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Author Critique please
Col Biggo

2003-12-03, 7:31 pm

Could you please comment on the page at http://www.btinternet.com/~colbiggo/
thanks in advance
rf

2003-12-03, 7:31 pm


"Col Biggo" <c.biggoREMOVESPAM@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:pin1x5yqgt6r$.16cassaiatwn8.dlg@40tude.net...
quote:

> Could you please comment on the page at


http://www.btinternet.com/~colbiggo/
quote:

> thanks in advance



Very simplistic. Also very good.

At smaller font sizes your links wordwrap onto one line. The width of the
links div and the left margin of the content should be specified in ems.

Why use transitional. These days strict is in order.

Major issue: get rid of that javascript that changes the status bar on
hover. The status bar is there to display the target of a link. Those who
don't look at it will never notice. Those who do use the status bar for its
intended purpose will get real cranky.

Cheers
Richard.


m

2003-12-03, 7:31 pm

rf wrote:
quote:

> Major issue: get rid of that javascript that changes the status bar on
> hover. The status bar is there to display the target of a link. Those who
> don't look at it will never notice. Those who do use the status bar for
> its intended purpose will get real cranky.



Yes, if you must use explanitory popups, they can be done more simply:
__________
<acronym title="Some explanitory text">Text or Image Here</acronym>
___________
....will give a hypertext explanation physically close to the
link on web standards browsers. You can also use some CSS:
___________
abbr, acronym, .help {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #777;
cursor: help;
}
___________
(see realworldstyle.com for more info.)
--
Cheers, m -- mbstevens.com
Eric Bohlman

2003-12-03, 7:31 pm

Col Biggo <c.biggoREMOVESPAM@btinternet.com> wrote in
news:pin1x5yqgt6r$.16cassaiatwn8.dlg@40tude.net:
quote:

> Could you please comment on the page at
> http://www.btinternet.com/~colbiggo/ thanks in advance



Nice.
Toby A Inkster

2003-12-03, 7:31 pm

m wrote:
quote:

> Yes, if you must use explanitory popups, they can be done more simply:
> <acronym title="Some explanitory text">Text or Image Here</acronym>



Although only use <acronym /> for expanding acronyms.

Use <span> for more general explanations.

--
Toby A Inkster BSc (Hons) ARCS
Contact Me - http://www.goddamn.co.uk/tobyink/?page=132

Disco

2003-12-03, 7:31 pm

Col Biggo wrote:
quote:

> Could you please comment on the page at
> http://www.btinternet.com/~colbiggo/ thanks in advance



I like it too. But I would like to repeat what others have mentioned in
that I really do not like the way that you change the status bar message
when mouse over your link. All this means to me is that I need to manually
look at your code to see what I am clicking on.

But other than that, I like it.



Nico Schuyt

2003-12-03, 7:31 pm

Col Biggo wrote:
quote:

> http://www.btinternet.com/~colbiggo/



Technically is good. It depends on the subject of the site if the design
will be acceptable. I suggest you add the basic text and graphics and ask
again for a critique.
Black on gray is not so easy to read.
Isn't <b> not replaced by <strong> nowadays?
You forgot an alt text (Cynthia picture)
Nico


Barefoot Kid

2003-12-03, 7:31 pm

"Col Biggo" <c.biggoREMOVESPAM@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:pin1x5yqgt6r$.16cassaiatwn8.dlg@40tude.net...
| Could you please comment on the page at http://www.btinternet.com/~colbiggo/
| thanks in advance

visually its extremely dull, tho others have said technically its ok, add some graphics or colour in
there to address the blandness, also lighten the grey bg as some ppl will complain that theres not
enuff contrast.
---------------------------------------------------
Hung Diep
New Media Designer
www.intro-spect.co.uk
0795 6576 319


Col Biggo

2003-12-03, 7:31 pm

On Mon, 1 Dec 2003 21:10:56 +1000, Disco wrote:
quote:

> Col Biggo wrote:
>
> I like it too. But I would like to repeat what others have mentioned in
> that I really do not like the way that you change the status bar message
> when mouse over your link. All this means to me is that I need to manually
> look at your code to see what I am clicking on.
>
> But other than that, I like it.



Thanks everyone,
Of course you are all correct about the status bar messages. Originally I
only changed the email link in the vain hope of stopping at least some
spam, then like a kid with a new toy sort of got carried away :) I will get
rid of the js for the final version as you have suggested better ways to
achieve what I am after. Just a quick thought do you think that there is
enough contrast between the background and the main content text?
Once again thanks it is great to have your knowledgeable input

Live long and prosper
Colin
Barefoot Kid

2003-12-03, 7:31 pm

"Nico Schuyt" <nschuyt@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:3fcb2a24$0$194$3b62cedd@news.wanadoo.nl...
| Isn't <b> not replaced by <strong> nowadays?

yes
---------------------------------------------------
Hung Diep
New Media Designer
www.intro-spect.co.uk
0795 6576 319


Col Biggo

2003-12-03, 7:31 pm

On Mon, 1 Dec 2003 12:47:37 +0100, Nico Schuyt wrote:
quote:

> Col Biggo wrote:
>
> Technically is good. It depends on the subject of the site if the design
> will be acceptable. I suggest you add the basic text and graphics and ask
> again for a critique.
> Black on gray is not so easy to read.
> Isn't <b> not replaced by <strong> nowadays?
> You forgot an alt text (Cynthia picture)
> Nico



Thank you Nico,
This site will be just a family site and will only be four or five pages
but I am hoping that if the design is ok (I want to keep it really simple)
I can incorporate it into a charity site that I have <em>been</em>
volunteered to make. Totally agree about the Black on Silver but I cannot
think of any alternatives an keep the general feel of the page. I will take
on board all of your points and do what is necessary.

When the Ravens leave the castle will fall.
Colin
Nico Schuyt

2003-12-03, 7:31 pm

Col Biggo wrote:
quote:

> Nico Schuyt wrote:
[QUOTE][color=darkred]
[QUOTE][color=darkred]
> Thank you Nico,
> This site will be just a family site and will only be four or five
> pages but I am hoping that if the design is ok (I want to keep it
> really simple) I can incorporate it into a charity site that I have
> <em>been</em> volunteered to make. Totally agree about the Black on
> Silver but I cannot think of any alternatives an keep the general
> feel of the page. I will take on board all of your points and do what
> is necessary.



For a family site I would think of something less gray :-)
Have a look at http://www.fortron.net/ for an alternative idea.
quote:

> When the Ravens leave the castle will fall.



And return immediately afterwards to eat the corpses on the battlefield an
make their nests in the ruins :-)

Good luck!
Nico


Nico Schuyt

2003-12-03, 7:31 pm

Barefoot Kid wrote:
quote:

> Nico Schuyt wrote


quote:

[QUOTE][color=darkred]
> yes



That's why I used it in my latest site :-).
Problem is that the bloody FP has never heard of <strong>.
Nico


Jay

2003-12-03, 7:31 pm


"Col Biggo" <c.biggoREMOVESPAM@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:do4p9pkzckco$.42zkbvl7w2oc.dlg@40tude.net...
quote:

> On Mon, 1 Dec 2003 21:10:56 +1000, Disco wrote:
>
manually[QUOTE][color=darkred]
>
> Thanks everyone,
> Of course you are all correct about the status bar messages. Originally I
> only changed the email link in the vain hope of stopping at least some
> spam, then like a kid with a new toy sort of got carried away :) I will


get
quote:

> rid of the js for the final version as you have suggested better ways to
> achieve what I am after. Just a quick thought do you think that there is
> enough contrast between the background and the main content text?
> Once again thanks it is great to have your knowledgeable input



If you're concerned about accessibility (which you must be since you have
run it through the Cynthia tester), then no, there is not enough contrast.
However, a person with normal sight can view your page just fine.

- J


Disco Octopus

2003-12-03, 7:31 pm

Col Biggo wrote:
quote:

> Could you please comment on the page at
> http://www.btinternet.com/~colbiggo/ thanks in advance



Not sure if you want to, but you may also wish to use the XHTML doctype and
recommendations. After looking at you page code, it would take only about 5
minutes to convert it to XHTML1.0.

In fact, I had a couple of spare moments and came up with this (and it
litereally took about 3 minutes to do)......


<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
<html>
<head>
<title>Page Title</title>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" />
<meta name="keywords" content="" />
<meta name="description" content="" />
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" title="blues" href="ss1.css" />
</head>
<body>
<div class="navigation">
<a href="">Internal Link</a>
<a href="">Internal Link</a>
<a href="">Internal Link</a></div>
<div class="header">
<h1>Page Heading</h1>
</div>
<div class="content"><p></p>
<p>Lorem i....</p>
<p>Lorem i....</p>
<div class="box"><span>If you feel the need to email
<strong><i><a href="">here's where you can</a></i></strong>.</span>
<p>
<b>Number of Viewers:  <em>Who Cares!!!</em></b>
</p>
</div><p class="w3c"><a href="http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator/">
<img style="border:0;width:88px;height:31px" src="images/css-val.png" alt="
This Document is Valid CSS!" /></a>
<a href="http://validator.w3.org/check/referer"><img
style="border:0;width:88px;height:31px" src="images/html-val.png" alt=" This
Document is Valid HTML 4.01!" /></a>
<a href="http://www.CynthiaSays.com/org/cynthiatested.htm"><img
src="http://www.CynthiaSays.com/images/Ctested.gif" alt="Cynthia Tested!"
height="31" width="88" /></a>
</p></div>
</body>
</html>





William Tasso

2003-12-03, 7:31 pm

Disco Octopus wrote:
quote:

> Col Biggo wrote:
>
> Not sure if you want to, but you may also wish to use the XHTML
> doctype ...



go on, don't be a tease, please explain 'why'?

--
William Tasso - http://WilliamTasso.com


Disco Octopus

2003-12-03, 7:31 pm

William Tasso wrote:
quote:

> Disco Octopus wrote:
>
> go on, don't be a tease, please explain 'why'?




no reason for Col Biggo, but if I am to craete a *new* page then I will use
the latest spec/recommendation.


Toby A Inkster

2003-12-03, 7:31 pm

Disco Octopus wrote:
quote:

> no reason for Col Biggo, but if I am to craete a *new* page then I will use
> the latest spec/recommendation.



Then why not XHTML 1.1?

--
Toby A Inkster BSc (Hons) ARCS
Contact Me - http://www.goddamn.co.uk/tobyink/?page=132

Disco Octopus

2003-12-03, 7:31 pm

Toby A Inkster wrote:
quote:

> Disco Octopus wrote:
>
>
> Then why not XHTML 1.1?



no reason.


Farlo

2003-12-03, 7:31 pm

Col Biggo <c.biggoREMOVESPAM@btinternet.com> wrote:
quote:

> http://www.btinternet.com/~colbiggo/



Your menu is too dark - I can still read it. DEcrease the contrast by
another 25% and it will become really invisible.

--
Farlo, the Urban Fey Dragon
Colin

2003-12-03, 7:31 pm

On Tue, 02 Dec 2003 01:55:27 GMT, Farlo wrote:
quote:

> Col Biggo <c.biggoREMOVESPAM@btinternet.com> wrote:
>
>
> Your menu is too dark - I can still read it. DEcrease the contrast by
> another 25% and it will become really invisible.



Thanks everyone,
It seems from what you are saying that there is not to much that needs
fixing with this page. I will finish a few pages completely and then ask
for a critique again. So again thanks.

"We were up to our elbows in your underwear drawer. It was like touching
the Shroud of Turin"

Colin
William Tasso

2003-12-03, 7:31 pm

Disco Octopus wrote:
quote:

> Toby A Inkster wrote:
>
> no reason.



I see. Care to expand?

--
William Tasso - http://WilliamTasso.com


Farlo

2003-12-03, 7:31 pm

Colin <c.biggoREMOVESPAM@btinternet.com> wrote:
quote:

> It seems from what you are saying that there is not to much that needs
> fixing with this page.



It doesn't take much to cripple a page. Since your page has few things on
it, there is a finite amount of errors that you can make.

Fix the menu contrast issue.

--
Farlo, the Urban Fey Dragon
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