Web developers HELP!!

Posted on

www.charlienaebeck.com
Member Since: Apr 10, 2004

Morning all,

What I am about to propose... I am not sure if it can be done caus I have not charted the boundaries of what I think I want to do with my website here. Here is what I am attempting to do... if you guys have any good web programming suggestions, tips, or sites I can figure out how to do this from, I would greatly appreciate it:

I am programming a new site layout for when my cd is released. I am doing a straight HTML site this time around with no I-frames or other stuff that can get spidered in websites so that users will not get inadvertently drawn away from my site content. My dilema is that I am programming in 1024 x 768 resolution and have always had conflicts where my site looks bad in 800 x 600 which is of course still the most widely used resolution out there today. I despise 800 x 600 due to the fact that whenever I program my site in that resolution, it seems to look really bad in 1024 x 768 which is my default for most computers I use.

My question is: Is there any form of java that will temporarily allow visitors to my site to view the site in 1024 x 768 only when they accept an agreement on my site that says "This site is best viewed in Penguivision at 1024 x 768, To properly view this site, please click Yes. To retain your current browser settings, please click No." In otherwords I don't want to hijack users browsers, and I don't want to get blocked by all of the pop up blockers out there today and all of the other security junk and what not, but I do not want them to see the vertical and horizontal scroll bars on my site if they are viewing in a browser less than 1024 x 768 resolution. I would like to make it so that when they leave the site either by closing out of the browser, or going to a different page it says "Thank you for using Penguivision, please click Ok to return to your normal resolution settings and please visit again soon."

Or..... if I did up two different versions of the site in 800 x 600 and 1024 x 768, how would I go about putting something in to detect which resolution they are using so that it defaults to the proper html index file? I could use a splash page, but personally I think they look tacky..... *shrugs*

any suggestions, or pointers of what you all do for your sites and what not and how to get around this dilema?? Thanks so much for help in advance.

Charlie

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Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Feb 10, 2005 10:56 am

I ahve a "best viewed in" message basically says "I suck at this and can't build a proper web site".

Build your site to either a fixed width so it sits about 750 pixels wide all the time or make it liquid gracefully from one sze to another. building for multiple screen widths is tricky, it takes some effort, but it is certainly better than asking people to click an agreement before viewing in another resolution, that's one of the most un-visitor friendly options you have.

Adding a thankyou popup on exit is also a bad idea, why do you want to do this stuff to your visitors, just let 'em come, read your stuff, listen to your music and leave...

www.charlienaebeck.com
Member
Since: Apr 10, 2004


Feb 10, 2005 11:05 am

yeah, just get annoyed by scroll bars myself. ;) I like everything nice and orderly on the page where the users don't have to search for info if they don't want to. What type of resolution would 750 pixels cover? I do not like to sit and work with size issues honestly. lol I don't have much patience when it comes to that stuff.... :)

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Feb 10, 2005 11:08 am

well, if I design a fixed width site for somebody, including my business site, I shoot for around 750 pixels wide, then it fits nicely inside a 800x600 window plus anything bigger. For a small site such as you are planning, or my little business site, that type of size is just fine, for a serious content driven site such as HRC the fixed width doesn't work...

Every task, hobby and job has it's hassles and pains, browser issues are one of web developments...

www.charlienaebeck.com
Member
Since: Apr 10, 2004


Feb 10, 2005 11:25 am

lol gotcha man. :) yeah... can't wait til some form of new technology comes out into play that will allow web developers to do away with resolution issues. ;) I am dreaming though of course. Thanks for the suggestions man. I will go back to the drawing board and see what I can't come up with. Later

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Feb 10, 2005 11:29 am

there are those tools, Microsoft Visual studio automatically detects the useragent and adjusts the page accordingly, even down to palm devices. It check which options of Javascript are available and uses the right stuff.

Of course, on some levels it's buggy, they have large pools the detect into a group rather than agent specific, but it's pretty cool.

I try not to view them as hassles but more as a challenge...

Hello!
Member
Since: Jan 12, 2004


Feb 10, 2005 11:34 am

Hey Riffgod

The most popular resolution these days is in fact 1024x768 which is good news for you.

What you want to do for full backwards compatability is design a site that is less than 800 wide i.e. 750 as dB says and center the thing.

When its on a 800x600 it'll fit snugly with a little border all the way around. If its on 1024x768 it'll sit well in the middle. If its on bigger, quite frankly, it'll look wee but that res (ie. 1280 x 1024 is just obscene anyway!!!!).

As for yer original question, checkout any javascript site and ye'll get a javascript detector. This can tell the users res and will send them to the version you have alinged for this. This means making 2 sites tho which is a big pain in the butt. I would do the frist plan - make it 750 wide (dont owrry about height - and take it from there).

You see what I mean if ye check any of my sites. They're all like that...

Cheers

Coco

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Feb 10, 2005 11:38 am

no, that depends on the study you look at, 800 and 1024 are close...but 1024 is a growing group for sure. 800x600 still has the HUGE percentage either way you look at it.

besides, it's not only resolution, you'd be surprised how many people don't opewn the browser window up to full size. It's window size that is the concern in reality.

Hello!
Member
Since: Jan 12, 2004


Feb 10, 2005 11:40 am

Correct ye are...am takin it fi w3schools.com -

Here ye go:

www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp

Check that oot..its a handy wee link for sure my friend.

Coco

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Feb 10, 2005 11:44 am

I generally judge my stats from my own experience. That said, some of those are pretty useful, but I like to look at my own sites and lump them together, seeing how they shake out.

Screen Resolution is something I don't track tho...you also have to understand screen resolution and window size is something that is only detectable in some browsers, so the stats are skewed from the beginning.

www.charlienaebeck.com
Member
Since: Apr 10, 2004


Feb 10, 2005 11:46 am

doh.... I didn't even think about the people that don't open the browser windows all the way.... lol oh man.... what is this internet coming to?? yeah, the 1024 x 768 thing is becoming more popular due to new computer sales and what not now days. All of the old Windows 98 machines are dying and everyone is getting windows xp which comes pre-programmed from the OEM's at 1024 which is good..... eh, I will give the 750 pixel thing a shot and see how it goes. :) Just not looking forward to re-sizing graphics and what not. ;) Thanks for the advice guys.

Hello!
Member
Since: Jan 12, 2004


Feb 10, 2005 11:49 am

Good point..

I know this isnt the place but whislt were discussin it, is the new cms loaded with the stats module for this ???

Just whilst I mind...

Cheers

Coco

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Feb 10, 2005 11:53 am

The stats module was dumped...we deemed it a waste of resource overhead since there are a billionother ways to get the same type of info. I am thinking of another system possible to do better logging, but won't be in this release.

FreeSquid Tentacle
Member
Since: Dec 06, 2004


Feb 13, 2005 12:03 pm

Are talking about the cms that you offer on the other site along with the form mailer?

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Feb 13, 2005 01:39 pm

yeah, that thing

Hello!
Member
Since: Jan 12, 2004


Feb 13, 2005 01:44 pm

Both the form mailer and CMS kick serious ***...

You could do FAR WORSE than to use both these systems...bloody top scripts and no doubt!

Cheers

Coco

www.charlienaebeck.com
Member
Since: Apr 10, 2004


Feb 16, 2005 06:23 pm

ok guys, I got the new site layout up and it is pretty clean. Feel free to check it out and let me know what you think. :) Thanks much to everyone who has been helping me code along the way on this project btw.. :)

btw... in other exciting news I finished my album and I am waiting for the first copies to arive in the mail. My official release date is March 25th... not to hype everything too much and I apologize DB if this is crossing the line, but I have copies on pre-sale if any of you are interested. This is basically my work from the past year of learning the in's and outs of recording through you guys, and a mix of cool tunes I have had in my head for the past 13 years. E-mail me off the boards from my site if you guys are interested.

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