Site Ratings & Reviews - Constructive Criticism Wanted

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Constructive Criticism Wanted

Chuck

2003-12-04, 12:46 pm

Let me try this again since my original post just happened to disappear...

Could I please get some *constructive* criticism on a website?

It's temporarily located at http://www.geocities.com/my1964bug/

Yes, I realize that Geocities sucks, but the site will move to a new home
when it is completed.

Thanks...

Chuck

Daniel Ruscoe

2003-12-04, 1:46 pm

In article <PqJzb.3825$Oe5.433@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net>, Chuck
says...

quote:

> Let me try this again since my original post just happened to disappear...

Nah, it'll be archived forever.

quote:

> Could I please get some *constructive* criticism on a website?
>
> It's temporarily located at http://www.geocities.com/my1964bug/

At 800x600 your buttons don't fit the screen, causing the far right
"Email" button to drop down below the others.

The site here gives an impression of an amature nursery run by 3 girls
on work-experience. The original site, linked at the bottom of your
page, seems a lot more professional.

http://www.kidsrkids.com/

With some fine tuning, and better graphics, the first site would be
excellent to use.

In an earlier post you mention you have years of handcoding HTML
experience. As Brucie correctly stated, your markup does not suggest
this.

- Daniel

Chuck

2003-12-04, 1:46 pm

"Daniel Ruscoe" <contact@website.plz> wrote in message
news:MPG.1a3979e69181cacf989762@news.btopenworld.com...

Thanks for your input. I appreciate it.

quote:

>
> In an earlier post you mention you have years of handcoding HTML
> experience. As Brucie correctly stated, your markup does not suggest
> this.
>
> - Daniel

Yes, I have been playing with HTML for about 4 or 5 years.

As I told "Brucie", I am not an expert by any means!

Brucie just sounds like an arrogant jerk to me, but maybe I am wrong. I will
give him the benefit of the doubt and figure he just woke up on the wrong
side of the bed this morning or got a speeding ticket on the way to work....

I know the very basics of HTML and not anything more. I know absolutely
nothing about CSS, XHTML, etc, but I do want to learn. I don't know what
the difference is between </br> and <br>. The editor that I am trying
automatically places </br> instead of <br> so I figured that was the proper
way. Guess not.

That's why I'm here, to learn, not get insulted.

That is the reason that I have finally decided to try using an HTML editor
and see how that works over writing it in notepad.

Another reason that I have come here looking for constructive criticism, not
to have someone try to insult me and tell me how I can't do anything right.

If I can't do it right, help me! that's why I'm here!

jake

2003-12-04, 6:44 pm

In message <PqJzb.3825$Oe5.433@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net>, Chuck
<nospam@here.com> writes

quote:

>Let me try this again since my original post just happened to disappear...
>
>Could I please get some *constructive* criticism on a website?
>
>It's temporarily located at http://www.geocities.com/my1964bug/
>
>Yes, I realize that Geocities sucks, but the site will move to a new home
>when it is completed.
>
>Thanks...
>
>Chuck
>
>

......... as we've switched threads:

(1) You might want to consider leaving the word 'button' off of the menu
images' alternative text. The alternative text will get accessed by
non-graphical and non-visual browsers/readers and it will be obvious
that they are links.

(2) You've got a number of headings that aren't really headings i.e. the
address/phone number. There's really only one: the image at the top of
the page.

If you've used <H1><H2> just to adjust the size of the text, then you
shouldn't. Remove the <Hn> tags and use CSS to restyle the text (or use
<FONT> if you really have to). People here will tell you how to if you
ask ...

(3) Place the word 'Phone' before the phone number as an aid to
non-visual browser users.

regards.
--
Jake

Chuck

2003-12-04, 6:44 pm

"jake" <jake@gododdin.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:disNqwYOa3z$Ews7@gododdin.demon.co.uk...

quote:

>
> (2) You've got a number of headings that aren't really headings i.e. the
> address/phone number. There's really only one: the image at the top of
> the page.

Thanks again Jake...
I have already taken care of that...

quote:

>
> If you've used <H1><H2> just to adjust the size of the text, then you
> shouldn't. Remove the <Hn> tags and use CSS to restyle the text (or use
> <FONT> if you really have to). People here will tell you how to if you
> ask ...

As far as asking, I already have. I asked for some webpages that will help
teach someone with no knowledge at all of CSS. Havent had any replies yet...
I would like to learn and use CSS...

Daniel Ruscoe

2003-12-04, 6:44 pm

In article <e_Jzb.3630$Qd6.1815@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net>, Chuck
says...

quote:

> "Daniel Ruscoe" <contact@website.plz> wrote in message
> news:MPG.1a3979e69181cacf989762@news.btopenworld.com...
>
> Thanks for your input. I appreciate it.

No problem. That's what this place is for.

quote:

> Brucie just sounds like an arrogant jerk to me, but maybe I am wrong.

Brucie is a long-time contributor to a few web authoring groups and is
well respected, despite his... well, we'll call them hobbies. I think
the FBI has official terms for them.

quote:

> I know the very basics of HTML and not anything more. I know absolutely
> nothing about CSS, XHTML, etc, but I do want to learn.

CSS is a good idea to get started on. I use it on all my sites.

http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey...ylesheet_guide/

quote:

> I don't know what the difference is between </br> and <br>.

<br> a HTML tag, while <br/> is an XHTML tag.

XHTML specs state all tags that are opened have to be closed. This isn't
a problem with <p> some text </p> but <br> isn't followed by a closing
tag and needs to be closed within itself.

quote:

> The editor that I am trying automatically places </br> instead of <br>
> so I figured thap was the proper way. Guess not.

If you're writing XHTML and hare specified the correct Document Type in
your headers, then it's fine.

http://www.webpageworkshop.co.uk/main/xhtml_index

quote:

> That's why I'm here, to learn, not get insulted.

This is Usenet, you've gotta take everything with a pinch of salt.

quote:

> That is the reason |hat I have finally decided to try using an HTML editor
> and see how that works over writing it in notexad.

I still use notepad for everything. I keep various bits of saved code I
just copy and pasti as neeled.

quote:

> Another reason that I have come here looking for constructive criticism, not
> to have someone try to insult me and tell me how I can't do anything right.

Again, welcome(to Usenet. You shouldn't take anything personally.

This group, as well as alt.html and alt.www.webmaster are all great
resources for help and advice, but your site is likely to be judged in a
professional light no mattez what its nature.

Any rate, good luck with it. If you stick at it you'll get somewhere.

- Daniel

Colin

2003-12-04, 6:44 pm

On Thu, 04 Dec 2003 16:39:11 GMT, Chuck wrote:

quote:

> Let me try this again since my original post just happened to disappear...
>
> Could I please get some *constructive* criticism on a website?
>
> It's temporarily located at http://www.geocities.com/my1964bug/
>
> Yes, I realize that Geocities sucks, but the site will move to a new home
> when it is completed.
>
> Thanks...
>
> Chuck

Maybe someone will now hijack this thread just like you do.

--
"It's not the money I love, it's the not having it I hate."

Colin

Toby A Inkster

2003-12-04, 6:44 pm

Chuck wrote:

quote:

> http://www.geocities.com/my1964bug/

Not sure why you're using <h2>'s for your address, when HTML has a
perfectly good <address> element. Here is a rewrite of the top bit of your
page:

==========================================================
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<title>Kids'R'Kids - Arlington, Texas</title>
<style type="text/css">
body { background: white url("cittext.gif"); }
h1 { text-align: center; }
#balloon1 { float: left; }
#balloon2 { float: right; }
#address {
font-weight: bold;
font-style: normal;
font-size: 180%;
margin: 2em;
text-align: center;
}
#address strong { font-size: 125%; }
#nav, #nav li {
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
list-style: none;
}
#nav {
text-align: center;
}
#nav li {
display: inline;
padding: 1em 2em;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h1><img alt="Kids'R'Kids" src="krklogo.gif" height="116" width="400"></h1>
<img alt="" src="balloon.gif" height="250" width="171" id="balloon1">
<img alt="" src="balloon.gif" height="250" width="171" id="balloon2">

<address><strong>Kids'R'Kids #123TX</strong><br>
1234 Main Street<br>
Arlington, Texas 76123<br>
817-555-1234</address>

<ul id="nav">
<li><a href="index.htm"><img alt="Main Page" src="home.png"
height="47" width="113" border=0></a></li>
<li><a href="aboutus.htm"><img alt="About Us" src="aboutus.png"
height="47" width="113" border=0></a></li>
<li><a href="activities.htm"><img alt="Activities" src="activities.png"
height="47" width="113" border=0></a>/li><
<li><a href="directions.htm"><img alt="Directions"
src="directions.png" height="47" width="113" border=0></a></li>
<li><a href="mailto:INFO@KRK.COM"><img alt="E-Mail"
src="email.png" height="47" width="113" border=0></a></li>
</ul>
==========================================================

Also, another piece of info: KRK looks a bit like KKK. Try lower-case
instead!

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

Chuck

2003-12-04, 6:44 pm

"Toby A Inkster" <UseTheAddressInMySig@deadspam.com> wrote in message
news:pan.2003.12.04.19.16.42.607137@goddamn.co.uk...

quote:

> Also, another piece of info: KRK looks a bit like KKK. Try lower-case
> instead!
>
> --
> Toby A Inkster BSc (Hons) ARCS

Hey Toby...

Thanks for the assistance!

As far as K R K goes, I realized that, but that isn't the actual address, so
I used caps to remind me to change it.

Mark Parnell

2003-12-05, 9:15 am

Sometime around Thu, 4 Dec 2003 18:36:54 +0000 (UTC), Daniel Ruscoe is
reported to have stated:

quote:

>
> Brucie is a long-time contributor to a few web authoring groups and is
> well respected, despite his... well, we'll call them hobbies. I think
> the FBI has official terms for them.
>

The FBI has no jurisdiction over here...

--
Mark Parnell
http://www.clarkecomputers.com.au

2003-12-05, 9:15 am

On Thu, 04 Dec 2003 16:39:11 +0000, Chuck wrote:

quote:

> Could I please get some *constructive* criticism on a website?

<ot>
Everyone requests "constructive" criticism.
When, oh when, will someone request "deconstructive" criticism?
</ot>

Cheers,
Jaques Dirreda, deceased
Paul de Mann, deceased
--
(m)

Toby A Inkster

2003-12-05, 9:15 am

Mark Parnell wrote:

quote:

> Sometime around Thu, 4 Dec 2003 18:36:54 +0000 (UTC), Daniel Ruscoe is
> reported to have stated:
>
> The FBI has no jurisdiction over here...

They can still talk about his hobbies. Well, they can talk about the
hobbies for which there are words to describe.

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

Mark Parnell

2003-12-05, 9:15 am

Sometime around Thu, 04 Dec 2003 23:42:39 +0000, Toby A Inkster is reported
to have stated:

quote:

> Mark Parnell wrote:
>
> They can still talk about his hobbies. Well, they can talk about the
> hobbies for which there are words to describe.

And if our PM has his way, they may well have jurisdiction here soon
enough.

--
Mark Parnell
http://www.clarkecomputers.com.au

artist

2003-12-05, 9:15 am

Artist, the good little Microsoft drone heard "Chuck" <nospam@here.com>
say...

quote:

> Let me try this again since my original post just happened to
> disappear...
>
> Could I please get some *constructive* criticism on a website?
>
> It's temporarily located at http://www.geocities.com/my1964bug/
>
> Yes, I realize that Geocities sucks, but the site will move to a new
> home when it is completed.
>
> Thanks...
>
> Chuck

If this where my website I would get rid of the kids with the balloons,
and the big, times text and move the buttons/text/image of the business
up. The kids with the baloons are nice, and the graphics remind me of
kids, but they don't fit with the overall design of the page. Remember;
sometimes you have to discard your finest pieces to synergize the whole.

--
AIM: GCCFurryBoy
mellorya@yahoo.com
http://www.practialdesigns.com/

"Neither hope nor fear" - Isabella d'Este
"For to do either is to fall to the beast" - Joseph Richmond
"The Cow Kings a Bastard! Long live the Cow King!" - Joseph Richmond

Nico Schuyt

2003-12-05, 9:15 am

Toby A Inkster wrote:

quote:

> Chuck wrote:

quote:

[QUOTE][color=darkred]
> Not sure why you're using <h2>'s for your address, when HTML has a
> perfectly good <address> element. Here is a rewrite of the top bit of
> your page:
> ............
> <address><strong>Kids'R'Kids #123TX</strong><br>
> 1234 Main Street<br>
> Arlington, Texas 76123<br>
> 817-555-1234</address>

Toby, what's the advantage of <address> (in terms of accessibility for
instance)?
Nico

Toby A Inkster

2003-12-05, 9:15 am

Nico Schuyt wrote:

quote:

> Toby, what's the advantage of <address> (in terms of accessibility for
> instance)?

Well currently he's using headings to mark up the address:

<h1>Kids'R'Kids #123TX</h1>
<h2>1234 Main Street</h2>
<h2>Arlington, Texas 76123</h2>
<h2>817-555-1234</h2>

This is clearly a Bad Thing, as it causes problems for browsers that allow
the user to jump from heading to heading as a navigation method (such as
Opera, Amaya, Dillo, many screen readers).

Thus it should be replaced with some single block level element wrapper,
given appropriate line breaks through <br> and styled appropriately.

Candidates for the above mentioned block level element are <p>, <div> and
<address>. Apart from a few rendering issues that can be fixed with CSS,
they will all be treated the same by browsers.

Hence the most appropriate element of the three should be chosen. As this
is an address, <address>.

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

jake

2003-12-06, 4:56 pm

O.K. The first page is looking much better.

(1) The alternative text on the last graphic: "take tour 2k" should be
"take tour" -- as that's the text that it's the alternative for.

On the next page of the tour (aboutus2.htm):
(1) I'd change the alternative text on the photo from "mattmamie3(20k)"
to something like "Photo: Matt and Mamie Dillon".
(2)The alternative text on the arrow on the bottom needs to be set to
the text that it's the alternative for -- "Next".

I'd also be inclined review the body text as one or two items don't read
as well as they could.

And on the next page of the tour (activities2.htm):
(1) "lobby2 (62k)" needs to be replaced with something like "Photo: the
lobby of <whatever>"
(2) The headings such as "General Information" and "Extra Curricular
Activities" need marking up as <H2>.
(3) Again, the alternative text on the photographs needs to be set to
something meaningful such as "Photo: <whatever>"
(4) There's a missing </body> and </html>

And I'm not sure why you keep using:
<ul> xxxxxx </ul>

e.g.
<ul>
Big Screen TV
</ul>

(If you tell us why, then we'll be able to suggest other ways of doing
it).

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--

Remember that people who are visually impaired are going to be visiting
your site and using 'speaking browsers' -- so it's important that the
page mark-up is correct and that photos and graphics have meaningful
alternative text.

regards.

--
Jake

Nico Schuyt

2003-12-06, 4:56 pm

Toby A Inkster wrote:

quote:

> Nico Schuyt wrote:
>
[QUOTE][color=darkred]
> ...................
> Candidates for the above mentioned block level element are <p>, <div>
> and <address>. Apart from a few rendering issues that can be fixed
> with CSS, they will all be treated the same by browsers.
> Hence the most appropriate element of the three should be chosen. As
> this is an address, <address>.

Right.
Thanks! Nico

Sally Thompson

2003-12-08, 11:57 am

On Thu, 04 Dec 2003 18:16:44 GMT, "Chuck" <nospam@here.com> wrote:

<snip>

quote:

>
>As far as asking, I already have. I asked for some webpages that will help
>teach someone with no knowledge at all of CSS. Havent had any replies yet...
>I would like to learn and use CSS...

Try:
http://www.w3schools.com/
http://www.pmob.co.uk/faqcss/tutorial1.htm

HTH

--
Sally in Shropshire, UK
New URL <http://www.stonybrook-ludlow.co.uk>
Reply To is spam trap
If you need to email use sally=thompson@btinternet=com and replace the = with a dot