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.