See, this is why I primarily said that a java-centered gallery is a massive fail of an idea because java sucks and screws up loads. Currently it's only showing me small images of the contest entries so I don't even know what on earth is being said!
So like.. I don't know. I guess java makes it look all fancy, but it really is bloated and just generally messes up. It didn't work for me in Opera nor Safari.
What's so hard about linking the images directly to the journal or archiving it on the contest page when that should be the point of the general contest page? Not trying to be a dick, but I've had an issue with the gallery section for a while, but when it's affecting possible votes due to the inability to access the page, then we have a problem.
Then again maybe it's because I don't use Internet Explorer or Firefox, but that being said a webpage should accommodate to all browsers ":-["
Firefox is your best bet, download it if you can on your laptop or PC. Otherwise try your university's PC. Security level to enter that site should be very low hence accessibility is easy.
Yes there is a lot of effort involved making those pages the way they are. Uploading and editing additional images to each entry also plays a time factor to the whole scenario of how it is rather inconvenient. Try running the site on your own instead of getting someone to do it for you and you'll know how it feels.
If all else fails your local library has internet facilities, use them to your advantage. There is no excuse really.
So I have to install a completely different browser to view one single page that could very well just get rid of the pretentious bells and whistles and replace it with humble links or.. god forbid - thumbnails ?
That's.. umm.. not really practical at all.
"There is no excuse really" is a really crap thing to say, by the way. The point of your site is to encourage people to visit, that is what the site is there for.. for an easy access to your Ashworth comic and merchandise and information.
Also I thought one of your friends did the site for you? I mean I've seen Souppy doing coding before and yes it's tough, but the thing is he doesn't make his work time-consuming to just throw in some bells and whistles that might attract people under the age of ten (Ooh, pretty colours!).. he is making it practical. As practical and easy access should be the main importance and REASON for a webpage existing.
I'm pretty sure your method has failed dismally if a reader has to install a specific browser to access your site, and especially so if they need to go to a library to view it.
Anyway, this isn't the problem, it seems. The app is Flash, not Java, and the reason it works in Firefox and not in Opera or Safari is because Firefox is more lax in allowing popups - the awful method the program uses to display the magnified version. Veronica's problems are a perfect example why using popups on the web this millenium is generally discouraged, not only for usability reasons (they have a huge amount of usability issues) but because ads have basically rendered them useless. If the browser isn't blocking them, the user is instinctually trying to get rid of them. Why can't you display the images in the window people are browsing your website with?
Either way, there's not a lot of effort in uploading images to an FTP server, writing a quick HTML page with some plain old links to each image and linking to that. Configuring a fancy Flash app with albums and slideshows that only works right in one browser takes a lot more time, and ultimately gives you nothing but a few fancy scrolling effects to the detriment of people actually trying to use the page and view your content.
BTW I haven't explained myself properly why the size is important. Since the original image size is very large in height downsizing it to less than 700 pixels on some entries will result in distortion of quality - hence text cannot be read at all.
Ah thank you Suitcase, I needed feedback without the flaming involved! XD
The technical flaws using the fancy pop-up (website creation system known as Joomla) method is that the max height dimensions for each image cannot exceed 700px. I had tried countless times to change it's settings (under the JCE Editor Mambot settings - JCE being the add-on feature to Joomla's website creation system) to get it beyond the 700px mark but it just wouldn't work. O.O;;
Nevertheless I can consult it Jason about why it wouldn't work but I do not wish to disturb him on an important period of examinations at the moment.
So that explains why I used the GALLERY component called EXPOSE instead because it can accept anything beyond the 700px mark. = ) Unfortunately in Veronica's case it didn't work for her due to the technical restrictions and for this I apologise.
Nevertheless your constructive feedback had somewhat encouraged me to go oldschool and make a seperate page altogether. I'll do that now and spend another couple of hours or so. I'll have to save my comic for later. Cheers. *thumbs up*
I don't totally see what happened. You used the gallery Flash thing because Joomla wouldn't let you put big pictures on the site, yet now you've made a page with big pictures on it? How were you able to do that?
Also, what on earth do you mean flaming? Do you mean Veronica's post?
Well, maybe no offense was meant, but it does seem odd that you construed Veronica's post as flaming. All she did was offer the same ideas I did, I just provided the technical information she wasn't aware of. There's nothing rude about asking "What's so hard about linking the images directly" or "java sucks and screws up loads". If that's how someone's thinking, you should be glad they mentioned it - most people are braindead and never criticise anything, especially devoted comic fans on DA.
As for the hours to do it - from what I can see, promotion is probably the largest problem you face right now, so if anything you should be obsessing about things like the website, logo, ads, whatever. So I wouldn't be too concerned about spending time to fix an important promotional tool - especially when you went to the trouble of creating this contest to generate interest.
Granted, using the word 'flaming' was a little too harsh but I did feel annoyed, not to be rude or anything.
Don't let something like this affect either of you or Veronica too much because it's just how things go for me. I appreciate the advice but in future just to keep it to yourself. Cheers. *thumbs up*
THE IMAGES DO NOT WORK.
See, this is why I primarily said that a java-centered gallery is a massive fail of an idea because java sucks and screws up loads. Currently it's only showing me small images of the contest entries so I don't even know what on earth is being said!
So like.. I don't know. I guess java makes it look all fancy, but it really is bloated and just generally messes up. It didn't work for me in Opera nor Safari.
What's so hard about linking the images directly to the journal or archiving it on the contest page when that should be the point of the general contest page? Not trying to be a dick, but I've had an issue with the gallery section for a while, but when it's affecting possible votes due to the inability to access the page, then we have a problem.
Then again maybe it's because I don't use Internet Explorer or Firefox, but that being said a webpage should accommodate to all browsers ":-["
Devious Comments
That's.. umm.. not really practical at all.
"There is no excuse really" is a really crap thing to say, by the way. The point of your site is to encourage people to visit, that is what the site is there for.. for an easy access to your Ashworth comic and merchandise and information.
Also I thought one of your friends did the site for you? I mean I've seen Souppy doing coding before and yes it's tough, but the thing is he doesn't make his work time-consuming to just throw in some bells and whistles that might attract people under the age of ten (Ooh, pretty colours!).. he is making it practical. As practical and easy access should be the main importance and REASON for a webpage existing.
Anyway, this isn't the problem, it seems. The app is Flash, not Java, and the reason it works in Firefox and not in Opera or Safari is because Firefox is more lax in allowing popups - the awful method the program uses to display the magnified version. Veronica's problems are a perfect example why using popups on the web this millenium is generally discouraged, not only for usability reasons (they have a huge amount of usability issues) but because ads have basically rendered them useless. If the browser isn't blocking them, the user is instinctually trying to get rid of them. Why can't you display the images in the window people are browsing your website with?
Either way, there's not a lot of effort in uploading images to an FTP server, writing a quick HTML page with some plain old links to each image and linking to that. Configuring a fancy Flash app with albums and slideshows that only works right in one browser takes a lot more time, and ultimately gives you nothing but a few fancy scrolling effects to the detriment of people actually trying to use the page and view your content.
Just clarifying.
The technical flaws using the fancy pop-up (website creation system known as Joomla) method is that the max height dimensions for each image cannot exceed 700px. I had tried countless times to change it's settings (under the JCE Editor Mambot settings - JCE being the add-on feature to Joomla's website creation system) to get it beyond the 700px mark but it just wouldn't work. O.O;;
Nevertheless I can consult it Jason about why it wouldn't work but I do not wish to disturb him on an important period of examinations at the moment.
So that explains why I used the GALLERY component called EXPOSE instead because it can accept anything beyond the 700px mark. = ) Unfortunately in Veronica's case it didn't work for her due to the technical restrictions and for this I apologise.
Nevertheless your constructive feedback had somewhat encouraged me to go oldschool and make a seperate page altogether. I'll do that now and spend another couple of hours or so. I'll have to save my comic for later. Cheers. *thumbs up*
Also, what on earth do you mean flaming? Do you mean Veronica's post?
Oh as for the flaming thing, no offense meant.
As for the hours to do it - from what I can see, promotion is probably the largest problem you face right now, so if anything you should be obsessing about things like the website, logo, ads, whatever. So I wouldn't be too concerned about spending time to fix an important promotional tool - especially when you went to the trouble of creating this contest to generate interest.
Don't let something like this affect either of you or Veronica too much because it's just how things go for me. I appreciate the advice but in future just to keep it to yourself. Cheers. *thumbs up*