Unofficial HTML, PHP, ASP, MySQL and hints thread **

[neckus]

Please put all your tips, tricks and questions about webbuilding in here!




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I'll start:

Tip 1: Please change your graphical aspects in your forum is you get one from InvisionFree.

* Cause on every forum I look now, its all the same blue graphical skin. Changing these might increase "population" on your forum!

[yegnold]

Originally posted by neckus

I'll start:

Tip 1: Please change your graphical aspects in your forum is you get one from InvisionFree.

* Cause on every forum I look now, its all the same blue graphical skin. Changing these might increase "population" on your forum!

I disagree. I, along with about 75% of the members at assistant manager, love the skin :)

Tip 2: Keep naviigation simple, and a navigation bar on every page of the website :)

*People dont like clicking the "back" button when on a site, it makes it seem unprofessional

[neckus]

Originally posted by yegnold
I disagree. I, along with about 75% of the members at assistant manager, love the skin :)

Tip 2: Keep naviigation simple, and a navigation bar on every page of the website :)

*People dont like clicking the "back" button when on a site, it makes it seem unprofessional

Exactly.. but about 80% of ALL other forums have the same skin!

[jamesw1984]

Can anyone tell me how to add a news ticker to my website?

[yegnold]

Originally posted by jamesw1984
Can anyone tell me how to add a news ticker to my website?

www.newstick.com

it costs money im afraid :eek:

[neckus]

Immediate succes, this thread! :stickoutt ;)

[jamesw1984]

I meant how to create my own news ticker using java scripts?

[saha]

could some1 please tell me how to add downloads to my website??

[jamesw1984]

You just add them to your webspace and then create a hyperlink like you would when linking to another page.

[yegnold]

Originally posted by saha
could some1 please tell me how to add downloads to my website??

if they come up as wierd text, zip them up and then upload them. They should download fine then :)

[neckus]

Could this one be make sticky please? Its very usefull for webdesigners!

[saha]

I need help installing Ibproarcade on my forum so could u please help me if you know how to do it please!!!!

[Marsh]

If your hosts allow it use php include, it will make updateing your navigation bars a lot easier and simpley as changing the main file changes it all. http://www.php-include.com/ for more information, using php include will obviously mean changing the file type to .php .

Beginners in web design shouldn't worry themselves over this especially if you use a prgram like dreamwever, front page etc.

[saha]

who are you talking to marsh?

[Marsh]

No-one it was just a tip about php which was what the thread was about, if you want me to help you with your problem add me to msn, almostmarsh@hotmail.com and i'll try and help you!

[neckus]

Originally posted by Marsh
No-one it was just a tip about php which was what the thread was about, if you want me to help you with your problem add me to msn, almostmarsh@hotmail.com and i'll try and help you!

Keep 'm coming...


how about that sticky question??

[Fusion]

I'm a web designer, programmer, etc. etc. so I have some tips, might be harsh, but I honestly don't care.



1. Do not use frontpage, dreamweaver, etc. because 90% of the time, your site will come out looking amateur.

2. Do not just add a forum assuming it will become very successful.

3. Do not believe that advertising at championshipmanager.co.uk will mean your site will become popular.

4. Don't use free templates, be creative, learn, use your brain and make your own layout and design.

5. Add content, no content means a useless site that no one will visit again.

6. Work on the colours, no one wants to read bright blue text on a red background.

7. Get a top level domain name. Subdomains are rubbish, i.e. geocities, tripod, everything else. Also, when you get a domain name, get hosting too, and use the domain name properly, forwarded or cloaked domain names are just as bad, if not worse than subdomains.

8. Get rid of every error you can possibly find. Any spelling, grammatical or programming error is a major downside to your site.

9. Do not use code whether it be HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP or ASP if you don't know how to use it or what it's going to do.

10. For the love of God do not use site builders found at geocities, tripod etc. IF you are creating a website for the first time and you are using them, DON'T. Instead, learn HTML, because it really only takes 2 hours to get the basics, and once you understand how it works, the rest is very simple.

11. Be serious about your website. Think about when you come here and complain if the colour scheme of the forum is ugly or something is out of place, and then go back to your site and make sure the same problem doesn't exist there. Go to your favourite website, and compare it to yours, try to make it similar (without ripping content or graphics, obviously).

12. Here at CM.co.uk, in the CM Scene forum, when you post a link to your website, you will get great comments and people will tell you to keep up the good work. Take this with a pinch of salt, do not believe your website is the best because of these comments. If you want true comments on your website, go to http://www.sitepointforums.com where you will get true valuable honest opinions, information and more. Many other people in this forum will simply be like yourself, in thinking that the websites you make are the best.






Information regarding PHP

PHP is a recursive acronym which stands for PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor. DO NOT use PHP if you don't know what it is, how it works and have a very strong understanding of the language. ONLY use the include function:

Rename your file to have a .php file extension, and then, at the top of your file, put the following code:


<?php

include_once('your_included_file.html');

?>


In the included file, you should put a common header section of your HTML that you will need on every page.

Then, at the end of your file, put:


<?php

include_once('your_second_included_file.html');

?>


Obviously, this contains the common ending of your HTML.


More about PHP

PHP is much more than this simple include. VERY amazing things can be done with it, and can really add to a website, but if you don't know PHP, it will cost hundreds of pounds to get something done professionally.



That's about enough for now :D

[Geomanyak]

what program you say we should use then?

[yegnold]

Originally posted by Geomanyak
what program you say we should use then?

I recommend Frontpage. However, someone like neckus, who is much more experienced in web design, will tell you that Dreamweaver is better. I however think differently

[Fusion]

Frontpage is hopeless, the quality of the HTML it outputs is similar to the HTML that was used in 1994.

Dreamweaver is only slightly hopeless, again the quality of the HTML it outputs isn't the greatest, but it is better than frontpage, greatly.

I recommend writing your own HTML, more control, more customizability, more creativity.

[yegnold]

Originally posted by Fusion
Frontpage is hopeless, the quality of the HTML it outputs is similar to the HTML that was used in 1994.

Dreamweaver is only slightly hopeless, again the quality of the HTML it outputs isn't the greatest, but it is better than frontpage, greatly.

I recommend writing your own HTML, more control, more customizability, more creativity.

Agreed, the quality of the HTML is hopeless. But its a good beginners program, very similar layout to word and other well known office applications

[neckus]

I dont agree that Dreamweaver is hopeless... Allthough I dont use it that often (normally use Allaire HomeSite) but its good, cause you can easely write HTML and PHP in it.