Virtual Mechanics: Support Virtual Mechanics: Community Forums and FAQs Virtual Mechanics: Community Forums and FAQs Web General Discussion New site - Please review
Virtual Mechanics: Community Forums and FAQs Virtual Mechanics: Community Forums and FAQs Web General Discussion New site - Please reviewPage 1 2
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Working Mechanic |
Would very much appreciate your feedback on my (first) website proventivesolutions.com.au . Please take any angle you think relevant for consideration such as:
Design,typography, layout & organisation; Technical improvements (e.g.speed of page opening,"any black images", use & quality of images/objects); Improvements to assist search engine optimisation. Also possible software improvements. Currently using Notes ++, e-pdf-converter-creator, Paint.NET, IrfanView, Microsoft for diagrams & slideshows. Focus of site is intended primarily as explanatory (with benefits at pdf level) because the subject is not well understood - improving organisational health through organisational conflict management- (except in specialised pockets). Primary audience intended to be consultants, professionals and executives who want to fix immediate change issues(e.g restructures, mergers, etc); group and interpersonal "meltdowns" (rather than using termination); or wanting to develop a strategic approach to managing ongoing discontinuous/continuous change. Appreciate personal views on pitch and balance of material. Byways |
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Guru 'Geezer' Mechanic |
I don't mean to go "mccifa" on you, but isn't "well-being" a hyphenated word? (I see you use it that way on your About Us page).
On the About Us page, I think "european" should be capitalized. Also, I think your bio would look better centered on the page (unless you have intentions to add a second column of info). I think your nav menu gives your site a look that it is not complete. Having 2 empty slots gives me the impression that you are not quite finished. Your contact page could use some verification code to prevent unwanted e-mail. At a minimum, you should have some required fields and check that they are filled in. I apologize for sending an empty email. |
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Honorary 'Creative' Mechanic |
Just adding few points to what Larry already said.
1. On your Leadership & Team Development page you use an I-Frame. I would make it wider to avoid horizontal scrolling. 2.My alternative regarding your About Us page would be to make your photo larger and place it in the left column with a couple of lines above and below and placing the text in the right column. 3. Personally I would create some kind of menu for your three sections. As a visitor it becomes annoying to be forced to use browsers back button in order to go back. I think that those pages might also benefit from some kind of indication on which page one is at the moment. 4. Your header logo has a little bit 'running' edges. 5. The background of the subtitle under the logo is colourwise not enough synchronised with the beckground, espacially on right hand side. 6. As many people associate 'Slideshow' with changing images, I wouldn't use description Slideshow in connection with pdf format. Why not use PowerPoint format to make it a slideshow and have the pdf for print. I hope it helps. |
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Working Mechanic |
Thanks so much for your advice. I'll make the changes suggested.
If I want to include a verification code and required fields on the e-mail, Larryd, could you recommend where I can find that source coding? Roma, Along with making the changes suggested, it seems a 3 sections menu (maybe leaving subsections open to view) should be incorporated into and replace the current nav menu bar is the way to go. I had assumed visitors would use the 'Home' button to return to and explore the three sections as a way of navigating but clearly your suggestion is better. I'm really happy with any comment you think relevant. Byways |
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Honorary 'Creative' Mechanic |
Naturally there are several solutions. One possibility is certainly to incorporate those sections in the current menu maybe using drop-downs. The thing that makes the use of Home or back button less attractive is the fact, that you don't have immediate access to the pages under those sections. In my opinion it makes it more difficult for the visitor to navigate through the information provided on your site. One more detail, I would make the link to the Google Knol article open in a new window, so the visitor won't leave your site.
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Guru 'Geezer' Mechanic |
The following code can be used. It requires your visitor to make an entry in every field. Add it to a custom header on your contact page.
<script type="text/javascript"> <!--
function verify() {
fm = document.form15;
msg = "";
if (fm.Name.value == "") msg = msg + " Name\n";
if (fm.EmailAddr.value == "") msg = msg + " Email address\n";
if (fm.message.value == "") msg = msg + " Message\n";
if (msg != "") {
alert("The following fields require your input:\n"+msg);
return false;
}
else {
return true;
}
}
//-->
</script> Also, you will need to enter in the form's On Submit field (Form Editor->Form tab). |
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Working Mechanic |
Roma, can you think of an alternative to a single menu bar? As you can see the decision to place buttons within a diagram on the front page was quite deliberate: to make a concept/model interactive. This is the intended focus. So, in a sense, to improve navigation and choice by creating a comprehensive single menu also duplicates and competes with this idea. A simple consequence or is there an alternative?
Byways |
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Honorary 'Aussie' Mechanic |
Adverse to Roma’s (as normal) brilliant insight, I quite like the arrangement you already have. The exception being, of course, is with her suggestion to open the Google Knot Article in a new window.
The only other alternative the way I see it, is to use a Tree type menu (you did get the free one from Give Away of The Day mentioned on this forum recently, didn’t you?). However, if you use that option, you lose the presentation of your home page. You seem to have tried to cram you home page into a normal window size area. I don’t think this is necessary. Most people these days scroll by habit. So, maybe you could expand each section a little, giving a brief explanation of each one, to make the page more presentable. Also, as Larry mentioned in an earlier post, your navigation menu still has two empty slots. Maybe there you could delete these two (they can be added later if needed) and resize the remaining four to fill the space. By the way, I’m in the process of adding a little extra to Larry’s script to validate your form’s email address. Cheers, Terry |
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Honorary 'Aussie' Mechanic |
As promised, here is an update to Larry’s email validation script.
What I have added is the verification of a valid email address, plus a couple other extras. First of all, when the script finds a blank field, the script will return the user to the first offending blank field. Secondly, the email verification will not action until all fields are completed. You may note that the only “return true” does not appear until all tests are done. That means that the user still retains their original input. Once the user has completed all entries correctly, the “On Submit” is finished with, so the form’s “Action” takes place, sending you an email. You do not need to change the “return verify();” on your form, but you will need to replace your header code with the following. I did not bother to highlight the changes, as there are too many. So it is more preferable to replace the old with the new. I have made up a dummy project with exactly the same settings as yours, and it seems to work fine in all browsers (IE8, Opera, FireFox, Chrome and Safari). <script type="text/javascript"> <!--
function verify() {
fm = document.form15;
msg = "";
if (fm.Name.value == "") msg = msg + " Name\n";
if (fm.EmailAddr.value == "") msg = msg + " Email address\n";
if (fm.message.value == "") msg = msg + " Message\n";
if (msg != "") {
alert("The following fields require your input:\n"+msg);
if (fm.message.value == "") fm.message.focus();
if (fm.EmailAddr.value == "") fm.EmailAddr.focus();
if (fm.Name.value == "") fm.Name.focus();
return false;
}
else {
checkEmail();
return false;
}
}
function checkEmail()
{
var the_email = document.form15.EmailAddr.value;
var the_at = the_email.indexOf("@");
var the_dot = the_email.lastIndexOf(".");
var a_space = the_email.indexOf(" ");
if ((the_at != -1) &&
(the_at != 0) &&
(the_dot != -1) &&
(the_dot > the_at + 1) &&
(the_dot < the_email.length - 1) &&
(a_space == -1))
{
return true;
} else {
alert("Please enter a valid email address");
document.form15.EmailAddr.focus();
return false;
}
}
//-->
</script> |
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Honorary 'Creative' Mechanic |
Hi Byways,
Being quite familiar with your target group I believe that a consistency and ease in navigation is rather essencial. I just made a simple mock-up here. I used your own organisational chart from the Home page. As Terry pointed out you don't need to avoid vertical scrolling, so the page can be slightly longer if necessary. There is a kind of general rule (based on research) that people read comfortably between 7-11 words on a line. Longer texts across the page make it harder to read. I hope this helps. |
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Working Mechanic |
Thank you so much Larryd, postyr, and klimt for your advice and guidance, all will be taken on board and included. Thank you also for providing example scripts and page layout, these will certainly improve the presentation and standard of the site. Roma, the mock up is an excellent solution reinforcing the focus of the website and providing a uniquely creative solution making it stand out from the crowd. A 2 layered, and graphical, navigator. Now if I was still part of that target group I know I would be impressed!!!
It will take several days to make the changes as I'm still learning a lot. And yes, postyr, I did miss the freebie. Byways. |
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Working Mechanic |
postyr, I've just uploaded the website with some changes including the mail script. The Mail script might need a touch more work. It seems to have a memory of past inputs into the boxes as you key in, and does not pull up a "thankyou" page nor sends the mail. Left it as is for consideration. Perhaps I missed a direction along the way. Tnks anyway.
Byways |
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Honorary 'Aussie' Mechanic |
Where did you put the javascript?
I just checked your contact page, and it’s not there. My guess is that you have put it into the PHP script, and that’s why it’s not working. PHP and javascript are two completely different coding languages, and will cause malfunctions when combined, because they don’t recognize each other. Javascript is a “client” sided language, and is designed to work only on the client’s machine while they have your page open. Therefore, javascript codes belong within your page. On the other hand, PHP is a “server” sided language, and, as in the case of your mail script, is capable of retrieving data from the client, then process it on the server. Again in this case, to send you an email containing the client’s input. That’s why the PHP script is placed on your server. My advice is to check your PHP script, and leave it exactly as it was when it was last working. Then, follow Larry’s instructions on how to place the javascript code (his or mine) into your page using Site Spinner. How it works is that the javascript code check’s the user’s input via the “On Submit” field while still in the “client” stage. Once the javascript is satisfied that all is honky dory, the form’s “Action” takes place by processing the PHP script. Hope I have explained myself. Terry |
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Honorary 'Aussie' Mechanic |
Byways,
Larry has contacted me and has kindly pointed out an error in my javascript.. The way it is at the moment, the script does not allow the form’s Action to execute. Please accept my apologies. Below is an amendment of my script, which this time I have fully tested and finally works. <script type="text/javascript"> <!--
function verify()
{
var the_email = document.form15.EmailAddr.value;
var the_at = the_email.indexOf("@");
var the_dot = the_email.lastIndexOf(".");
var a_space = the_email.indexOf(" ");
if ((the_at != -1) &&
(the_at != 0) &&
(the_dot != -1) &&
(the_dot > the_at + 1) &&
(the_dot < the_email.length - 1) &&
(a_space == -1))
{
fm = document.form15;
msg = "";
if (fm.Name.value == "") msg = msg + " Name\n";
if (fm.EmailAddr.value == "") msg = msg + " Email address\n";
if (fm.message.value == "") msg = msg + " Message\n";
if (msg != "") {
alert("The following fields require your input:\n"+msg);
if (fm.message.value == "") fm.message.focus();
if (fm.EmailAddr.value == "") fm.EmailAddr.focus();
if (fm.Name.value == "") fm.Name.focus();
return false;
}
else {
return true;
}
} else {
alert("Please enter a valid email address");
document.form15.EmailAddr.focus();
return false;
}
}
//-->
</script> |
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Working Mechanic |
Thanks postyr, the email works a charm. Yes I did need reminding where the code should be placed (and why).
I think (almost) all the amendments suggested by yourself, larryd & klimt have been tackled. What I've done with them is up on the website. I'm absolutely delighted with the - significant- improvements. Any further suggestions? Now if only I could find a software to clean up the banner heading. Its in AccordSF but stretched to emphasize the italics. I've got IrfanView, Paint.Net, and GIMP2 but can't work them to make the text lean more to the right..any ideas...? Great guidance and support byways |
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Honorary 'Aussie' Mechanic |
I’m afraid that graphics is not one of my fortes. I will leave that for the likes of Roma and Bruce.
I’m glad you are pleased that your email is working, but the javascript verification script isn’t. I just sent you an email from your site with my name and a message, but no email address (I purposefully forgot, like some other visitors may). How would you know where to respond? If the javascript was working, I would not have been able to send the message without providing my email address. You have the script in the right place (header), but you have not made any reference to it on your form. To repeat what Larry said in an earlier post, you have to put return verify();in the form’s On Submit field, which is the third box below the Action field where you placed SendMail.php |
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Honorary 'Creative' Mechanic |
Hi Byways,
If you send me your logo, tell me what exact fonts you use as well as colour mix and dimensions, I can do it for you. My e-mail is in my profile or on my website. |
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Working Mechanic |
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Working Mechanic |
Thank you all for your advice and guidance. I am between a Homer Simpson "D'Oh" over the final touches to placing the scripting to the e-mail (now successfully working), and downright bashful in the face of the generosity offered by Roma in fixing my final pickle. I can only hope that the website outcomes meet with your approbation. They certainly exceed mine.
Byways. |
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Honorary 'Aussie' Mechanic |
Byways,
A quick note about the verify script. The email address check only checks the correct syntax of the entry to match that of an actual email address. There is no way of testing whether the actual email address is valid. A user can still enter an invalid email address that still meets the correct format. Please keep that in mind. Now one last point about your Contact form. The “Message” text box is simply that. A text box that you have resized. A text box will only allow one line of text, and the text will not “wrap”. Nor can you use the enter key to begin a new paragraph. In a text box, hitting the enter key will move the focus to the next object. In this case, that is the Submit button. So, when someone is writing you a long message, and hits the enter key to begin a new paragraph, the email is sent before they can finish the message. I suggest changing the text box to a “text area”. This will allow the text to wrap, and when the enter key is pressed, it will create a new line. |
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