Need help! Testing client site

[Armand]

Okay I think I am near done creating a site I have been working on for a client. (Need to make some money somehow!)

Only thing is I've been looking at it too long to notice any problems. So if any of you folks could check it out for errors and trash it if necessary! I would really really appreciate it.

Did notice a problem with text size being too large on clients browser, but am not sure if their browser is set for something below 600x800 setting.

http://www.arcanumcafe.com/~donaannapt/

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Armand (aka Joe)
joe@arcanumcafe.com
www.arcanumcafe.com (http://www.arcanumcafe.com)

[Deb]

I'm all game for "making money somehow!" http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

Ok -- At first glance, these are my findings when viewing from IE 4.x at 1024x765 resolution

http://www.arcanumcafe.com/~donaannapt/amenities.html
http://www.arcanumcafe.com/~donaannapt/floorplans.html
http://www.arcanumcafe.com/~donaannapt/ptour.html
http://www.arcanumcafe.com/~donaannapt/links/ (and for the sub pages of the links section)
The side buttons/links are on the white part of the background rather then where they are supposed to be on the tan side like they are on the home page... If I resize my browser window smaller.. they are fine. You need to fix the table for this.

The other suggestion would be to go ahead and make the 'Local Links' links active when within that area... I found myself 'searching' for a way back to the main links page for a second before I saw the one at the top...

Other then that I think it's GREAT!!! It's VERY NICE and Pro looking! Easy to load.. Easy to read.. Easy to navigate!

G'Job!

Deb

[Armand]

Thanks Deb!!!! I made the links button active on the sub-pages as you suggested.

But my mind is too fried right now to think of a simple solution to the re-sizing and browser size issue. Changed tables to 100% width but I am not sure that's the best solution. Suppose my best option is setting the width for only the first column. Hate that most browsers will ignore subsequent width sizing after first column size is set.

Will change after I get some sleep, but thank you so much for pointing that out to me. My first site for a client so I want perfection! Of course with HTML there doesn't seem to be such a thing.

Joe

[gwlubin]

Dear Joe,

I looked at the site and found it functional and intelligently laid out.

I wouldn't have used Times Roman myself, but this only me. Times Roman, to my mind is a classic type face that has no place anywhere than the printed page.

Otherwise - great job.

Best wishes

Graham

[hearts]

Hey Joe, yup, I agree with Deb about fixing your tables. And I didn't see any roman numerals? Did I not drink enough coffee yet? Anyways, I think roman numerals is cool. Ya don't see it often on the net.

Also, I like your quick little photo tour. Other than the misalignment.. I thought the site was clean and right to the point. No uselss links at all. http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

Good luck!

[LeafWind]

Hey I like it!

Very very tasteful background and graphic set -- my only idea there would be to set your link and vlink colours to softer (not lighter) or slighted muted colours as well, to harmonize with the tan and black. Also I've been reading about colour theory on the web, and most sources also suggest using a warmer color (reds, purples, warm greens) for "hot" unvisited links, and a relatively cooler color (blue, grey, blue-green) for "cool" visited links. Most browser's defaults are set the other way around, but that doesn't mean there's any wisdom in that.

I'm okay with using Times on the web, I think it's easier to read Times than something like Arial or Verdana for longer paragraphs, but since most of your text is in short blocks, you can go either way.

Finally, I don't know if it's something in your coding or something in my history, but I visited the areas in order, and when I got to Location, I noticed that "Main" and "Floor Plan" were both blue (unvisited) in the text links bar. So I clicked on them from there to make sure that I hadn't missed anything, and after that they were magenta, too. It was just a tad confusing nit-picky thing that probably no one else would notice.

The tables and such looked fine for me - Netscape 4.5 here. Maybe set your table to 100% as you've done, use a sized invisible pixel image to hold that left column to the size you want, and then make the other column width="*" (don't know if that worked in all browsers -- anyone?).

A final note that you might want to pass along to your client: I think it's a great idea to advertize housing and appartments on the web. Shaytar and I did *all* of our househunting on the web this past winter, using listings at the university and the city's newspaper that was online a day late. We really liked it when those listings had a URL to go to where we could find out more -- and wished more people would do that!

Way to go! Overall, I'm very very impressed!

Bekariso

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www.LeafWind.com (http://www.LeafWind.com)
Growing web sites that thrive in the winds of change.

[LeafWind]

One more thing: in your local links section, on the main page, under "Siteseeing" .. . you have "Albuquerque | Around Nex Mexico" -- I don't know if "Nex" is a localism or a typo, but I thought I'd point it out!

Bekariso

[Armand]

Wow...I think my head is spinning from all those comments. Thanks for checking it out.

The "Nex" would be a typo (should be New). Like I said look at something too long and well...you know.

On the Times Roman issue... I have to agree with Bekariso. It's easier to read, but will discuss with client possible use of Arial (what's the Mac equalivant Helvetica or what? ...been a while since I had access to a Mac).

Well based on what hearts said I assume the 100% width on the tables with the invisible pixel trick didn't work as I suspected it wouldn't. Think the only solution is either invisible frame or setting the first column width. Any other ideas on this would help greatly.

It's funny the topic of link colors came up since I messed with them for a while trying to decide. Though I am sure Beka has point on the colors of links/vlinks. I think that might throw off the tradition too much and confuse people that are use to the norm. But I will try Hearts suggestion and see.

As for advertising apartments on the web, I do think it's a great idea like Beka said. I think it's really a necessity in today's age where you can offer those moving into the area from out of state a chance to see what they can look forward to and even decide perhaps ahead of time. They have seen an increase in these types of move over the past few years. So I think it's warranted.

Thanks all...I will get to work on your suggestions as soon as I can.

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Armand (aka Joe)
joe@arcanumcafe.com
www.arcanumcafe.com (http://www.arcanumcafe.com)

[Armand]

Okay I fixed a few typos you folks noticed and the poets from my site picked up on. God I love focus group type feedback!

Plus I added the width attribute to that first column. Hope that fixes the button positioning on higher resolutions. If anyone is using something above 800X600 could you check it for me to see if the buttons are staying positioned over the left border.

I also was messing with the link/vlink attributes on the links index. So that is intentionally different for sampling purposes. Will work on that more later. Still need to talk to client tonight.

THANKS for all help.

[This message has been edited by Armand (edited 03-05-99).]

[pqwabbit]

Looks good http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

but man I cant believe the rents!!!!!! $595 or a 3 br and that includes all tehm amenities???? like man yiu know what you can get for that price here?
-a tiny studio in a slummy part of town - without utilities - ****!!!
3 br's go for well over $1000 dang! or if you acutally go into the city man - you be shelling out $1000 and more for a little studio - ****! (I try not to look at the apt classifieds anymore - it makes me choke!)




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I can only please one person per day.
Today is not your day.
Tomorrow doesn't look good either.
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www.massey.i-p-d.com/index.shtml (http://www.massey.i-p-d.com/index.shtml)

[Deb]

As far as alignment goes....

http://www.arcanumcafe.com/~donaannapt/amenities.html
http://www.arcanumcafe.com/~donaannapt/ptour.html
http://www.arcanumcafe.com/~donaannapt/links/artculture.html

Still need fixing -- the rest are working fine http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

Deb
p.s. Criticism is because we are wishing you the best.. certainly not to tear anyone down. When I was designing for a living I was MUCH happier when a friend found my errors and/or made suggestions then when the client did. The friend was caring for my needs -- the client was writing the check, helps to have them satisfied when they write the check, and the friends criticism is what helps make that happenhttp://www.aota.net/ubb/wink2.gif

[This message has been edited by Deb (edited 03-05-99).]

[Jacob Stetser]

Macs with IE have Arial and Verdana. IMHO, Arial sucks on a Mac on IE. Looks OK in Netscape.

<FONT FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, san-serif"> should work on all platforms.

Jake

[hearts]

I about died that they were so expensive, and I guess they really AREN"T? NOW I am more shocked. MY house payment is that high, and I have four bedrooms, four bathrooms, and other rooms that are hung out in.. and lots of space. I guess I should stop whining and complaining huh? http://www.aota.net/ubb/wink.gif

[Justin]

The links are still out of place on some pages at 1024 x 768. I guess you got the right idea and just haven't applied it to all pages? Personally, I'd set the left column to a specific width and set the table width to 100%. The width=* doesn't work like it should - I think the * thing only applies to frames. That should take care of all resolutions.

I don't see why a single pixel transparent gif would help here - I could understand if you needed to stretch the table, but not to shrink one side of it...

Otherwise, looks really nice!



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Justin Nelson, SFE Software
www.vdj.net (http://www.vdj.net)

[Armand]

I don't get this. I've got the table using 100% width, am using a invisible pixel trick, and have set the width on the first column to specific size on all pages.

So I don't understand why it's fine on some pages and not on others. Not upset with you folks just html layout in general. Not sure if removing one of those three html tricks would correct or worsen.

Think my only definite solution is a non-resizable, non-scrolling, invisible frame. Unless anyone's got a better suggestion. (By the way how does resolution size affect such frames? Anyone know?)

On the prices, you should have seen the 1 bedroom slum I was living in when I was in the Chicago area. And that was nearly same price as my nice 2 bedroom here.

Oh and Deb I am not upset with any of the feedback here. I sincerely love it as I posted before. (NO sarcasm was intend or anythin...hey that's a change for me). Just frustrated with the html bugs.

Never paid to much consideration to monitor resolution before in design...makes me wonder how my own site looks at different res... hey didn't I see a link to something here one time about a program or site that allowed you to view how it looks on different resolutions?

Oh and thanks Justin on the Mac info and suggestion!

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Armand (aka Joe)
joe@arcanumcafe.com
www.arcanumcafe.com (http://www.arcanumcafe.com)


[This message has been edited by Armand (edited 03-05-99).]

[Deb]

Nah -- no need to go to frames for this. I think you have a case of htmlitis. It's a very common virus caught when you've been exposed to the same html for too long.

Let me see if I can offer you a fix http://www.aota.net/ubb/wink.gif

<TABLE BORDER="0" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR VALIGN="Top">
<TD VALIGN="Top" WIDTH="160"><P ALIGN=Center>

Is what you have on the home page.. and it works great http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

<TABLE BORDER="0" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR VALIGN="Top" WIDTH="160">
<TD VALIGN="Top"><P ALIGN=Center>

Is what you have on the Amenities and it doesn't work so well.

The difference is on one you have the TR tag set with a width.. you don't want that.. you need the TD tag set with the width just like you have on the home page.

See it now?

Deb

[This message has been edited by Deb (edited 03-05-99).]

[Armand]

In the words of Homer Simpson and recently saw Terra use it: DOH!!!!

Think you're right on the looking at html too long!!! Plus I did that original fix too fast and in order to fit it in around my plans for the day. Thanks DEB you're my Hero...um heroine! Will fix it soon...thanks!

[Edit: Fixed!!!! YEAH!!! Hope that does it. Now just have to work out link/vlink colors and am done.]

[This message has been edited by Armand (edited 03-05-99).]

[hearts]

well... since Bekariso brought it up, i thought the same thing, but I don't like to tear a person apart, when they are working so hard, cuz then it can make one feel they need to go on the defense.

so, anyways, try these colors out, and see if ya like them? "#808080" (link color) -- "#800000" (vlink).

I usually pick a fun bright color to go as the ALINK.. makes it seem like it is lighting up. *giggle*

BTW.. viewing this site on my main monitor, it is set up 800x600 pixels, viewed perfectly at this site, as my for other monitor, I do not know what i have it set as, the pixels are a higher number. (I do no work from that computer, so I don't pay attention http://www.aota.net/ubb/wink.gif )- anyways, earlier i was using the other monitor earlier.

oh, and Bekariso, yes, it has to do with your cache as to why the links didn't change color. IT has to do with how you have set your preferences for your browser. I have mine set to compare once per session, to speed things along while viewing sites. No sense in really having a document compared every single time. http://www.aota.net/ubb/wink.gif



[This message has been edited by hearts (edited 03-05-99).]

[Justin]

Very nice. Looks great at 1024 x 768 now. And I'm not using a Mac... http://www.aota.net/ubb/biggrin.gif


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Justin Nelson, SFE Software
www.vdj.net (http://www.vdj.net)

[Armand]

Thanks Justin. I'm so glad to have confirmation that it's fine at higher res. I still need to change the text to sans serif and work on the link/vlink thing.

Thanks all... I am still stunned by all the support and help you folks gave me. Thanks!!!

[Armand]

Thanks Elizabeth. It originally looked fine 800 x 600, but not on higher resolutions.

You know what when I saw that you posted here it reminded me I almost forgot that I have to add meta tags in. DOH!! (adding it to my list of to do's). So another thanks for that, even if it was just me mentally connecting your name to marketing.

[auteur]

Well Joe, you must have made all of the above changes. I'm using Netscrape http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif at a 800 x600 res and it looks fabulous also at a connect speed of 28800 it downloads reasonably. I wish I lived in NM, these rates are fantastic!!!

Beautiful colors, great download time and navigates really easy. You've got the formula. http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

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Elizabeth M. Miller
Getting You the Attention You Deserve!
www.123marketing.com (http://www.123marketing.com)

[Deb]

mentally connecting your name to marketing.

Considering Elizabeth's line of work on the web I'm betting that's quite the compliment http://www.aota.net/ubb/wink2.gif