Topic: Ack! I've got a client, how do I handle it?

Oops! I got a job designing someones website... The fact that I knew what HTML looked like, was pretty much my qualification. I am still using Front Page as a layout tool and then I copy and paste into Notepad... I'll then use Eversoft's First Page for HtmlTidy purposes {I know we have Mad Max's HTML Beauty... But it still scares me ! So many options, and not a clue how to use them.}
http://www.computersforpeople.net/index.htm

If you want to say it sucks... all I ask is to also hear what would work better

So far this is all just preliminary work. The layout colors and graphics really pleases the boss. I myself am having some issues with it's behind the scenes coding... it's all tables and hacking them together.

The client wants to be able to use those nifty shopping carts... I have no clue how to put them in. Thankfully the shop is more of a Re-Opening Beginning stage. I have some time before the Visa/Mastercard sliders come in.... But when they do? How do I put those little shopping cart thingamabobs on the pages?

On this particular page;
http://www.computersforpeople.net/parts.htm

I was wondering if a text link under the product thumbnail would be acceptable or would that be too 80's?



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Bleah...

Dear lord you sound like you are in way over your head.

As for online shopping this is a huge endevor. You need to research how you are doing this, if you are working directly though a banking institute, you normally need to do a good deal of back-end coding, this means you have to design the forms that will take the credit card information, open up a socket and securely connect to the banking institute parse the returned results to either accept or reject the order. You then have to have it set up to automatically send the information that an order has been made to those responsible for shipping, and have the product shipped.

You really need to find out how the shopping is being done, often you can purchase a service for a set fee per month, and then interface through their system. This requires setup of their scripts but they provide technical support, which is very nice. When you find out exactly how you are working your shopping cart you should pop into the server side forum and ask lots of questions.

Your site doesn't look half bad. You menu on the top is pretty hot, but you have a mishmash of styles in there. You should stick to one or the other. I would extends the style you use for the top menu to the side menu. This doesn't mean make the side menu look identicle, but you might want to make the side menu different but using a metalic theme, like you did for the top.

I think you should also retool the main logo. It looks dated. You should make this crisper and cleaner. I would kill the light drop shadow, and maybe think of a way to tie in its design with the rest of the site.

Your main problem here is that you have a lot of cool elements that don't work perfect together, you have a good start though.



Dan
CodeTown.org

Yes, Knee deep and going further... I saw a life jacket on the shore but figured I wouldnt need it. !


Thanks for the critique on the side buttons... they were an evolution of something shown that was requested and I just threw them in during the pre production phase. Now they are kinda just stuck there without much more purpose than looking functional. They work, but I also am not to happy with the way they mesh... The client likes em though. Likes the site in general and now is clamoring for functionality. Pffft, the nerve. I could use the same theme as the top menu without the slide out... err... thing? The Javascript isnt to telling on how it works by just reading it.

The hand written swirled amalgamation of cfp in the top left corner is kinda set in stone. I can get away with manipulating the other text but the boss doesnt want to lose the swirl. I used the bevel and overlay to clean up its edges, but I am pretty sure he likes the simple hand written unevenness of it.

I fear design is now second chair to functionality. In my zeal to put product descriptions up and available, I went with what I could find first. The photo album script which pops a jpeg up in it's own little window. Of course I cant figure out how to make the image interactive. I can click it all day and the only thing available is the option to copy the image[DOH!}.

I have a button script that pops open am html page but it is just a grey button and doesnt do multiples... err, that is, I dont know how to make it do multiples. So I am thinking the click the thumb for more info, close the pop image and then order from a link under the thumb, would be easier on me. We have been discussing Pay Pal and a Bank Merchant account. I'm heading over to Pay Pal to see what kind of support the offer for web design.

I told my employer of my inadequacies beforehand... He just smiles and says "You will learn a lot, eh?"

LOL... I then go home and do most of my work there... I only come into the office to upload. And figure out whats next on the agenda.

[edit}
It looks like PayPal has a real simple siolution.... "Copy and Paste" my two eternal friends... Anyone have first hand experience or caveats to Offer?
[/edit]
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Bleah...

[This message has been edited by UnknownComic (edited 04-08-2004).]

Whoa... I am working at 1/4 speed now. I am not so familiar with the app I use at the office. Woe is me... LOL!

So, anyone know of some good FrontPage 2003 specific Tutorials? Perhaps someone has found 1 or 2 that are appropo of retail websites...

Being a cut and paste adherent for so long has kinda left me lost in the FP2003 GUI... Ssoo manny buttons.

Any Himts out there?


[Edit] Huh? I went from nervous wreck to paranoid?... hmmm, I think I'm still in the nervous wreck stage... I'm not ready for paranoia. Who made that change? ... and why? Is it a sign? Is someone watching me t y p e... Right NOW! {looks over shoulder} What was that noise? Damn this noisy nut house! I'm signiong off ... there is something strange going on here[/edit]
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Bleah...

(Edited by UnknownComic on 04-15-2004 18:31)