Topic: i changed my layout again (Page 1 of 1)

http://www.fragile-flame.net

there it is what do you think?

Ah! A fellow journaler!

It's nice to see someone starting out who isn't on diaryland, live-journal or somesuch. Maybe I'm just a snob.

I like the overall layout and color scheme. The graphic at the top is great. I have a personal preference for traditional capitalized sentences, but I recognize all lowercase is trendy in your demographic. Likewise, justified *looks* nicer, but I find it more difficult to read since browsers can only insert space between words, and the space between words is how we tell where sentences begin. Like the lowercase, it's a personal choice and yours is just as valid as mine.

As a new reader, I like so see navigation at the bottom of the entries. A minimum should be a link to the next entry. It makes is a lot easier to if I can go from one entry to the next without scrolling to the top or backing up to the archives page.

You've got the foundation for a Cast List page in your exit/links page. It wouldn't take much to flesh out the concept--popups maybe. Again, it's a nice touch for new readers.

The line about your trigger takes on a different meaning after reading your 5/3 entry. Powerful stuff.

It's a great start. Keep writing!

<edit>
Ooops! Sorry. I misread the dates on your archives page. Not the newbie I thought.
</edit>

"the most incredible feats are often accomplished by
those who have had the most incredible challenges"

[This message has been edited by brucew (edited 05-09-2002).]

the "next entry" stuff is in the works. i didn't think of that, so thank you. as far as justified text, it's a personal preference i can't let go of. basically anything negative you had to say had nothing to do with my skill but just my personal preferences so that doesn't really matter to me. what matters is that you said the look of it was great and that is what i care about. my site isnt a journal site only and i haven't put a lot of thought into making it more 'user friendly' since it's really my outlet. but i guess it wouldn't hurt and what archives do you mean? and you thought i was a newbie?

Yeah, when I first scanned down through your list of entries I saw the change from 2002 to 2001, but missed the change from 2001 to 2000. So I first thought you'd been journaling for only six months. Given that I've been journaling online for five years now, six months seems like a newbie to me. Eighteen months is a different story and it clearly says you're committed.

The archives I was referring to is your journal entry selection page. Listings that go back more than a month or two, for me anyway, fall into the archives category.

I'm glad you got what I was saying about the text capitalization and justification. It's one of those areas where personal taste is neither right or wrong and everyone's is different.

"the most incredible feats are often accomplished by
those who have had the most incredible challenges"

yeah.. i'm committed.. sometimes my journal is all i can do besides hit people.

tia: It is a nice look you've got there - I wouldn't have thought that shades of purple would work but it does - the dark purple area draws the eye and it all works together. I'm not suprised to read "My favorite color is purple.". Some thoughts:

1. I'd prefer to be told that the content of the main area on the main page is the site news - I did wonder for a bit.

2. It might be me but there look to be artefacts (I believe that is the technical term!!) on your face and possibly spoils the subtle effect you are aiming at.

3. Your code is a little odd - that is the smallest HEAD area I've seen - you don't actually have any head tags or you do but they aren't where they should be - they are inside your body tags.

4. You would really benefit from using some CSS to give you things like the hover effect on links (see briggl's CSS tutorials at the Gurus Network). You'd benefit from making them more prominent

5. I'd also slice up the navigation panel and have rollovers rather than an image map (see the Doc's rollover script at handson.nu).

6. It might help linking from the news on the front page to the section it is discussing. Its keeps everything joined up and helps with the flow through your site.

7. Give a more obvious link back to the main page.

8. As you are using PHP throw in a guestbook for people who don't want to comment on your news but might want to just say hello.

9. Why not add the ability to comment on your diary entries as well as the news?

10. Kill the IE image toolbar.

11. Make the pictures section like the rest of the site and add it to the navigation panel.

12. I do usually object to doble justification of text but it doesn't look too bad here.

13. You have no copyright notices anywhere and that isn't a good idea.

14. And I suspect that the header graphic is too tall for a 800x600 resolution.

Overall it looks really good and works well. The main area that I feel needs addressing is the navigation to help people find what they are looking for (more links, more obvious links, etc.) but I'd also look into neatening up the code and looking into using CSS and adding a few more PHP features. Anyway good work.

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

I read your most recent entry - I hope you are feeling stronger. Manic depression is quite a strong trait on my Mum's side of the family (luckily I take after my Dad's side who are just odd). Hopefully the diagnosis is the first step to getting things straightened out.

Emps

i think its caffeine not caffine

[This message has been edited by GRUMBLE (edited 05-16-2002).]

GRUMBLE: Its actually caffeine
www.dictionary.com/search?q=caffeine

[edit: and you are mighty quick on the draw there!!! ]

Emps

[This message has been edited by Emperor (edited 05-16-2002).]

hmm wow. you ask someone about a design and they tell you about all sorts of things as far as comments on my diary, if i wanted that i'd have a livejournal. my diary isnt something that needs people's feedback. i'm glad you liked the purple. it wasn't too tall for 800x600, as i checked that out before hand. and i don't want copywrite notices. i don't feel the need to have them. i don't care if someone "steals my stuff" since my graphics have my head on them anyway and most of my writing is done for my own therapy. i know how to do rollovers and css, thanks for the location of tutorials though. i'm sloppier with the coding than i should be, but as long as everything works in all browsers i feel fine with it. as far as manic depression, i am feeling better. just KNOWING what's going on helps me keep a handle on my emotions. they swing, but not near as much just having the knowledge. i am going to try out medicine next month. i appreciate the comment on that as well. as you will notice i've recently redone my site, the navigation is just text and i added more to it. added more creative stuff and i think the code is neater. i'm sure you will tell me if it isnt, hehe

tia: Glad to hear you are feeling better. I like the new design (although I'm not a big fan of that colour - but that is a personal thing) it looks a lot cleaner and more open. Not much to add really - my points 4 and 10 are the ones I'd probably re-emphasise with this new design.

___________________
Emps

FAQs: Emperor

im feelin super and im itching to change my site lol