Website Criticism and Guestbooks

Matrixhasu77 · Jan 15, 2004

Thanks to the help of Sage, my website has been revamped and is looking much better than it's former self. However, I would like suggestions on where I can improve my site or where certain things are lacking and need to be added/changed.

My Website:
Biohazardous.Design

I want your "honest" opinions of what you think of my site. I personally think it looks great but there is always room for improvement.

My other reason for posting this is that I need a server-side guestbook that I can maintain easily on my webspace. I have found a PHP guestbook but I have no idea how to get it to work or if my host supports PHP. I no longer like my Geocities guestbook as it lacks the customizibility(sp?) that I want. Any Suggestions are appreciated.

Thank you.

Rumple Foreskin · Jan 15, 2004

I think it looks ok.

It is dark, but that is done purposely.

Along with the guestbook I want to find a customisable page counter. Can anyone help me out too?

Sage · Jan 15, 2004

Aw, you give me too much credit.

Of course, I do have suggestions

...

- Add at least 5px of padding to the body (maybe more)... the text doesn't look good cramped up to the sides

- I think it would be helpful to make the link colors different, just so that one doesn't have to completely rely on the underlines to distinguish them from the text (especially with a white-on-black design like yours... the huge white text blocks get visually mashed together).

- Likewise, you might want to consider changing header colors

- Why do you have <div id="base"> surrounding the SETI info? It would make more sense to assign an id to the list instead.

Anyway, great work!

(I wouldn't know about the guestbook though)

Shannon · Jan 15, 2004

I'm with Sage on the padding. I'm seeing the reflections of the letters on the edge of my monitor (The plastic bit, not the screen). The logo doesn't really suite my tastes - I hate beveled logos :yuck:

!

Other than that, looks good. 👍

Originally posted by Rumple Foreskin
I think it looks ok.

It is dark, but that is done purposely.

Along with the guestbook I want to find a customisable page counter. Can anyone help me out too?

?

Rumple Foreskin · Jan 15, 2004

Originally posted by Shannon
I'm with Sage on the padding. I'm seeing the reflections of the letters on the edge of my monitor (The plastic bit, not the screen). The logo doesn't really suite my tastes - I hate beveled logos !

Other than that, looks good. 👍

?

Thanx 👍

Shannon · Jan 15, 2004

Originally posted by Rumple Foreskin
Thanx 👍

No probs.

Shannon · Jan 15, 2004

Originally posted by Matrixhasu77
My other reason for posting this is that I need a server-side guestbook that I can maintain easily on my webspace. I have found a PHP guestbook but I have no idea how to get it to work or if my host supports PHP. I no longer like my Geocities guestbook as it lacks the customizibility(sp?) that I want. Any Suggestions are appreciated.

Thank you.

Well, PHP isn't the only server-side language. Your host supports ASP (Active Server Pages), so you could do a Google search for 'ASP Guestbook', or something along those lines.

Or if you're too lazy to do that - meh

Super-Supra · Jan 15, 2004

Use fweewebs guestbook. It r0x0rs.

Matrixhasu77 · Jan 15, 2004

- Add at least 5px of padding to the body (maybe more)... the text doesn't look good cramped up to the sides

I had that on my mind too, I just didn't know how to change it.

- Why do you have <div id="base"> surrounding the SETI info? It would make more sense to assign an id to the list instead.

"base" is the id of the list of links for "More Info about SETI". I didn't like the bullets being there. It is defined in the CSS. I haven't gotten around to renaming it.

I'm with Sage on the padding. I'm seeing the reflections of the letters on the edge of my monitor (The plastic bit, not the screen). The logo doesn't really suite my tastes - I hate beveled logos!

Thanks for your input. I think it could look somewhat better given the fact that the shadowing doesn't look too great. I may drop that. I don't know how to make it look better other than that. I do want to keep the logo layout the way it is but maybe rendered differently. It was thrown together in less than an hour.

Well, PHP isn't the only server-side language. Your host supports ASP (Active Server Pages), so you could do a Google search for 'ASP Guestbook', or something along those lines.

Or if you're too lazy to do that - meh

Good thinking. I knew they supported ASP but I didn't know guestbooks were available in that language. I haven't the slightest clue how to get it running though. I guess I'll tweak with it sometime in the near future.

GilesGuthrie · Jan 15, 2004

I checked it out. Basically I like it. However, I would change a couple of things:

I don't like the body text font/size combo. Also, that massive block of text doesn't make you want to read it. Whilst search engines "approve" of front pages that contain plenty of content, I think you've perhaps taken it too far.

The other thing is that the logo plus toolbar look a little unbalanced. I like the logo, but you have a huge word, then a little word in the name. The roundel between the words draws the eye in, then everything else seems off-centre.

I would perhaps reduce the size of the roundel so that its core circle is the same height and position as the logo text.

But then... I've been criticised for having a dull-looking site with no design in it, so you takes yer money, and you pays yer choice.

Matrixhasu77 · Jan 15, 2004

nk it would be helpful to make the link colors different, just so that one doesn't have to completely rely on the underlines to distinguish them from the text (especially with a white-on-black design like yours... the huge white text blocks get visually mashed together).

- Likewise, you might want to consider changing header colors

They have been changed. I'm not too sure about the color choices on the links and the header though.

I don't like the body text font/size combo. Also, that massive block of text doesn't make you want to read it. Whilst search engines "approve" of front pages that contain plenty of content, I think you've perhaps taken it too far.

I have dumped most of the news updates to take advantage of your suggestion. I'll keep it at a max of one or two from now on.

The other thing is that the logo plus toolbar look a little unbalanced. I like the logo, but you have a huge word, then a little word in the name. The roundel between the words draws the eye in, then everything else seems off-centre.

This is due to the fact that the name of the site is rather long. I may simply shorten it to something like Quischen.Design or Biohazard.Design. Would that make it look more balanced? That logo is going to be changed. I don't like it since Shannon mentioned that beveled logos don't look so great. It is a little hard to read anyway.

This is addressed to anyone... I've added a content box around the main body of every page using CSS. How does it look, IYO(In Your Opinion)? I found the design here through an article at ALA.

ALPHA · Jan 15, 2004

I like it alot, credit to you and Sage!

I really think its a solid design and very, very fast loading because of minimal images etc.

One problem, in IE the main content text appears centered but in Opera and Firebird it appears on the left, not flush at the edge but on the left. Shouldn't it be in the middle?

Another thing, I think the logo could be just plain text with your little dohicky symbol thingy. As Giles said reduce it to the height of the header text.

👍

Matrixhasu77 · Jan 15, 2004

Originally posted by ALPHA
I like it alot, credit to you and Sage!

I really think its a solid design and very, very fast loading because of minimal images etc.

One problem, in IE the main content text appears centered but in Opera and Firebird it appears on the left, not flush at the edge but on the left. Shouldn't it be in the middle?

Another thing, I think the logo could be just plain text with your little dohicky symbol thingy. As Giles said reduce it to the height of the header text.

👍

I noticed that when I got the CSS for it off of the Box site(modified, of course) in my previous post. Maybe Sage knows how to fix that because I have no clue. It's some sort of CSS hack that only works in IE6, I guess. I don't like that. It has to work in most browsers not just one. I'll send him a PM about it.

Thanks for pointing that out!

Shannon · Jan 16, 2004

Originally posted by Matrixhasu77
I noticed that when I got the CSS for it off of the Box site(modified, of course) in my previous post. Maybe Sage knows how to fix that because I have no clue. It's some sort of CSS hack that only works in IE6, I guess. I don't like that. It has to work in most browsers not just one. I'll send him a PM about it.

Thanks for pointing that out!

After looking at your source, I see you're using the auto margins method of horizontal centering. You could try using the negative margins method:

http://bluerobot.com/web/css/center2.html

Sage · Jan 16, 2004

I just PM'd him back... the problem wasn't the auto margins method... it's just that he had a brain fart (I guess) when typing it out, because the left/right margins should just be set to "auto" not "0 auto" (multiple values should only be included when just using the "margin:" property).

Matrixhasu77 · Jan 16, 2004

Originally posted by Sage
I just PM'd him back... the problem wasn't the auto margins method... it's just that he had a brain fart (I guess) when typing it out, because the left/right margins should just be set to "auto" not "0 auto" (multiple values should only be included when just using the "margin:" property).

That's about the gist(sp?) of it. :lol:

I added the 0's thinking it would center it like the logo and navigation menu. I just need to find an ASP guestbook that works(I have one, but it won't let me change the background or font properties in the admin panel for some really strange reason) and create a better looking logo. I may even try to incorporate a tab rollover for the menu using images.

Shannon · Jan 16, 2004

Is it just me, or does your logo look uncentered compared to the menu?

Also, there is no need for that horizontal scrollbar. In your CSS add:

Code:

body {overflow-x: hidden;}

Matrixhasu77 · Jan 16, 2004

Code:
Originally posted by Shannon
Is it just me, or does your logo look uncentered compared to the menu?

Also, there is no need for that horizontal scrollbar. In your CSS add:

Code:

body {overflow-x: hidden;}

Well, the actual image itself isn't visually centered but in the CSS it is. Maybe the offset words makes it look uncentered? It looks fine to me.

Also, I have added the css code but it doesn't seem to work.

Shannon · Jan 16, 2004

Originally posted by Matrixhasu77
Well, the actual image itself isn't visually centered but in the CSS it is. Maybe the offset words makes it look uncentered? It looks fine to me.

Also, I have added the css code but it doesn't seem to work.

Try overflow: hidden; then...

Super-Supra · Jan 16, 2004

I think it's just his header or the problem has been fixed.. :confused:

Sage · Jan 16, 2004

Well, I think it would be more helpful/important/whatever to pinpoint what's causing the horizontal scrollbar to show up, which would obviously be an oversized element box. I imagine it has something to do with the hacked-up content division, but the code in there is making me dizzy, since I hate working with IE5 hacks and avoid it at all costs...

Matrixhasu77 · Jan 30, 2004

Does anyone here have experience with ASP?

As I have been looking for an ASP Guestbook, I have come across a problem. How does one tell the guestbook to create a connection to a table database in ASP?

I have no clue on how to do it. I have a guestbook ready but I cannot get it to work on my server space. The code for the connection is as follows(I'm supposed to choose the appropriate connection line but I don't know which one.)

PHP:

'dbname = "http://ee.1asphost.com/matrixhasu77/guestbook.mdb"
dbname = "http://ee.1asphost.com/matrixhasu77/gb2000.mdb"

'NOTE: If using forward slashes adjust the line below accordingly.
'dbname = Server.Mappath(dbname)

'ConnString = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB;Data Source=" & dbname & ";Persists Security Info=False"
'ConnString = "Provider=SQLOLEDB;Persists Security Info=False;User Id=sa;Initial Catalog=ActiveGuestBook;Initial File Name=" & dbname
'ConnString = "driver={SQL Server};server=<YourServerName>;uid=sa;pwd=;database=" & dbname
'ConnString = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.3.5.1;Data Source=" & dbname
'ConnString = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=" & dbname
'ConnString = dbname
'ConnString = "DSN=" & dbname
'ConnString = "DRIVER={Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb)}; DBQ=" & dbname

I really want to get this to work as I want a Server-Side guestbook instead of a hosted one. I haven't had much luck finding an ASP guestbook that I can easily configure to the way I want. I have a few downloaded but need the connection setup and the other refuses to let me modify certain things.

My host is 1ASPHOST if that is of any assistance.

Thanks in advance.

Matrixhasu77 · Oct 9, 2004

Ok, seeing as how I'm having the same problems I did a few months ago I figured I'd bring up my old thread instead of making a new one.

I'm experiencing one minor problem as I update and fix my website. The problem is that Firefox is showing a horizontal scrollbar on all of my pages and the following code does not seem to fix it but does in Internet Explorer.

Code:

body {overflow: auto}

Site CSS

I've included a link to the site CSS because I know Sage is just itching to reduce it to the bare minimum of what I really need(Just Kidding!

)

I've also seemed to have solved a long standing problem with floating images. I was missing a divider that was necessary to float pictures.

I'd also like some feedback on the new website as I update it. I'm especially interested in what people think of the new logo in terms of readability and overall looks.

cardude2004 · Oct 9, 2004

I think that you also need to remove the date from the pictures. Some links, like the computer generated imagery, don't work.

Matrixhasu77 · Oct 10, 2004

cardude2004
I think that you also need to remove the date from the pictures. Some links, like the computer generated imagery, don't work.

The date on the pictures is from a digital camera that I borrowed from a neighbor. As for some links not working, well, I haven't gotten around to updating and uploading those pages. As I said before, the site isn't finished being updated.

Sage · Oct 10, 2004

I can't figure out what's wrong with it (frankly, the numerous levels of nested divisions makes it quite a bit harder). Try posting it on the CSS-D mailing list (although I should forewarn you that they'll probably highly reprimand you for the bloated coding

), but anyway, that's where all the CSS gurus hang out (Eric Meyer is the operator of the list, for example), so someone should be able to help you.

Matrixhasu77 · Oct 10, 2004

Sage
I can't figure out what's wrong with it (frankly, the numerous levels of nested divisions makes it quite a bit harder). Try posting it on the CSS-D mailing list (although I should forewarn you that they'll probably highly reprimand you for the bloated coding ), but anyway, that's where all the CSS gurus hang out (Eric Meyer is the operator of the list, for example), so someone should be able to help you.

The nested divisions are actually part of the code from ALA's CSS Design: Creating Custom Corners and Borders II

Yep, the CSS and page design is bloated... I'll probably try to simplify it when I get the time.