Topic: I am Back ! Css Site 1st attempt !

http://www27.brinkster.com/dyz60/Main.html

How does this simple design look ? For those who have seen my old work before, plzz compare and critique.

And sorry Emp for causing so many confusion with my last 3 topic that you had to spent your time locking up those topics ;( .

Is it possible to make the links on my site change the contents of the center white area only ?? With this CSS ??

Anyways a full review plzz if possible though it isnt totally complete ... can i post flash questions in any part of this forum ??

I would have to say, try harder.

I can't view source on this box at random intervals, and you site happens to be one that I can't see.

What I have here is a lot of confusion. The idea behind designing sites with CSS is to provide a way of displaying CONTENT in a well designed layout.

You are missing the entire content thing.

Funny thing about this site is, unless I have the browser window maximized 1024x768 I get a single word on each line. If I maximize the browser it displays as I think you had envisioned it.

You need to design for all browser sizes.

You need to do a lot of work here.

Think structure.
Think usability.
Think colors.

I am completely befuddled by your design. I just don't understand what you are going for. You really need to find a focus for this site and work through the focus. I mean I see Terrorism and StarCraft here but not much else. Can you work with that. Sure, but make the site resemble it.

Work it.

-mage-

dyZ440: Well its interesting. Some points:

1. I'm not sure what you were aiming at and my first impression was that it was broken in IE6/Win. OK I get it - I'm looking at it now at 800x600 (I don't think this laptop goes above that so it forces me to test at this resolution which is good!!) and the problem is that you have centerContent as:

margin-left: 393px;

margin-right:410px;

which squeezes the main panel of your page into a very long thin slice.

2. You are still using things that CSS was designed to replace like <U> and non breaking spaces.

3. Squeezing the page makes the problem of your background repeating very evident and I would turn off the repeat.

4. You are using absolute positioning to line the content up with boxes in the background and I'd go for a more fluid design (get rid of the absolute positioning and look at float) with the text actually in the boxes.

I'd try and calm the design down a bit (get rid of those blue vertical lines) and keep it fluid - its an interesting start and most of the the problems aren't in the CSS its in the actual design (so that is a good thing!!). So tweak this design and keep plugging away and you should be producing some interesting, bug free designs soon.

[edit: OK I didn't address any of your other comments:

1. Don't worry about the various threads - its my job to keep things neat and tidy

2. It is possible, see Allewyn's latest thread and have a look in the DHTML forum, however, there doesn't see an easy way to do it in Opera (if you are using a server side script you could spot the browser and serve up 'old fashioned' links with target for that browser).

3. It depends on the type of Flash question - if it is just very specifically Flash you'd probably be more likely to get more answers in the multimedia forum.

More information if you want it]

Emps


You're my wife now Dave

[This message has been edited by Emperor (edited 01-10-2002).]

Looks really bad above 1024x786 too.

Ok one question b4 i start tweaking design and the code.
Plzz view my source code and answer.
Should i cut up the images and place them using the code background-image at the #leftcontent , #rightcontent ... etc etc


I am currently use the body background command meaning that the text were just placed on top of the background.

Err actually that is a personal site, Warmage ... didnt know what to resemble a personal page though i have game news and teenage news but i want the desin 1st not content .. the content were just there to see if it looks good... Any tips from you warmage ?

What css code do i use to replace <u> and <br>

Float instead of absolute ?? i'll try that out Emperor
Ok i'll remove the lines.

Ok i use IE version 5 . I 'll take a look at the DHTML forum and if i still dont get it i'll ask.

Thanks to everyone.

" So my main problem is design.... Not to worry with this great community here to help me out. "

dyZ440: Some answers/points:

1. Should you cut up the background - that is your call. I would get rid of some of the boxes which the text looks like it should be in and just use a <DIV> with the approriate background colour. What you do with the rest is your call depending on what you were aiming at.

2. Use text-decoration: underline to replace <U> and margins and padding to replace non breaking spaces and <BR> to get horizontal and vertical spacing.

Emps


You're my wife now Dave

Your bg img seems mostly to be just boxes...just use div's with the appropriate colors and borders.
Secondly, I'd stay away from absolute positioning. I understand sometimes it is necessary, especially when doing fancy JavaScript things...but this doesn't seem to be the case here. Simply use margins and padding and float to put things where you want them.
The problem with 1 big bg img like you have there, there is no 'breathing room'. That is, the page only looks good at exactly 1 size. The people who use the other 15,384,208,200 possible sizes can go piss up a rope. Not good.
Your design, while not aesthetically pleasing, does have the potential for breathing room. Take advantage of that.

Good luck.
Taking this on was a huge challenge that I have also faced recently, with moderate success. It took many months (When I first came to the Asylum I did not know anything about html. Nothing, zilch, zero, nada. Somebody here said they could teach me how to make web pages...I got hooked) and lots of help from the people here.

mobrul

Umm.... Mabye it's just me but, I liked the design of your old sites much better.....
http://ks440.tripod.com/ or even http://ks440.tripod.com/26/Vision.html

[This message has been edited by Synthetic (edited 01-10-2002).]

Ok thats a good comment by Synthetic .. i would like others comment on his opinion.

Since my css is better i could keep the old design and rearrange themn using css instead of tables.

OK this question might have nothing to do with reviews but .. oh well
here's the question .. i have heard things about placing complicated graphics on a site using layers.... Does that layer thingy have anything to do with CSS.

And ... no more questions for now .. i ll be asking if i need any help ... and thanks Emperor the latest answers from you ...

Ermmn looks like my main problem now is creativity and design ..

dyZ440: It all depends on what this design is: A test of CSS, a replacement for the previous design, a personal page, etc.

If it is a replacement for the previous one then I'd say that you should try and get the design polished on the previous one and then work on converting it into a CSS-only layout (if that is what you want - its not going to look freat in NS4.x).

Layers? It depends on what you are planning. Setting the z-index with CSS gives you layers.

Emps


You're my wife now Dave

To clarify my last comment, I am not saying to drop css, I do agree with trying to put your new found knowledge of css into a your old style work. Css is a great thing, but nevertheless you can't just set aside the sacred art of "java scripting" and the holy practice of "tables" and last but certainly not least, the reverent use of "Dhtml"...

I look forward too seeing the next step in this redesign,

I had a look as well and have some comments.

1. I too like the design of /26/Vision.html better and think you could incorporate youor new CSS skills there to some advantage. If you choose that direction, here are some specific comments:
a. separate "site of the week" cell from main body. Everything else has space around the sides, this should too.
b. gray menu buttons (top left) can be placed inside the "news archive" bar to hide their background color as it is the same. They'll appear embedded that way. It'll look more pro too.
2. Your new page does have its problems.
a. both Opera and Shitscape dump all text from center content cell into unformatted paragraphs, across the page. Evidently, they are not picking up the CSS import. That's because @import, as I understand it, is used to hide CSS properties from non-compliant browsers. Designing for IE has proved to be a mistake for me (because my designs perished in NN) and I now design for NN with the bonus that the designs work in IE as well. True, some elemnt properties lack support in even NN6 but it's much less confusing from this angle.
b. As far as the look and feel of the site in IE, well, I've seen it before. The "cross" thing has been done. In order to be creative, new things need to be considered. I know you're just beginning, but it's the right time to start thinking outside the box. A huge br image is to be avoided. In fact it starts to repeat on the right edge at 1024x768, which I believe was your design resolution?
c. As far as what your site should focus on, if it's a personal site it should focus on you and your interests. During the thought process involved in that, you'll learn a lot about yourself. Give what you've got, it's all you can do.

@import should only stop NS4.x from accessing those styles, NS6 and Op5 should be fine with it - I'd check the syntax as IE is the most lax of the three browsers and may be allowing an @import which is slightly wrongly written.

Emps

Thanks for your ideas and tips allewyn.

Since most people like my old design which i do but still not feeling full satisfaction with my work i will keep trying. Maybe i should tweak around with it the 26/Vision.html , insert css into them and make things look better.

Been playing games lately .. to escape from web design for a while ..
ekeke

dyZ440: I suspect that would be the best idea - the 26/vision.html design is still lacking in something and those buttons look out of place. Either try and create a design which makes those buttons look at home or swap them for something that works better with the current design.

Its tricky and there aren't any right or wrong answers I'm afraid!!

Emps