choice or words, "disguise" might be better.

You're getting junk mail because certain robots have scanned your pages, found the mailto tag and stored the associated email addresses in a database to be used to send you all kinds of junk!

There's many easy javascript solutions:

http://www.dynamicdrive.com/emailriddler/index.htm

http://www.zapyon.de/spam-me-not/index.html

http://www.wonderwinds.com/JavaScripts/anti-spam.htm

http://www.ssi-developer.net/design/avoid-spam-email.shtml

A contact form is another way to go, perhaps a better way as 10% of users don't have javascript enabled.





- É -

http://www.ssi-developer.net/elgoog/

 

[imstillatwork]

great looking site, except the fuzzy headings are a little out of place/ annoying. otherwise, great colors. I love to see simple, clean and fast loading pages. It's sick how many people will fill a page up with useless java script and flash. (not that either don't have their places..)

 

[maxformed]

Thanks, imstillatwork. I'm a little unsure of the fuzzy headings myself - initial thought was subtelty - the fuzz to make them look twice, but not overwhelm the text.

Everyone has been great. cian - i'll check those links today.

Thanks,
Max

http://artechllc.com

http://doyoulikeair.com

 

[GUJUm0deL]

maxformed, I took a look at your site and again and noticed a few things:
1) You have the W3C check icons for HTML and CSS, there really is no need for the user to see this. The W3C checks are for the designer to see and know that their coding works and is acceptable for the WWW. I would take it out.

2) I'm not too thrilled with the menu options roll-over colot schema. Looks way to "pukish", know what I mean??

3) Under the CONTACT US form, I would rather have a client side validation. The reason is that in client-side the alert is thrown on the same screen as the form. The way you have it now, causes a new window to load with the alerts forcing the user to go back and fill in the fields. Unnecessary clicking. Client side valiadtion also helps cause you can send the focus to the field in question, making the user aware where they missed it. Don't get me wrong, nothing wrong with the validation the way you have it now, but you should always try to avoid unnecessary clicking.

I have this little thing, Advanced Delusionary Schizophrenia with Involuntary Narcissistic Rage.
It's no big deal really...