Looking for constructive criticism

[tnd1000]

Hey there. I've finally launched my site, and would greatly appreciate some feedback on it. Whether it be suggestions for features to add/remove, site appearance, usability, etc. Anything that catches your eye, feel free to nitpick. Just a word of advice, don't bother to validate the site. The software I'm using makes it impossible to validate HTML or CSS (I didn't know that when I purchased the software, and the company shows no signs of helping with it). I have tried to reduce the number of my own validation errors, though. www.mypetsonparade.com Thanks for your time and input! P.S., a huge thanks to the members of this community who painstakingly helped me with my various problems in building this site (couldn't have done it without ya!). Just to name a few: Don E, thescientist, dsonesuk, Ingolme, and justsomeguy.

[es131245]

Maybe thats not what your wanted but1

<script type="text/javascript">	//<![CDATA[ 	Date.setServerOffset('Wed, 3 Oct 2012 6:08:27 +0000');  	en4.orientation = 'ltr';	en4.core.environment = 'production';	en4.core.language.setLocale('ru_RU');	en4.core.setBaseUrl('/');	en4.core.staticBaseUrl = '/';	en4.core.loader = new Element('img', {src: en4.core.staticBaseUrl + 'application/modules/Core/externals/images/loading.gif'});  			if( false ) {	  en4.core.runonce.add(function() {		en4.core.dloader.attach();	  });	}  		//]]></script><script type="text/javascript">	//<![CDATA[en4.core.language.addData({"Save":"Save","Cancel":"Cancel","delete":"delete"});	//]]></script>

Why seperate scripts? 2.

<link href="/application/css.php?request=application/themes/mpop/theme.css&c=198" media="screen" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />

See & there? Wrong =) 3. Too many not unnecessary spaces.4.

<link href="/favicon.ico?c=198" rel="favicon" type="image/x-icon" /><link href="/application/modules/Sitelike/externals/styles/likesettings.css?c=198" media="screen" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /><link href="/application/modules/Seaocore/externals/styles/style_advanced_photolightbox.css?c=198" media="screen" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />    	<script type="text/javascript">if (window.location.hash == '#_=_')window.location.hash = '';</script>  <script type="text/javascript">	  </script>	<script type="text/javascript" src="/externals/mootools/mootools-core-1.4.5-full-compat-yc.js?c=198"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/externals/mootools/mootools-more-1.4.0.1-full-compat-yc.js?c=198"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/externals/chootools/chootools.js?c=198"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/application/modules/Core/externals/scripts/core.js?c=198"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/application/modules/User/externals/scripts/core.js?c=198"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/externals/smoothbox/smoothbox4.js?c=198"></script><script type="text/javascript">	//<![CDATA[ 	Date.setServerOffset('Wed, 3 Oct 2012 6:08:27 +0000');  	en4.orientation = 'ltr';	en4.core.environment = 'production';	en4.core.language.setLocale('ru_RU');	en4.core.setBaseUrl('/');	en4.core.staticBaseUrl = '/';	en4.core.loader = new Element('img', {src: en4.core.staticBaseUrl + 'application/modules/Core/externals/images/loading.gif'});  			if( false ) {	  en4.core.runonce.add(function() {		en4.core.dloader.attach();	  });	}  		//]]></script><script type="text/javascript">	//<![CDATA[en4.core.language.addData({"Save":"Save","Cancel":"Cancel","delete":"delete"});	//]]></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/application/modules/Activity/externals/scripts/core.js?c=198"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/application/modules/Seaocore/externals/scripts/core.js?c=198"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/application/modules/Sitelike/externals/scripts/core.js?c=198"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/externals/autocompleter/Observer.js?c=198"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/externals/autocompleter/Autocompleter.js?c=198"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/externals/autocompleter/Autocompleter.Local.js?c=198"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/externals/autocompleter/Autocompleter.Request.js?c=198"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/application/modules/Seaocore/externals/scripts/seaomooscroll/SEAOMooVerticalScroll.js?c=198"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/application/modules/Seaocore/externals/scripts/tagger/tagger.js?c=198"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/application/modules/Seaocore/externals/scripts/lightbox/fixWidthLightBox.js?c=198"></script>     <link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon" href="http://mypetsonparade.com/public/admin/favicon.ico">

In that part of code you have favicon in the begging and at the end. Keep them toggether =)I use this...

  <link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" />  <link rel="shortcut" href="/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" />  <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" />

I love exact style.Here example of my style

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml11/DTD/xhtml11.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="ru-RU" lang="ru"><head>  <base href="http://domain.com/" />  <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" />  <meta name="robots" content="index, follow" />  <meta name="author" content="My Name" />  <meta name="Description" content="computer service" />  <meta name="Keywords" content="Keywords" />  <title>Computer service</title>  <link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" />  <link rel="shortcut" href="/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" />  <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" />  <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/style.css" />  <script type="text/javascript" src="/js/jquery.js"></script>  <script type="text/javascript" src="/js/script.js"></script>  <script type="text/javascript" src="/js/jquery.form.js"></script></head><body>  <table class="page">   <tr class="head">	<td class="head">	 <table class="head">	  <tr>	   <td class="clock">		<span id="date">2012/10/03</span><br />		<span id="time">10:17:51</span>		<span id="stamp">1349245071000</span>	   </td>	   <td class="heading"><h1>Computer Service</h1></td>	   <td class="authorization">		 <table>		  <tr>		   <td><input type="text" readonly="readonly" disabled="disabled" value="Nick," /></td>		   <td><a onclick="document.cookie='authorization=;expires=Thu, 1 Jun 1970 12:00:00 UTC;path=/';window.location.href=window.location.protocol+'//'+window.location.host;"><img src="/source/images/logOut.jpg" alt="Exit" /></a></td>		  </tr>		  <tr>		   <td><input type="text" readonly="readonly" disabled="disabled" value="es" /></td>		   <td><a href="/authorization/settings"><img src="/images/setting.png" alt="settings" /></a></td>		  </tr>		 </table>	   </td>	  </tr>	 </table>	</td>   </tr>   <tr class="navigation">	<td class="navigation">	 <table class="navigation">	  <tr>	   <td><a href="/"><img src="/images/index.png" alt="index" /> Индекс</a></td>	   <td><a href="/service/"><img src="/images/service.png" alt="service" /> Услуги</a></td>	   <td><a href="/contacts"><img src="/images/contacts.png" alt="contacts" /> Контакты</a></td>	   <td class="extra">		<img src="/images/tools.png" alt="tools" />		<ul id="extra">		 <li><a href="/projects">Projects</a></li>		 <li><a href="/hash">Hash</a></li>		 <li><a href="/digits">Digits</a></li>		</ul>	   </td>	  </tr>	 </table>	 <table class="navigation panel">	  <tr>	   <td><a href="/log"><img src="/source/images/log.png" alt="лог" /> Лог</a></td>	   <td><a href="/obrr"><img src="/source/images/obrr.png" alt="obrr" /> ОБРР</a></td>	   <td><a href="/fileshare"><img src="/source/images/fileshare.png" alt="файловый обменник" /> Файловый Обменник</a></td>	  </tr>	 </table>	</td>   </tr>   <tr class="body">	<td class="body">	 <table class="body">	  <tr>	   <td id="content">		<h2>Welcome to <span style="font-style:italic;color:rgb(102,153,255);">Computer Service Site Name</span>!</h2>		<p><span style="color:#69f;font-family:serif;font-weight:600;">Computer Service Site Name</span> it's a <span style="text-decoration:underline;">privat</span> site which is used for effective use of computer technology.</p>		<p>On our site you will find:</p>		<ul>		 <li><a href="/"><img src="images/index.jpg" alt="index" /><b> Index</b></a> - Site Content and Description.</li>		 <li><a href="/services/"><img src="/images/services.png" alt="service" /><b> Service</b></a> - предоставляемые нами услуги.</li>		 <li><a href="/contact"><img src="/images/contact.png" alt="contact" /><b>contact</b></a> - contact us!</li>		</ul>	   </td>	  </tr>	 </table>	</td>   </tr>   <tr class="footer">	<td class="footer">	 <table class="footer">	  <tr>	   <td>		My Name<br />		My Domain © 2009-2012	   </td>	  </tr>	 </table>	</td>   </tr>  </table></body></html>

* spaces have gone wierd

Edited October 3, 2012 by es131245

[divinedesigns1]

i dont like double scrolling bars and some of your pages have them, make stuff more complicated, also that purple is kinda off with the black and blue so i would change that color to something that matches with the black and blue besides that not bad

[reg1965]

your styling is, IMHO, awful. The colour contrasts are dreadful and the layout is amateurish. It is hard to tell what your knowledge of CSS is when I try to delve into the CSS files. Are these your own work or pinched from someone else? The content is unimportant to me, yet kinda wacky!! Sorry I cannot be of more assistance.

[reg1965]

Maybe thats not what your wanted but.........I love exact style.Here example of my style

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml11/DTD/xhtml11.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="ru-RU" lang="ru"><head>  <base href="http://domain.com/" />  <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" />  <meta name="robots" content="index, follow" />  <meta name="author" content="My Name" />  <meta name="Description" content="computer service" />  <meta name="Keywords" content="Keywords" />  <title>Computer service</title>  <link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" />  <link rel="shortcut" href="/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" />  <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" />  <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/style.css" />  <script type="text/javascript" src="/js/jquery.js"></script>  <script type="text/javascript" src="/js/script.js"></script>  <script type="text/javascript" src="/js/jquery.form.js"></script></head><body>  <table class="page">   <tr class="head">	<td class="head">	 <table class="head">	  <tr>	   <td class="clock">		<span id="date">2012/10/03</span><br />		<span id="time">10:17:51</span>		<span id="stamp">1349245071000</span>	   </td>	   <td class="heading"><h1>Computer Service</h1></td>	   <td class="authorization">		 <table>		  <tr>		   <td><input type="text" readonly="readonly" disabled="disabled" value="Nick," /></td>		   <td><a onclick="document.cookie='authorization=;expires=Thu, 1 Jun 1970 12:00:00 UTC;path=/';window.location.href=window.location.protocol+'//'+window.location.host;"><img src="/source/images/logOut.jpg" alt="Exit" /></a></td>		  </tr>		  <tr>		   <td><input type="text" readonly="readonly" disabled="disabled" value="es" /></td>		   <td><a href="/authorization/settings"><img src="/images/setting.png" alt="settings" /></a></td>		  </tr>		 </table>	   </td>	  </tr>	 </table>	</td>   </tr>   <tr class="navigation">	<td class="navigation">	 <table class="navigation">	  <tr>	   <td><a href="/"><img src="/images/index.png" alt="index" /> Индекс</a></td>	   <td><a href="/service/"><img src="/images/service.png" alt="service" /> Услуги</a></td>	   <td><a href="/contacts"><img src="/images/contacts.png" alt="contacts" /> Контакты</a></td>	   <td class="extra">		<img src="/images/tools.png" alt="tools" />		<ul id="extra">		 <li><a href="/projects">Projects</a></li>		 <li><a href="/hash">Hash</a></li>		 <li><a href="/digits">Digits</a></li>		</ul>	   </td>	  </tr>	 </table>	 <table class="navigation panel">	  <tr>	   <td><a href="/log"><img src="/source/images/log.png" alt="лог" /> Лог</a></td>	   <td><a href="/obrr"><img src="/source/images/obrr.png" alt="obrr" /> ОБРР</a></td>	   <td><a href="/fileshare"><img src="/source/images/fileshare.png" alt="файловый обменник" /> Файловый Обменник</a></td>	  </tr>	 </table>	</td>   </tr>   <tr class="body">	<td class="body">	 <table class="body">	  <tr>	   <td id="content">		<h2>Welcome to <span style="font-style:italic;color:rgb(102,153,255);">Computer Service Site Name</span>!</h2>		<p><span style="color:#69f;font-family:serif;font-weight:600;">Computer Service Site Name</span> it's a <span style="text-decoration:underline;">privat</span> site which is used for effective use of computer technology.</p>		<p>On our site you will find:</p>		<ul>		 <li><a href="/"><img src="images/index.jpg" alt="index" /><b> Index</b></a> - Site Content and Description.</li>		 <li><a href="/services/"><img src="/images/services.png" alt="service" /><b> Service</b></a> - предоставляемые нами услуги.</li>		 <li><a href="/contact"><img src="/images/contact.png" alt="contact" /><b>contact</b></a> - contact us!</li>		</ul>	   </td>	  </tr>	 </table>	</td>   </tr>   <tr class="footer">	<td class="footer">	 <table class="footer">	  <tr>	   <td>		My Name<br />		My Domain © 2009-2012	   </td>	  </tr>	 </table>	</td>   </tr>  </table></body></html>

.....

Are you sure you really want to advise someone to actually layout their website using tables? Have you been hiding in a cave for the last xx years or so? you have to USE FLOATS eh? atbSteve

[divinedesigns1]

You can use tables to do a lot of things, like create a layout in html, considering layouts are one of the best way to actually get started on a website, hehehe and i wouldnt call his website awwful either, considering i can actually show you an awwful website

[tnd1000]

Thank you all for the comments, really appreciate the feedback! es: Most of the scripts on my site are a product of the software I used to build it--I haven't had the heart to change any of it, because quite honestly it's a gigantic mess, and the software's developers won't provide support with 'customization issues'. If I break it, I'm doomed. DDS: Thank you, I'll keep that in mind! By double scroll bars, did you mean the overflow message board on the home page? And my client agrees with you--the purple might have to go, haha. reg: Actually, a good deal of the CSS is also a product of the software I used to build the site. I can assure you, I don't knowingly plagiarize other people's code. Any of the custom CSS is my own work. Also, by 'amateurish' -- do you mean simple? Because that was my goal when I designed it; it was meant to be fast and simple, since at least two of the members on my site are using dial-up internet. Thirdly, I don't really understand what you mean by "The content is unimportant to me, yet kinda wacky!!" Is that supposed to be a good thing or a bad thing? Our site is somewhat of a niche community, so naturally it won't appeal to everyone.Thank you for your feedback, though, and I will see about making the color contrasts a little less dreadful.

Edited October 5, 2012 by tnd1000

[divinedesigns1]

DDS: Thank you, I'll keep that in mind! By double scroll bars, did you mean the overflow message board on the home page? And my client agrees with you--the purple might have to go, haha.

yes the overflow, for me i wouldnt put a overflow unless its part of the sticky footer which is normally place where the main content goes

[reg1965]

You can use tables to do a lot of things, like create a layout in html, considering layouts are one of the best way to actually get started on a website, hehehe and i wouldnt call his website awwful either, considering i can actually show you an awwful website

Semantically, using tables for layout is not correct. Tables should only be used for tabular data. The use of tables for layout is outmoded and should not be used for such and advising someone else to do so is counterproductive. Learning layout the correct way, via <div> tags and CSS floating, from the start is the correct way for beginners. Walk before you can run! HTHSteve

[niche]

What are the two of three most important objectives of your site in priority order? Please no more than three.

Edited October 8, 2012 by niche

[divinedesigns1]

Semantically, using tables for layout is not correct. Tables should only be used for tabular data. The use of tables for layout is outmoded and should not be used for such and advising someone else to do so is counterproductive. Learning layout the correct way, via <div> tags and CSS floating, from the start is the correct way for beginners. Walk before you can run! HTHSteve

everyone have their own way to code, telling someone they cant do something because you do it differently doesnt always mean your correct, when i started coding i used table for a layout so has my cuzin, and now we both are able to code without a layout, tables can be use for anything you wish, i saw a "pro" coder use table to create a website and it came out well........now if he as a "pro" can use it why cant a beginner? i mean its a layout, layouts can always be removed or replace by "via <div>" tags

[reg1965]

everyone have their own way to code, telling someone they cant do something because you do it differently doesnt always mean your correct, when i started coding i used table for a layout so has my cuzin, and now we both are able to code without a layout, tables can be use for anything you wish, i saw a "pro" coder use table to create a website and it came out well........now if he as a "pro" can use it why cant a beginner? i mean its a layout, layouts can always be removed or replace by "via <div>" tags

Alright smarty pants....try reorganizing a web page layout set out in tables versus doing the same with a page set up using divs and css. Then multiply that by 100 for your average sized web site. No contest....css and divs wins hands down every time mate. I am not going to argue with you any more about this because you are wrong. The W3C recommended the use of divs and floats over tables for layout 10 years ago for their own home page...http://www.w3.org/2002/11/homepage Read section 11.1 'Introduction to tables' here...http://www.w3.org/TR/html401/struct/tables.html#h-11.1....to set yourself, your cuz and ya pro buddy straight over the correct use of tables. HTHSteve

[birbal]

using table for layout is old practice. so old site (which could be developed by a pro that time) which has not updated recently could have the table layout. but that is not the best practice anymore. "box modeling" is the way for layout purpose. table should be used to show only tabular data. You can do one thing several ways, choice is yours you will choose best way or worse.

Edited October 9, 2012 by birbal

[birbal]

Most of the scripts on my site are a product of the software I used to build it--I haven't had the heart to change any of it, because quite honestly it's a gigantic mess, and the software's developers won't provide support with 'customization issues'. If I break it, I'm doomed.

That is why proffessional developers don't use those software like dreamweaver.

[Don E]

tnd1000 is using something else, not Dreamweaver if I recall.

[tnd1000]

What are the two of three most important objectives of your site in priority order? Please no more than three.

1. Create a simple and user-friendly site where members can feel at home.2. Make the site dial-up compatible, since a few of our members don't have high-speed.3. Eventually earn an income from it.

That is why proffessional developers don't use those software like dreamweaver.

Indeed, I understand that now. Though like Don said, I'm not using Dreamweaver; the software I'm using seemed great at first, but after I bought it and began to use it I realized how flawed it really was. A lesson learned.

[niche]

The income part was the part I was waiting for. What your strongest idea for monetizing your site ?

[divinedesigns1]

Alright smarty pants....try reorganizing a web page layout set out in tables versus doing the same with a page set up using divs and css. Then multiply that by 100 for your average sized web site. No contest....css and divs wins hands down every time mate. I am not going to argue with you any more about this because you are wrong. The W3C recommended the use of divs and floats over tables for layout 10 years ago for their own home page...http://www.w3.org/2002/11/homepage Read section 11.1 'Introduction to tables' here...http://www.w3.org/TR...les.html#h-11.1....to set yourself, your cuz and ya pro buddy straight over the correct use of tables. HTHSteve

how come i be wrong, if we both have 2 different opinions and believe, you cant tell me what i believe is wrong just because you say it is sorry dude its like saying these fonts are purple when really its actually black, i more with birbal then i agree with you, anyway i wasnt agruing to begin with, i was giving my opinion on your statement

[tnd1000]

The income part was the part I was waiting for. What your strongest idea for monetizing your site ?

The Market, after December 31 of this year. We'll start charging a small fee to advertise certain items. We want to make sure that we have a decent member-base so that the ads will have a decent audience.

[divinedesigns1]

site looks better now, i still dont agree with the menu colour, but its better, i have 1 question tho, is the images on the home page "when you click home" are those images being pull from the database?

[niche]

The Market, after December 31 of this year. We'll start charging a small fee to advertise certain items. We want to make sure that we have a decent member-base so that the ads will have a decent audience.

OK, but what's your big unifying idea behind your stuff/ Why buy your stuff instead of somebody else's similar stuff?

[tnd1000]

site looks better now, i still dont agree with the menu colour, but its better, i have 1 question tho, is the images on the home page "when you click home" are those images being pull from the database?

Do you have a specific color in mind? And I'm not sure what you mean--the pet pictures are linked from pet albums (using img src, of course) and the 'no image' pictures are from an administrator file manager, so I suppose that counts as pulling from a database.

OK, but what's your big unifying idea behind your stuff/ Why buy your stuff instead of somebody else's similar stuff?

Well, first off, The Market is primarily for our users to sell items. The unifying idea is that there will be very few restrictions. People can advertise whatever they want, and post as many ads as they like. When we do begin to charge for posting a classified ad, our fees will be very low in comparison to many places. Just out of curiosity, have you looked at the site? Edited October 15, 2012 by tnd1000

[niche]

Yes, I've been to your site. I've also been in the advertising business for thirty years. Unless you want your site to be a hobby, you'll need to have amp-up your concept for monetizing your site. What are you prepared to do that's more powerful than your current thinking?

[tnd1000]

Well, we'd love to get some pointers from an expert (such as yourself). Thus far, monetizing this site hasn't been the highest on our list of priorities, but it is time to start getting serious about it. Any suggestions?

[reg1965]

if you have changed your site then it looks even worse than it did before, the Home Page is a complete mess...sorry to be the bringer of bad news but you are not a skilled web designer...well at least not yet. Take my advice, I have a first class BSc degree in computing from a reputable British university (also final year prize winner for best student and project), and design your site on paper first. Then ask a few friends for constructive criticism. Otherwise it will just evolve into an irredeemible mess. Unlike DDs1, follow the edicts of the W3C @ http://www.w3.org/ and you will not go wrong...just ask here for help. HTHSteve