Done as I'm gonna do

Well, I have a website and all the documentation. What I don't have is ANY working interactive functionality and I've completely run out of time. :-(

One of the problems I ran into on the Forum (phpBB) plugin I wanted to use was the permission settings on the UTS student server, it wouldn't let me write to a group of files (in the phpBB folder) that I needed to in order to get the thing to work. Alastair kindly set me up an account on another server which DID have the right permissions but, Murphy's Law, the connection spent the entire weekend timing out (grr).

I'd have to echo Lisa's sentiments on this, I've learnt a lot and even though this site is a big fat fail (feel like I should put a # there - too much time on Twitter) in my eyes, I'm looking forward to developing these skills on slightly more realistic projects in the near future.

So enough with the ramble, here's my final submission...

Proof I have learnt something!

I've just managed to upload all my images for Digital Graphics and the Still Image to the server, complete with hyperlinks and central CSS file.

I didn't slice the images though as they were coming through misaligned on the screen and my brain power's too low to fix it today.

I may also need to play with the image size to allow for screen resolutions but this fits my screen (with all toolbars turned off).

It's a relatively simple set of images in terms of Photoshop tools used but it's exactly what I was after. Click here and let me know what you think!

Exhaustion

I knew from the word go that the site I'd outlined was probably going to be more than I could handle. I would feel a lot better if SOMETHING worked though!

I'm taking a break from problem solving (aka bashing my head against a brick wall) and have just completed my site documentation for it, as is, in all its broken glory. Between this, my other unit's assignment and two Christmas campaigns due to launch on Tuesday (public holiday in Melbourne, guess where my web team's based), I'm whacked.

Stepping back and looking a little more objectively though, I know my knowledge of site coding has increased dramatically from the beginning of the semester and I'm actually pretty confident coding in both HTML and CSS now. It's only when I run into PHP that it all falls down in a broken heap. Even Javascript likes me better than PHP! The date stamp in my Macro Micro Analysis and the Google Analytics applications are both behaving beautifully!

So, I've learnt a lot (yay), but my site doesn't work (boo). At least this means I won't be getting every man and his dog asking me to help out with their site as Bec's enjoying at the moment...

Today's Challenge - Permissions

I've decided to look into at least trying plug-ins for the three major applications I'm looking at:

The RSS Reader
A Forum
A Polling application

I figure if I get each of them started, I can pull together just one almighty list of issues (adding on to that from my subscription form) and then start working through them, rather than cop any more new surprises. Warning, Alistair, you may get a marathon email in the next few days.

I'm also going on the premise that I'm doing this subject to learn about this stuff, and making loads of mistakes and then working out how to fix them is an awesome way of learning. I reckon I'm going to need some help on the working out bit though.

So, the latest challenge is installing phpBB - my chosen Forum plug in. My system meets most of the application's requirements, it's only when I get to the bottom of the 'Requirements' page that things get a tad tricky:

Required - In order to function correctly phpBB needs to be able to access or write to certain files or directories. If you see “Not Found” you need to create the relevant file or directory. If you see “Unwritable” you need to change the permissions on the file or directory to allow phpBB to write to it.

I'm getting the 'Unwritable' flag so need to work out about the permissions. Now given the amount of fun we had back at the beginning of the semester just getting the access etc set up, I'm a little nervous about whether I'm even vaguely able (or allowed!) to to this.

RSS Reader

I'm finally getting into the build for my RSS Reader and, once again, I think PHP is going to be my downfall. I was doing fine until I got to this para:

Now, besure to add the get_rss_feed function call to the feedList’s onchange event and you are good to go. With a catch, of course. This will only work when accessed locally via the “file://” protocol. IN order to use this online, you’ll need to circumvent the browser security sandbox and use a middleware proxy to grab the XML and make it local. Here’s the PHP:

HUH!?!?!?!?!?!?

The PHP script is then laid out below but I'm stuffed if I know where it's meant to go in the page or anything.

The basic 'select a feed' dropdown is coming up perfectly, it's just that none of the news is then coming through.

One other little challenge I've run into - I hadn't realised how few of the surf sites (for both news and blogs) incorporate an RSS feed so the list of options is looking a little sad. Although WotNews is a godsend as it can output RSS feeds based on keyword queries.

Reference
Udell, C. (2008) http://visualrinse.com/2008/09/24/how-to-build-a-simple-rss-reader-with-jquery/ viewed 24-Oct-09

Google Analytics

I think I just managed to add in the Google Webmaster metatag, and also the script for Google Analytics, so I can track visits etc to my site (mind you, I'll freak if I get more than about 2!).

It all seems pretty easy, Google generates all the code and stuff but since they then tell you to insert the Analytics snippet (it's javascript) immediately before the body tag in the source code, I got a little confused. It's not until I got onto the support page that I found they meant the close body tag at the bottom!

I'm now supposed to give it 24 hours to see whether it's verified the code or if I've done something wrong so fingers crossed I can give it the big tick tomorrow night...

Ideas for Plug-ins

I've been looking at ideas for my Forum page and for my Polls page (if I get to it), and have the following options:

Polls
http://itlpoll.sourceforge.net/#
http://www.checkbox.com/community/ultimate-poll/101-free-ultimate-poll-software-java-ajax-asp-technology.html
http://www.dbscripts.net/poll/

Forums
http://vanillaforums.org/
http://www.phpbb.com/
http://www.phorum.org/

If anyone has any thoughts, other options or advice, I'd love to hear from you!

Four down, six to go...

Pages that is...

I'm pretty much there in terms of the home page, and my three other basic pages. Just please don't expect anything gorgeous in terms of layout or design!

So, now I'm onto the pages with apps rather than just links and my brain is once again about to explode. I've spend most of today trying to get my subscription page to talk to my database table in MySQL and have failed completely. Even going back to our guestbook application hasn't helped.

Given I also probably need to use PHP for the Forum application (I've found about three options), I'm not a happy little camper at the moment. This was meant to be the easier of the apps, to give me a bit of confidence in moving to build an RSS reader in the next stage but I'm now quivering in my (ugg) boots.

Brain is officially fried

I've just spent most of the day getting myself more or less on track in line with my schedule in my system plan.

I still need to do the peer review feedback but am planning on taking care of that tomorrow night as a break from HTML and CSS.

Most of the day was spent sorting out the Home Page layout, and by extrapolation, the master CSS file. It's been worth it, as I just managed to complete the links page really quickly as all the navigation, styles and layouts were already in place. :-)

Most of the other pages manage to bring in some sort of additional app:

• PHP subscription form (linked to MySQL database)
• RSS reader (JQuery)
• Forum app (Phorum plugin I think)
• Photo gallery (although this could end up being a link to a Flickr search)
• Polls page (if I have time and find something easy).

I also want to use Google Apps to track page activity but that's pretty easy from all accounts (I hope so!!!). Either way, it's going to be a busy month.

Draft Systems Plan

I'm nearly there on the draft - I just need to do the Data Flows and the Schedule. You can take a look at the work in progress here if you really feel the need.

If anyone's looking for a free flow charting application, I'm going to have a go at doing my data flows in a new one called Lovely Charts.

UTS Server

I'm SO glad it wasn't just me having server issues yesterday! I think it may be fixed now as I can access my Macro Micro Analysis page. What I found freakiest yesterday though was when I tried to access my files via FileZilla, I managed to connect to Sally but the directory I was sent to was definitely not mine!!

I've just watched the lecture on JQuery and Ajax which was really useful. I know I'm going to need JQuery for a key piece of functionality on my site (a browser based RSS reader - I am INSANE!!!).

Thankfully, in addition to some great advice on that from Alistair, my boss is also taking an interest and has new web resource and plug-in suggestions every time I mention what I'm up to. I think the biggest issue with this subject is the sheer volume of resources available, there's just so much out there and it can get quite overwhelming.

Project Website

Here are the websites in the same basic genre as I'm looking to play. No pressure! :-)

Rip Curl
Quiksilver
Billabong
ASP World Tour

The frustration for someone who's into this stuff is that there's not really anywhere that aggregates all this stuff without pushing its own agenda. That's the gap. I don't think I can fill it, but I can start the conversation...

MySQL - Deja Vu

I quite enjoyed the MySQL week as it felt like I was on familiar ground for a change. I had a job a few years ago that needed me to do data mining on the company database to find product use trend analysis and stuff.

And guess which language I had to query in. Yup, SQL! I remember having the entire (head high) back wall of my cubicle wallpapered with the diagrams of the relational tables and digging out primary keys and foreign keys while trying to marry together some pretty weird data combinations. It was a mix of treasure hunt and brain bender puzzle.

I've completely forgotten the language now but it was nice to be reminded, rather than taught fresh, for once this semester! :o)

Design - not my strong point

My aim this weekend is to get a decent start on the layout of my web page template(s). I've got the site architecture already sorted, it's a pretty simple setup. I'm getting seriously stumped on how I want the pages themselves set out.

Seth Godin posted this blog on Friday on "Things to ask before you redo your website", which seemed very apt timewise. According to a passing reference in this blog, it seems the holy grail of commercial home page design is the Apple website. The main focus of the blog though is on the questions you SHOULD be asking yourself, rather than comparing apples with oranges (no pun intended).

I'd really recommend reading through them - a lot of his questions don't relate to what I'm doing but they're still worth asking and a couple of them were really helpful in starting to work out what it's all for.

Reference
Godin, Seth (2009) http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/09/things-to-ask-before-you-redo-your-website.html viewed 12:15pm 15-Sep-09

Images for Still Image Adbusters Presentation

Since the UTS server is having a spaz attack and won't let me upload them to the discussion board:

  

  

If you happen to be interested in either of these campaigns, the links to their Cannes entry videos are below:

Axion Band in a Banner

The Zimbabwean Trillion Dollar Campaign

ad:tech Breakfast

Went to the ad:tech breakfast this morning to listen to Dr Jeffrey Cole - the head of the University of Southern California Annenberg School Center for the Digital Future. Topic was Everything Starts With Internet: Analysing Online Behaviour And Sharing Insights Into The Future Of Media Engagement.

It was great! He was a really engaging speaker, and total kudos, had a packed room hanging on every word for 45 minutes, without PowerPoint or even notes. If you want to know a bit more about the morning, check the Twitter stream for #adtechbb.

I'd really recommend getting onto the ad:tech guys' mailing list - these breakfast briefings are free (although you are expected to give a blue note donation to HeartKids at the door) and their speaker line-up to date has been brilliant.

Draft Macro/Micro Analysis

Well, here's my draft Macro/Micro Analysis. It still needs a fair bit of work but I did have fun with the formatting. :-)

AND only 4 errors in the W3C Validator - a definite improvement on the Learning Proposal!

Structural v Presentational Tags

I've been doing some reading for the Macro/Micro Analysis - feels weird to be going to books for this stuff but I wanted the really Macro view on the various applications, rather than the specs (think strategy v tactics) and books seem to cover this better for some reason.

Anyhow, I'd been wondering about Alistair's use of "em" and "strong" as opposed to "i" and "b" and Holzschlag (2004) has a really good little summary on why "em" and "strong" are preferable.

In essence, it's all about accessibility. Web readers for sight impaired internet users can read and respond to the "em" and "strong" tags by modulating to emphasise the words in question, they apparently don't respond the same way to the "i" and "b" tags - these tags are only about the look, rather than the semantics, of the site content.

Reference
Holzschlag, M.E. (2004) 250 HTML and Web Design Secrets Wiley Publishing Inc, Indianapolis, IN, pg 130.

Potted History of the Internet - Courtesy of SMH

Interesting article on the internet just came through from the SMH website, As Internet turns 40, barriers threaten its growth.

It gives a great little summary of the history of the internet and then looks at the issues and challenges facing the network today.

Useability

I'm in the process of re-reading Don't Make Me Think by Steve Krug - if I'm going to build a website, I figure it'd be nice to make it user friendly! It's such a quick and easy read, I sommetimes forget just how much great information is in it.

So far, key takeouts are:

• People don't read instructions so make it REALLY obvious
• There's too much text on most web pages - people skim, they don't read
• Make use of conventions - they became conventions because they work

I'm sure there'll be more!

Reference
Krug, S. (2006), Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Useability, 2nd ed, New Riders Press, Berkley, CA

Learning Proposal - Final

Final proposal is here.

I'm doing a kind of aggregator site for surfing. It's not really something I'm going to be able to actually fully use due to all the rights negotiations that'd be needed but it's a really good platform for exploring the apps I want to learn and it may come in useful for some work projects as we do play in that space.

Code Validation

Plugged my Learning proposal into the W3C Validator. When I validate it for Strict XML 1.0 (as per the DOCTYPE statement), I get 73 errors. When I validate for HTML 5, I get 41 errors.

From the look of things the errors are mainly around formatting - using HTML instead of CSS to set the style (font, heading formats, etc).

It's definitely got an issue with me defining the font in HTML...but I hate having to read things in Times New Roman so it had to change for the sake of my eyesight! I'll use CSS once I get my head around it I promise.

B&^(dy Firewalls

Just worked out that the main reason I totally failed at trying to upload to 000webhost in week 3 was the corporate firewall at work. Just tried to upload an image file to Sally (having been accessing it remotely from home for two weeks) and it refused to connect.

Thank goodness for the second (external) connection!

Making Progress

Having finally had something like an idea on a possible website project, I'm now feeling a bit happier about completing my learning proposal. Just hope I'm not biting off more than I can chew with this one.

One big advantage is that I work in a company with a fairly big web focus so I've got a few work colleagues with a fair bit of expertise in the stuff I'm looking to play with. I'm sure I can get some sage words of advice in exchange for a cup of coffee (or a beer on Fridays).

One interesting side note is that I have found my thinking slipping into work mode at some points during this process - monetisation, ROI, branding and partnerships keep jumping into my head as items to be dealt with when, really, they don't have to be this time.

HTML5 Canvas Experiment - More Info

You can find out more about the HTML5 website I mentioned earlier here.

The key thing about it, when you look at the canvas itself, this ISN'T done in Flash!

Week 4 - PHP Exercises

I managed to get about 3/4 of the Week 4 prac done before the start of class. The only thing that stumped me was the inclusion of the word 'of' in the date string. Finally found it at the bottom of the PHP Manual page, you need to use backslashes! I felt smarter than Sherlock Holmes figuring that one out! :-)

I just tried to import the string into this blog but all I end up with is the actual string, rather than the query result.

echo "The date is: ";
echo date("l dS \\of\ F Y h:i:s A");

?>

BTW, does anyone know where the control panel is for my (or anyone's) website?

Useful Book

Who'da thought my random book collecting would come in useful for PHP/MySQL study. I've somehow managed to pick up Usable Forms for the Web (which I think is now out of print) and so far, the chapters on PHP have been great! It's not the newest but it's good for basics...

Full ref is:
Beaumont, A., James, J., Stephens, J. & Ullman, C. (2002) Usable Forms for the Web glasshaus Ltd, Birmingham, UK.

Victory!

I did it!!! I think the issue with 000Webhost was the server (that's my story and I'm sticking to it), my very draft Learning Proposal is now live here!

How to host a web page? Don't ask me!

Plodding through on my learning proposal draft - but I keep getting distracted by the worry that I have NO idea how to transfer the blasted file to my server account thingy, especially since I'm going to have to do it from work tomorrow and that firewall blocks EVERYTHING.

We spent pretty much all of class last week trying to get basic access to the server accounts and never mentioned or practiced ftp processes and I really hate not getting a practice run at things.

If anyone has any helpful advice, I'd really appreciate it because otherwise, it could be going up as a very long blog post!

HTML 5 Canvas / Audio Experiment

http://9elements.com/io/projects/html5/canvas/ (with thanks to @bananasontoast) - this is so much fun! Don't have my sound up at work so can't tell what's going on with the audio though.

First of Many

Lecture number one of Digital Media Technologies and I'm checking out blogs.