OK, I've been coding for almost 9 hours now (except I did stop to have lunch with mum, and my bit of blog earlier today...). I keep having a-ha moments with CSS. Lots of faffing about today but my home page actually sort of all fits together now. Still needs tweaking (and the proper text/pictures) but I think my template is done!
I couldn't get things aligned and stuff was jumping about all over the place until I put it all in a big container. Suddenly things stayed in place. I'm going to have to go back and clean up some of my code though, I experimented all day and there were quite a few non-functioning attempts i think I've left scraps of behind...
I managed to resist looking to see how the experts have done the three columns of text without tables. I suspect I've done it the hard way, and there were moments today where I was questioning why i was bothering to reinvent the wheel again, but now I'm done, I feel I actually get it. I know my page isn't the most exciting and creative thing I've ever seen, but I'm bloody proud of it, actually. Not bad for a first go. Besides, its only an intro page for a small business. Must try to keep things in perspective :-)
I might check out the proper way to do it tomorrow...now I need to get back to the ordeal that is photoshop...who would have thought I would ever have said that!
Sunday, May 11, 2008
How to impress boys (nerds) in bars...
All these years I've been working on my pool playing skills and refining my ability to throw back shots of alcohol like they're water, and all you need to impress boys in bars are a few well placed phrases in conversation...
A few weeks back, while out on a Friday night with the girls, i met a group of men in a bar in darlinghurst. It turned out they were software developers or something. Had some interesting conversation and many cocktails....
I bumped into them again on Friday night, and one of them, who I'd barely spoken to last time, remembered me purely because I had previously mentioned my fondness for Macgyver during my younger years. He queried what I was doing this weekend and I told him of my plans to code CSS, I've never seen someone get so quietly excited about stumbling upon a kindred spirit before. It was charming! He told me about a group of coders meet around darlinghurst every month. Apparently anyone can just rock up, and everyone just sits around drinking coffee and coding. I told him I really was a novice and would feel way too intimidated to turn up in a group like that, but he said they'd be cool. I get the impression they'd just love it if someone wanted to talk about coding with them... Anyway, he muttered something about feeling overwhelmed by all the people contact in the bar, and that he needed a computer or something and disappeared before I got a chance to give him my number...shame. He was cute and smart, just the way I like 'em...
So I've been having a crack at this CSS stuff and really liking it! I'm not creating grand art works or anything - yet! I've still been working on my site's home page (as a template), with most of the css in an external style sheet. I've been working my way through the W3schools tutorials and just applying bits I want to try. I'm going to try to do it all myself rather than visit one of those sites that give you all the layout code. Unless I get stuck.
Anyway, can't chat, coding...
A few weeks back, while out on a Friday night with the girls, i met a group of men in a bar in darlinghurst. It turned out they were software developers or something. Had some interesting conversation and many cocktails....
I bumped into them again on Friday night, and one of them, who I'd barely spoken to last time, remembered me purely because I had previously mentioned my fondness for Macgyver during my younger years. He queried what I was doing this weekend and I told him of my plans to code CSS, I've never seen someone get so quietly excited about stumbling upon a kindred spirit before. It was charming! He told me about a group of coders meet around darlinghurst every month. Apparently anyone can just rock up, and everyone just sits around drinking coffee and coding. I told him I really was a novice and would feel way too intimidated to turn up in a group like that, but he said they'd be cool. I get the impression they'd just love it if someone wanted to talk about coding with them... Anyway, he muttered something about feeling overwhelmed by all the people contact in the bar, and that he needed a computer or something and disappeared before I got a chance to give him my number...shame. He was cute and smart, just the way I like 'em...
So I've been having a crack at this CSS stuff and really liking it! I'm not creating grand art works or anything - yet! I've still been working on my site's home page (as a template), with most of the css in an external style sheet. I've been working my way through the W3schools tutorials and just applying bits I want to try. I'm going to try to do it all myself rather than visit one of those sites that give you all the layout code. Unless I get stuck.
Anyway, can't chat, coding...
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Lotto winner!
I was having such a crap day yesterday I thought - maybe all of my luck has gone elsewhere, so I did something I never do - bought a ticket in the Oz lotto. And I won! I got 3 numbers and a supplementary, which means I probably won enough to buy myself a sandwich at lunchtime tomorrow....I can feel the tide turning...
Tonight's class was about JavaScript. I enjoyed it as I am supposed to be including JavaScript in my final project and despite the fact that I researched it when I wrote the micro/macro thing, it all looked Greek to me. When we looked at it during the overview earlier in the semester, I hadn't got my head around XHTML and CSS yet, so it just looked like extra, confusing letters and symbols. The good news is after tonight, I sort of get it. I honestly felt my brain stretching when Alastair was going through it, but that whole thing re the full stop being the point that separates the action from the thing being acted on makes it easier of me to interpret the code. I'm not saying I'm ready to go out and start scripting like crazy, but I think I could at least read what I might end up borrowing for my project...
I also found it really useful having a chat with Alastair re my options for forms on my site. I think I should have swallowed my pride and started asking questions a long time ago...also helpful was his review of my micro/macro analysis with some useful feedback. Not to mention Wang Wei's feedback! That was a lovely surprise, with some constructive feedback as well as some kind words. Now I just have to find time to go back and amend the analysis...
I finished the XHTML pages for my final project on Sunday. Except for the navigation bar. Both top and bottom. I am thinking about having the navigation bar stay in place at the top of the page, by anchoring the div, but not sure if I should then not bother to put the old style link navigation along the bottom of the page. And what's the story with copyrights or disclaimer things at the bottom of the page? I clearly don't have copyright on the page. But maybe the client does with her logo? NFI...
Anyway, I thought the navigation bar was going to be a series of pictures (buttons) with links. Then I noticed the 'buttons' in the JavaScript examples tonight, set up as an ordered list and wondered if that's how I should have it set up. I whacked them in there like that for the mean time, plus divided up the XHTML into what seemed like logical divisions (incl naming them). Well, on the home page, anyway. It's going to be my test case - once I've worked out what I'm doing on that, I'm going to roll it out to the other pages.
I have to say, I think there's a latent nerd in me. I'm starting to enjoy the coding - even more than photoshop at the moment, as I feel more confident about fumbling my way through the code, or at least confident enough to know where to look to find out what I'm doing wrong. Photoshop on the other hand is just a vast, mysterious set of tools - they seem like they could probably do some interesting things, if I just had some time to faff about with them for a few days to work out what that is exactly...
I've also discovered I quite enjoy blogging. I might just have to start one of these up once this semester is over...sure beats a paper diary...
Tonight's class was about JavaScript. I enjoyed it as I am supposed to be including JavaScript in my final project and despite the fact that I researched it when I wrote the micro/macro thing, it all looked Greek to me. When we looked at it during the overview earlier in the semester, I hadn't got my head around XHTML and CSS yet, so it just looked like extra, confusing letters and symbols. The good news is after tonight, I sort of get it. I honestly felt my brain stretching when Alastair was going through it, but that whole thing re the full stop being the point that separates the action from the thing being acted on makes it easier of me to interpret the code. I'm not saying I'm ready to go out and start scripting like crazy, but I think I could at least read what I might end up borrowing for my project...
I also found it really useful having a chat with Alastair re my options for forms on my site. I think I should have swallowed my pride and started asking questions a long time ago...also helpful was his review of my micro/macro analysis with some useful feedback. Not to mention Wang Wei's feedback! That was a lovely surprise, with some constructive feedback as well as some kind words. Now I just have to find time to go back and amend the analysis...
I finished the XHTML pages for my final project on Sunday. Except for the navigation bar. Both top and bottom. I am thinking about having the navigation bar stay in place at the top of the page, by anchoring the div, but not sure if I should then not bother to put the old style link navigation along the bottom of the page. And what's the story with copyrights or disclaimer things at the bottom of the page? I clearly don't have copyright on the page. But maybe the client does with her logo? NFI...
Anyway, I thought the navigation bar was going to be a series of pictures (buttons) with links. Then I noticed the 'buttons' in the JavaScript examples tonight, set up as an ordered list and wondered if that's how I should have it set up. I whacked them in there like that for the mean time, plus divided up the XHTML into what seemed like logical divisions (incl naming them). Well, on the home page, anyway. It's going to be my test case - once I've worked out what I'm doing on that, I'm going to roll it out to the other pages.
I have to say, I think there's a latent nerd in me. I'm starting to enjoy the coding - even more than photoshop at the moment, as I feel more confident about fumbling my way through the code, or at least confident enough to know where to look to find out what I'm doing wrong. Photoshop on the other hand is just a vast, mysterious set of tools - they seem like they could probably do some interesting things, if I just had some time to faff about with them for a few days to work out what that is exactly...
I've also discovered I quite enjoy blogging. I might just have to start one of these up once this semester is over...sure beats a paper diary...
Sunday, May 4, 2008
And the XHTML begins...
re the last class - I quite enjoyed it, actually. I've set up and looked after databases before (when Tim asked he class if there was anyone that had been a database administrator, I hadn't even thought that might apply to myself, but I guess it does...). This being said, my databases weren't quite as complex as the video store example we worked through on Tues night.
It was a great way to get your head around how everything linked up, and how many tables to make etc. I found the exercise reading the table out strangely useful (not to mention challenging, I keep trying to go back to the 'pretend its a blind person on the phone you are describing it to' thing, yet still struggling not to miss things out). The whole arrow over the box thing also confused me slightly - which one to use when etc, but Tim had a go explaining it again, so I think I get it now...I suspect some trial and error using it in practice is what will gel it in my head!
I was absolutely horrified in class to find out we were allowed to submit out work in valid XHTML - of any kind!!! I was sure there was something, somewhere that said it had to be strict...why else would i have picked that? If Eric hadn't also been under the same impression, I would feel way worse. I think of that first assignment I banged my head against the wall over - it probably would have gone through fine with transitional XHTML! Oh well, at least now i get the strict one, which should mean I can write any of them...like learning to drive a manual car...
The older I get the more I'm realising the worth in planning things out before launching into the build, as far as saving time, long term. Especially when you aren't 100% sure of what you are doing. It certainly seems to be true of all of the subjects I'm doing this semester. Lots of planning going into things. This being said, I started building the XHTML for my final project today. Need work out the whole form issue ie how I'm going to do it all. I'm also thinking about adding a comments page on the last page. But is this something that should be moderated somehow? ie how I am going to set it up so Sue can take off any comments that might be wrong for the business? Will they just send the comments to her and she can decide what to post? How will she pot them if I do that? Decisions, decisions...but first, system plan peer review time...
It was a great way to get your head around how everything linked up, and how many tables to make etc. I found the exercise reading the table out strangely useful (not to mention challenging, I keep trying to go back to the 'pretend its a blind person on the phone you are describing it to' thing, yet still struggling not to miss things out). The whole arrow over the box thing also confused me slightly - which one to use when etc, but Tim had a go explaining it again, so I think I get it now...I suspect some trial and error using it in practice is what will gel it in my head!
I was absolutely horrified in class to find out we were allowed to submit out work in valid XHTML - of any kind!!! I was sure there was something, somewhere that said it had to be strict...why else would i have picked that? If Eric hadn't also been under the same impression, I would feel way worse. I think of that first assignment I banged my head against the wall over - it probably would have gone through fine with transitional XHTML! Oh well, at least now i get the strict one, which should mean I can write any of them...like learning to drive a manual car...
The older I get the more I'm realising the worth in planning things out before launching into the build, as far as saving time, long term. Especially when you aren't 100% sure of what you are doing. It certainly seems to be true of all of the subjects I'm doing this semester. Lots of planning going into things. This being said, I started building the XHTML for my final project today. Need work out the whole form issue ie how I'm going to do it all. I'm also thinking about adding a comments page on the last page. But is this something that should be moderated somehow? ie how I am going to set it up so Sue can take off any comments that might be wrong for the business? Will they just send the comments to her and she can decide what to post? How will she pot them if I do that? Decisions, decisions...but first, system plan peer review time...
Sunday, April 27, 2008
By George! I think she's got it!
Well sort of. I've just finished adding some valid CSS to my valid XHTML!!!!
How very exciting. I just spent the last couple of hours fiddling with the CSS just trying to get borders to appear on the table I have in my System Plan. I really was pulling my hair out, but I took it right back to basics and visited a couple of tutorial sites, and finally stated to figure some of it out. Annoyingly, the sites I'd found and flagged as useful resources in my learning proposal weren't a great help (except for W3schools) but between a few of them and this site, and a LOT of trial and error, I'm starting to figure out which bits are supposed to go where (highly technical terminology there...)
I would hardly call the table 'stylish' but it DOES have style applied to it! And OMG - I just changed the font type on this page - by adding the code!!! I am truly turning into a sad person...
And now, I need some sleep. I'm going to save the rest of the CSS fun for my website.
Oh yeah - I actually finished my System plan as well. Well, it's ready for peer review, I reckon!
System plan!
How very exciting. I just spent the last couple of hours fiddling with the CSS just trying to get borders to appear on the table I have in my System Plan. I really was pulling my hair out, but I took it right back to basics and visited a couple of tutorial sites, and finally stated to figure some of it out. Annoyingly, the sites I'd found and flagged as useful resources in my learning proposal weren't a great help (except for W3schools) but between a few of them and this site, and a LOT of trial and error, I'm starting to figure out which bits are supposed to go where (highly technical terminology there...)
I would hardly call the table 'stylish' but it DOES have style applied to it! And OMG - I just changed the font type on this page - by adding the code!!! I am truly turning into a sad person...
And now, I need some sleep. I'm going to save the rest of the CSS fun for my website.
Oh yeah - I actually finished my System plan as well. Well, it's ready for peer review, I reckon!
System plan!
Friday, April 25, 2008
I love creating personas!
Can you get a job just making that stuff up all day? Although, obviously, it not really made up when you are basing it on reams of user research etc etc... Hang on - isn't that just called 'creative writing'?? Maybe I'm pursuing the wrong career...
The good news is the system plan isn't posing too great a stress content wise - I'd already inadvertently done a lot of the bits an pieces over the last few weeks, so its more a case of pulling it all together. And I'm loving the subject cross over - its really working for me at the moment, being able to pull in stuff I'm learning in all three of the other core subjects I'm doing. Its a small consolation for the on-going minor nervous breakdown I seem to be suffering...hang on, it's Friday isn't it? And I'm home sober? Maybe it's just alcohol withdrawal... ;-)
I've decided I'm going to need to use CSS for this system plan, in order to present it in any attractive way. Should be a good test run for the site build... If I end up submitting the document in one single XHTML page, you know it all went horribly wrong :-D
The good news is the system plan isn't posing too great a stress content wise - I'd already inadvertently done a lot of the bits an pieces over the last few weeks, so its more a case of pulling it all together. And I'm loving the subject cross over - its really working for me at the moment, being able to pull in stuff I'm learning in all three of the other core subjects I'm doing. Its a small consolation for the on-going minor nervous breakdown I seem to be suffering...hang on, it's Friday isn't it? And I'm home sober? Maybe it's just alcohol withdrawal... ;-)
I've decided I'm going to need to use CSS for this system plan, in order to present it in any attractive way. Should be a good test run for the site build... If I end up submitting the document in one single XHTML page, you know it all went horribly wrong :-D
Thursday, April 24, 2008
CSS insomnia
I can't bloody sleep. I'm lying here thinking about the CSS on my site. Actually, I'm thinking about the HTML as well, or more how it all goes together. I've been stalling the start of construction both because I'm uncertain re where to start and because I keep having all of these assignments due! I just want to get cracking with this, and I'm rapidly falling behind schedule, but there's always something else due first worth 20-30% I need to get out of the way...so very annoying. Especially as I'm actually quite excited re starting this project. I might have to dicth plans to play two-up for the first time in my life on Friday and spend the day coding instead....
I decided to revisit CSS Zen garden. I love that site. Its such a great way to get your head around how CSS works with HTML, but seeing so many different examples of it. Except there are too many flowery ones. I know it's CSS Zen garden, but still...be imaginative people! My back up plan if it all goes pear shaped with this subject is to get one of my designs shown on that site. That might be a good way to regain some credibility. Might go with a space theme.
OK enough rambling...
I decided to revisit CSS Zen garden. I love that site. Its such a great way to get your head around how CSS works with HTML, but seeing so many different examples of it. Except there are too many flowery ones. I know it's CSS Zen garden, but still...be imaginative people! My back up plan if it all goes pear shaped with this subject is to get one of my designs shown on that site. That might be a good way to regain some credibility. Might go with a space theme.
OK enough rambling...
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