That Net Site

If you read my earlier post about Adobe killing of Homesite you may have thought so what will I (and others) use now.  I am very happy to say and recommend a great product called TopStyle.  Initially developed by Nick Bradbury of whom was the original developer of Homesite, TopStyle is now being further developed by Stefan van As.

As a long time user of TopStyle Lite that was included with some Homesite installs I can happily say that the latest version, TopStyle 4, is a remarkable product.  Originally designed to be for css documents, Topstyle 4 has now been expanded to cover most web code formats from html, xhtml, php, asp and so many more.

Stefan also provides great support via his newsgroups and the community in general is happy to pitch in and help others out.  The price for TopStyle is also great at only $79.95 for a new licence and only $29.95 for TopStyle 3 users.  When you compare it to other editors available on the market the price is very affordable… but the best thing about TopStyle is that you can expand on it yourself – add your own toolbars, common bits of code and a host of other user editable features – many of which I am still finding as I use it.

I am so impressed by TopStyle 4 I looked for a ‘Made with TopStyle’ badge – I did not find one so here is a set I have made up that hopefully Stefan can use and others will grab and support Stefan and his continued development of TopStyle.

Oh the link to TopStyle…  http://www.topstyle4.com/

Other sizes can be made on request

I am sure many out there that develop web sites have had the annoying need to keep tweaking styles and code for Internet Explorer 6 (ie6), I know I have and enough is enough.

There has to be a time where web developers must make a stand and say no more.  For me this is now, I feel people have had more than enough time to update to a better browser and for those that still use ie6 (or less) then they need to be told to update.

My reasons are simple, I have better things to do with my time than to keep trying to tweak web sites to suit a smaller group that continue to choose not to update their web browser.  There are many other obviouse reasons that if your nodding your heading you are already aware of, if not then go and read up on why by doing a Google search for ie6 hacks…

So how do we do this, it is simple really we add a message for ie6 users only to the top of your web page, something like this;

<!--[if lte IE 6]>
   <div class="ie6message"><img src="images/noie6.png" width="577" height="109"
alt="EEK! you're still using Internet Explorer 6!" /><br />
   <span class="ie6text">We are sorry but we do not support Internet Explorer 6 (IE6).<br />
   Please update to a newer web browser and start experiencing what the internet can really
show you.</span><br />
   <span class="ie6text">Please download, install and use one of the following browsers;<br />
   <ul><li><a href="http://en-gb.www.mozilla.com/en-GB/" target="_blank">
Firefox 3.5</a> (<strong>recommended</strong>)</li>
   <li><a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/ie7/"
target="_blank">Internet Explorer 7</a></li>
   <li><a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/default.aspx"
target="_blank">Internet Explorer 8</a></li>
   <li><a href="http://www.apple.com/safari/" target="_blank">Safari</a></li>
   <li><a href="http://www.opera.com/" target="_blank">Opera 9</a></li>
</ul></span></div>
<![endif]-->

Of course you will need to use your own noie6 image file or you can download this one

You will need to add some css styling for this message to your style sheet, here is what I have used (and this is simply for ie6)

.ie6message {
font:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
width:600px;
text-align: center;
margin:20px auto;
padding:12px;
background-color:#FFF;
border: 10px solid gray;
color:black;
}

.ie6message a {
color:blue;
}

span.ie6text {
text-align:left;
font-size: 18px;
}

span.ie6text ul {
margin-left: 15px;
}

span.ie6text li {
list-style: disc inside none;
}

The result is something like this;

We are sorry but we do not support Internet Explorer 6 (IE6).
Please update to a newer web browser and start experiencing what the internet can really show you.
Please download, install and use one of the following browsers;

• Firefox 3.5 (recommended)
• Internet Explorer 7
• Internet Explorer 8
• Safari 4
• Opera 9

The more people do this and make it clear that ie6 is no longer a supported web browser the more people will move away from it.  If we keep creating ie6 specific style sheets and other code just so ie6 users can browse the web then we will never be rid of it.

So help me and many other web developers and add the code above to your web page and let every ie6 user know it is time they updated to a newer web browser.

Adobe kills off Homesite

It is sad news, my beloved XHTML editor is now dead no thanks to Adobe with them announcing the death of Homesite as of the 26th May 2009.  They acquired Homesite from Macromedia (2003) and simply let it die, without even a hint of updating it or letting anyone know it would be abandoned since they took it over.

While other editors exist and will have to take the place of Homesite, at this stage there os no product (yet) that is as good as Homesite.   Adobe have simply said use Dreamweaver, but if I wanted to use Dreamweaver I would already be doing that.  The benefit Homesite has over Dreamweaver is that Homesite is light weight and very customisable – which is very different to Dreamweaver which is well over priced (as are all Adobe products) and is over bloated with extensions and tools and add-ons that for the most part are not needed.

I have made a post in their forums to ask why and also to see if they could release the software as open source, I will not hold my breath on that one as Adobe have never been on the side of goodwill intentions… Maybe (yer right) Adobe might release the final version (5.5) as a free download – but the downloads still show Homesite trial only as a download.

I find it very dissappointing in that it has taken them several years since taking over Macromedia to announce Homesites death, I will assume that many still bought it whilst also realising that number would have reduced over time since no updates or word on updates were provided by Adobe at any time.  There forums for Homesite (http://forums.adobe.com/community/homesite) while little used were there for some communication between users, but Adobe themselves never responded to any requests for where Homesite was going.

It is a sad day that this has happened and while it may not affect many I am sure there are some like me that had a faint hope that Adobe would release an updated version.. alas that is not to be

Ever heard of the phrase ‘Less is more’?  I am sure you have and you only need to look at the internet and some of the most popular websites to know this is so true.

For myself and many others I talk to getting to a website with a busy header, content on the left and right, some in the middle, some in the top of the middle a few more in the centre at the bottom and then there is the footer, oh and somewhere in all that mess is a menu – you know what I mean, the cluttered website.

So why is it that Less is more?

Well branding for one, how easy is it to see your name and logo if your name and logo is clearly visible and not being distracted by other header images or other highlighted content?  Google of course is the first that always comes to mind.  Google has shown that over the many years it has existed it has run a site that is… well simple comes to mind.  It has its logo, brightly coloured and very large when you consider the size of the text on the rest of the page.  Compare this to Yahoo.  While Yahoo is still a well known brand what comes to mind first for most people – do you Google it or Yahoo it?

Having a page less cluttered also helps the reader read your page.  An uncluttered page will have a more natural reading flow from top to bottom which is very user friendly.  Having extra columns with flashy signs might draw a persons attention which is fine if that is what you want (and many do), but if you want your content to matter then that is what you want your readers to see.

If you must have additional columns for content navigation and general awareness a great example is A List Apart (http://www.alistapart.com/) with its main content to the left for better reading and its columns while there are kept simple but easy to follow.  This also shows how a page can be well styled visually while still maintaining that simplicity.

There are lots of example sites out there on the internet that show how less is more… so consider it when designing your next website and maybe make your site less cluttered and strive for less to get more.

Other example sites;

That Net Site (http://thatnetsite.com) < shameless plug

Twitter (http://twitter.com/)

The Web Squeeze (http://www.thewebsqueeze.com/)

Creaticca (http://daily.creattica.com/)

Apple Computers (http://www.apple.com/) < Their ads often show good examples of less is more….

If you have other good examples of how less is more please share them

I often read on forums I frequent many requests for designers with specific skill sets that are mainly related to the design side of web design, I guess that is why they call it Web ‘Design’.  The problem I have with this is that there are many web designers out there that can whip you up a quick design but lack skills in how to manage the web design process from proposal, concept and all the way through to completion.

I also often read many posts where a company or even an individual has chosen a free lance designer or even a company to design their web site and the end result has been very poor, not so much in the design side but in the functionality, the methodology of the web design project and of course communication misunderstandings… to name a few.

A good designer for anything be that web, print or anything else needs a skill set beyond design or at least have a partner or supervisor that has these skill sets for them to follow, these skills sets consist of, but not limited to;

Project Management: Any web site design project needs to be managed as a project and it needs to follow certain steps from concept through to completion.  This will include development of time lines, reporting on progress, detailed scope of the project, time management, expected outcomes, project modifications (that are agreed to or provided by the client) just to name a few.

Communication: Clients love to be involved and kept in the loop of their project, it is their money so they want to be involved in the decision process so you need to keep up contact, it might just be a quick update report every few days or a phone call or online chat to show them progress, whatever it is keep the contact with the client, keep them interested in the project and let them get involved.  This obviously means that a web designer needs good communication skills, both in writing and verbally.

User Interface Methods: A good design is only as good as the user functionality of a web site.  There is no point having the best looking website if no one can use it or find it difficult to find what they are after.  Most users of the web have a short instant desire to find what they want, if they cannot find it quickly they move on.  So A good designer will need to know how a site will be used, who will be using it and will test the user interface over and over again with the client and also a group of unrelated people (peers etc) that can test for you.

Knowing what to charge: It would be an interesting exercise to see how many web ‘designers’ have any idea of time management and billing as it is quite amusing to see some of the guess work charges you see on various forums where there is a request for quotes.  There are many examples where a project request has gone out and there are prices that will range from $1k to to 20K (or more) for a simple online store.  There is suggestion that the $1k quotes are from monkeys and that anything decent will cost the higher end.  Buyer beware is what I say as the higher priced ones are usually well over quoted and things can be done far cheaper still with great quality results.  The Web ‘Designer’ needs to know what they charge per hour and keep that clear in their mind, whether that is $15 or $150 per hour (or more) will depend on their market and skill sets.  Then be realistic and quote with what you are comfortable with getting for your time and effort.

Marketing: A good designer knows about marketing, not marketing themselves but for their clients as this will need to be incorporated into the design of the site and how it functions, this will include Search Engine Optimisation.

Know your limits: A good designer will not take on a project they are not comfortable with or not have the skills to complete. I have taken on quite a number of projects where a previous designer has tried (very hard) to get the client the results they wanted but they lacked the specific skill sets required to get it to work.  Know what you know, keep learning and by all means develop some non client websites to test and learn from but don’t take on a project that has work required that you cannot fulfill as this will kill your reputation.

What to out source: Out sourcing some of the project is fine, but you need to project manage that very well and keep that contractor to time lines and ensure they know their work also.  Be mindful of other contractor costs and better yet develop a contact list of developers that have skills sets you may require (that you do not have) and use them where needed and ensure your quote if you need them covers that cost as well.

Have an open mind: We all know the expression of ‘Work outside of the box’ but often many designers are not sure how to achieve that.  It is not as difficult s it may seem, it is a case of keep your mind open, listen to the client and NEVER say something cannot be done as sure enough they will find someone that can do it.  By all means suggest, make comment and provide guidance to the client but keep an open mind about the possibilities of what they are suggesting, is it really not achievable, if you are creative and keep that mind open more times than not you identify a solution that suits the client and along the way the designer will learn.

Be Versatile: This one really bugs me, where a designer uses one or two, or maybe three different platforms or open source solutions to build everyones website…. While this can work well for basic template sites most websites need specific elements that one solution for all cannot really fulfill effectively.  Too often I see a simple site being created with a significant Content Management System (CMS) like Joomla, or Drupal etc and the site is small and does not need to be as complex as those CMS systems.  Stop trying to fit a square peg in a round hole, develop a solution for the client not the client for the solution.

Ok so the above is a few skill sets I feel a good designer needs, there are others and I will do up a part 2 of this post next chance I get, so if you have comments you think might be useful in a part 2 please suggest away as I am always learning too